MentorTech Ventures | Early Stage Venture Capital Fund

Management










Michael B. Aronson – Managing Director

Founding shareholder and/or co-founder of 5 successful software companies, 2 were acquired by public entities, 2 by private investors, 1 has NYSE-listed corporate investor. Investor in 2 additional software companies, 1 was acquired by public company, 1 had successful IPO.

Over 25 year career as entrepreneur and investor with significant expertise in company formation around business school concepts, software development, capital raising, strategic alliances and joint ventures, financial reporting and tax issues, executive compensation, employment matters and copyright law.

Co-founder, CFO, EVP & Board Member of SMG, Inc., a $28M simulation software company, named three times to  “Inc. 500” fastest growing companies list.  Board Member of Neat Company, Ticketleap, NeuroDX, EyeIC, DietTV, AllSeniorHomes, Soft Tissue Regeneration. Management Advisor/Mentor at Bioconnect, Merchant Circle, Yodle, Diapers.com

Board, Executive and Investment Committee Member for 15+ years, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Broad business school alumni network amassed over 25-year teaching career at Wharton.

 









 Boris Kalandar –  Managing Director 
 
20 years experience in business development, venture capital, M&A, and management consulting. Co-founded 3 successful technology companies. Completed a number of acquisitions, management turnarounds and exits.
 
Founder of SVM Advisors, LLC – 15 yr-old boutique technology merchant bank.  Raised over $100M for portfolio companies and other venture funds. Former senior executive with SMG, Inc - named three times to “Inc. 500” fastest growing companies list. Led $50M private equity re-capitalization exit. 
 
Co-founder and General Partner of SVM Israel II, LP, a hybrid investment fund sponsored by SVM and focused on investments in Israel.  Actively involved in Israeli technology VC through GP interests in Infinity, Vintage, Plenus, Shavit, and Tamir Fishman Fund.
 
Serves on Investment Advisory Committee (13+ years) of the Ben Franklin Partners of S.E. PA.  Currently involved with several technology companies as investor, advisor, and/or Board Member: Soft Tissue Regeneration, NeuroDiagnostic Devices, Sinewave Energy Technology, Syntezza Molecular Detection Inc. (Israel), and Rainbow Medical (Israel). MBA in Finance and Strategic Planning from Wharton, U of Penn, MSEE from St. Petersburg, Russia.


  










Brett Topche – Senior Associate 

Mr. Topche joined the General Partner in 2007 and serves as a Senior Associate.  He was previously a member of the Fund Investments Team at Hamilton Lane Advisors, a fund-of-funds manager and private equity investment consultant.  In this capacity, he evaluated private equity funds across a broad spectrum of stages and strategies on behalf of both discretionary and non-discretionary clients.  During his time at Hamilton Lane, Mr. Topche reviewed more than 100 funds, including venture capital, mezzanine, buyout and real estate funds.  Based in part on reports he drafted, more than $1 billion was invested into these funds. 

Prior to working for Hamilton Lane, Mr. Topche was an Associate with NJTC Venture Fund, where he focused on investments in early-stage companies in the software, Internet and communications sectors.  His responsibilities included deal flow generation, initial company reviews, performing due diligence on potential investments, participating in deal structuring, reviewing legal documentation and working with companies post-investment, occasionally as an Observer on Boards of Directors. 

He previously worked for MRA International in real estate development consulting and for the accounting firm Frankel and Topche. 

Mr. Topche is a 2002 magna cum laude graduate of the Wharton School, with a B.S. in Economics, with concentrations in Finance and Legal Studies and a Political Science minor from the College and Arts and Sciences.



  

Jordan Leef – Associate

Mr. Leef joined the General Partner in 2008.  He was previously a financial analyst for Pharos Capital Group, a private equity firm located in Nashville and Dallas. In this capacity, Mr. Leef worked as a member of the Pharos investment team to provide growth and later-stage capital for businesses in underserved areas of the nation focusing on firms in the healthcare, business services and technology industries. 
 
Prior to Pharos, Mr. Leef worked in the Biotechnology Equity Research Group at C.E. Unterberg, Towbin (now Collins Stewart) in New York City, where he was responsible for writing research reports, providing sector analysis and valuing drug companies and their pipelines. He also previously interned at Pfizer, Inc. in the U.S. Clinical Operations Division, where he worked with CROs to manage clinical trials and helped coordinate regulatory release of several new compounds. 
 
Mr. Leef attended the University of Pennsylvania where he gained significant clinical experience in the PENN Health System. He is a graduate of the Wharton School and holds a B.S. in Economics with concentrations in Healthcare Management & Policy and Accounting