2026 ACG NY DealMaker Series - Fall Edition

Image

Abilash Jaikumar
Co-Founder / Co-CEO
TresVista

_{Abilash Jaikumar is a Co-Founder and Managing Director of TresVista, the leading provider of high-end outsourced support for asset managers, investment banks, research firms, and corporates. TresVista client’s operate across geographies, industries, asset classes, and deal sizes. Their asset management clients collectively have AUM in excess of $400 billion. TresVista supports its clients broadly in three areas (1) research and valuation, (2) FP&A, and (3) data analytics.}

_{Previously, Abilash has worked in both the investment banking and private equity industries and has been involved in more than $20 billion of financing and M&A activity.  Abilash graduated with Honors from Georgetown University with a B.S.B.A in Finance and Accounting and minors in Philosophy and Economics and currently serves as the Chairman of Georgetown's Alumni Admissions Program in India. He is also on the board of Beyond Capital Fund, a non-profit impact investment fund that invests in for-profit social enterprises throughout India and East Africa. He is also a member of the Board of ACG New York.}

Image

Moderator
John Nives
Instructor | M.S. Technology Management Program
Columbia University

_{John Nives is a Lecturer in Columbia University's M.S. Technology Management program, where he teaches Digital Analytics: Driving Growth through Data & AI, focusing on the strategic application of analytics, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies to drive business performance. John is also an experienced private equity operating partner and Data & AI executive, with a track record of translating emerging technologies into measurable enterprise value. As an Operating Partner at Gridiron Capital, he established and led the firm's Data & AI Center of Excellence, supporting investment intelligence, deal sourcing, diligence, and portfolio company value creation across an $8 billion AUM platform. He also served as Chief Data & Analytics Officer of an Apollo Global Management–backed portfolio company, leading enterprise analytics modernization and AI adoption.}

_{He is currently Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Dextera, an AI-native private markets intelligence and relationship platform. His career includes senior leadership roles at IBM, Nielsen, Circana, and Kraft Foods, spanning enterprise data strategy, advanced analytics, AI, and digital transformation.}

_{John brings a distinctive combination of academic perspective, private equity operating experience, and hands-on AI transformation expertise to discussions on technology-enabled growth and value creation in the middle market.}

Image

Ariail Barker
Director, Business Development
Altamont Capital Partners

_{Ariail Barker is Director of Business Development, responsible for sourcing new investment opportunities for ACP. Throughout her career in financial services, Ariail has focused on investment sourcing and relationship development across the middle-market landscape. Prior to her current role, she served as Vice President at Clearview Capital, a lower middle market private equity firm, and led the business development and sponsor coverage function for 7 Mile Advisors, a boutique investment bank later acquired by Houlihan Lokey, as a Senior Director. Ariail received a B.A. in Psychology from Clemson University and holds a Master’s degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design.}

Image

Andrew Brooks
Founder & CEO
Contextual.io

_{Andrew Brooks is a technology executive, serial entrepreneur, board member, and investor with a track record of building and scaling high-growth technology companies. He founded and served as COO of SMBLive, acquired by ReachLocal before their IPO, was COO of SmartThings, acquired by Samsung, and was Managing Partner at Mural Advisors, advising AI-driven, PE-backed companies. As Founder and CEO of Contextual.io, he leads overall strategy and growth of Contextual’s AI Orchestration Platform and purpose-built AI solution services.}

Image

Nitin Kumar
Principal, Pointwise Capital
Director, American Drive Acquisition Corp

Nitin Kumar is an investor, capital markets professional, and board director with extensive experience in institutional investing, portfolio management, and quantitative analytics. His career includes more than a decade as a Portfolio Manager at Laurion Capital Management, along with investment and leadership roles across financial services and technology businesses.

Nitin brings a rigorous, data-driven approach to evaluating businesses, technologies, and investment opportunities. His expertise spans complex quantitative models, data architecture, and the application of advanced analytics to business and investment decisions.

Beyond capital markets, Nitin is actively involved in technology ventures, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence and its application to industrial and operational workflows. He brings a distinctive perspective on how AI, data infrastructure, and operational intelligence can improve business performance, unlock efficiencies, and create long-term enterprise value.  

Image

Jason Perloth
Principal, Head of Business Development
Southfield Capital

_{Jason Perlroth joined Southfield Capital in January 2022, bringing nearly 20 years of experience within private equity and investing, and as an advisor and executive.}

_{Prior to joining Southfield, Jason was a Principal and the head of business development at BHMS Investments. At BHMS, he oversaw the sourcing and evaluation of investment opportunities, as well as managed the firm’s external relationships which included lenders for acquisition and portfolio company debt financing needs. Previously, Jason was a member of the executive team at Sutton Place Strategies. Having joined SPS as a founding employee and key member, he was integral to the firm’s growth and helped lead its operations, strategic initiatives and corporate development. In addition, he was the head of the Research and Analysis division. Prior to joining SPS, Jason co-founded Grand Run Capital, a commercial real estate private equity independent sponsor. Earlier in his career, Jason held positions at American Capital, Greenwich Associates, and Moore Capital Management.}

_{Jason holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance with honors from Quinnipiac University. He is a member of the Finance Committee for the nonprofit arts organization Pentacle (DanceWorks, Inc.) and serves on the Quinnipiac University School of Business Dean’s Advisory Council.}

Image

Bernd Strenitz
Chief Executive Officer
Alpha PX

Bernd Strenitz is a technology entrepreneur, investor, and board director with a track record of founding, building, and successfully exiting technology businesses. Throughout his career, he has worked at the intersection of technology, business strategy, and operational transformation, helping companies scale, improve performance, and create long-term enterprise value.

As CEO of AlphaPX, Bernd leads the company's mission to bring AI-powered operational intelligence to industrial and service organizations. AlphaPX helps businesses unlock value from fragmented operational data, institutional knowledge, and existing enterprise systems, enabling greater productivity, improved profitability, and new opportunities for growth.

His work focuses on translating emerging technologies into practical business applications with measurable economic impact, particularly in complex operational environments where technology can become a significant driver of enterprise value.