Financial consultant Kevin Graetz has been involved in private equity and venture capital for decades. Outside of his professional life, Kevin Graetz enjoys fishing, and once caught a 600-pound marlin at Hudson Canyon off the East Coast.
Blue marlins are some of the largest fish in the world. They can grow up to 14 feet long and weigh up to 1,985 pounds. Aptly named for their cobalt-blue appearance, these marlins love deep blue waters and are often found far out at sea in the Atlantic and Pacific.
Blue marlins are carnivores, feeding on smaller fish such as mackerel and tuna, many of which are found on the warmer ocean surface. However, they have been known to go deeper to hunt squid. Marlins have a long, sharp upper jaw that they use as spears to slash through their prey before coming back to eat them.
In the fishing world, marlins are famous for putting up fights when hooked. Given how big, long, and heavy they are, it is a very impressive feat to catch one. Most marlins caught weigh between 200 and 400 pounds. Some of the largest ever caught weighed over 1,000 pounds. The International Game Fishing Association’s record for the biggest marlin was a 1,402-pound fish caught in Brazil in 1992.
Kevin Graetz leverages nearly two decades of experience as a venture capitalist and private equity investor as a consultant and silicon valley investor. A graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, Kevin Graetz has successfully raised more than a billion dollars for investments in companies that ranged from early stage startups to late-stage private equity transactions.
In his free time, Mr. Graetz regularly fishes for big game and has caught a 600 pound Marlin in addition to big eye tuna and yellowfin tuna. Yellowfin tuna are a large, torpedo shaped fish that can often be found close to the surface of tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. The fish, which grow as large as 400 pounds, can be identified by their bright yellow dorsal fin and metallic blue color on the back.
Catching a yellowfin tuna can be challenging. To increase the odds, sports anglers recommend dropping lures deeper where the fish spend most of their time feeding. In addition, putting more distance between the fishing boat and the lure can increase the likelihood of a bite. Other recommended tips include “chumming,” dropping large amounts of baitfish in order to lure yellowfin close to the boat, and kite fishing, which involves pulling along live bait suspended by an airborne kite behind the boat.
Connecticut-based consultant and private equity specialist Kevin Graetz has more than 15 years of experience raising capital for some of Silicon Valley’s most innovative technology firms. As an investor, Kevin Graetz adheres to a personal philosophy of supporting companies whose innovations can be used to achieve a positive social impact.
More broadly, disruptive technologies such as cloud capabilities, smartphones, and social networking have completely altered how individuals make donations to charitable causes. Below are some of the most striking ways that philanthropy has been improved by technological innovations.
Access - The plethora of mobile payment options facilitate the ability for donors to contribute smaller amounts with one click. Organizations can also advertise their work in front of a wider audience by using social media outlets and encouraging people to share the information with others in their network.
Accountability - Today, potential donors can easily access an organization’s financial information as well as charity watchdog ratings through a web search. This increases transparency for donors and holds nonprofits to a higher level of accountability, bringing special attention to groups which divert the highest percentage of donations to effective programs. Organizations can also use infographics to clearly demonstrate how funding is allocated and the impact of their services.
Engagement - Organizations can interact with their donor base through SMS messaging, social media, video, and email. Multiple contact points make it easier for nonprofits to convey updated information to their donors and keep them engaged with their work.
For more than 15 years, Kevin Graetz has raised venture capital for firms such as Bloom Energy through his strong relationships with prominent Silicon Valley figures. To prepare for his career in private equity and venture capital, Kevin Graetz earned a BA in economics from Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU).
For more than 175 years, OWU has been providing students with a rigorous liberal arts education in Central Ohio. Today, the University features small classes led by prominent faculty members who encourage critical thinking, creative problem solving, and clear communication through dozens of majors and minors. Among other well-respected programs, OWU offers a bachelor’s degree in economics.
Economics majors at OWU participate in a dynamic, challenging curriculum that incorporates the traditional study of economic principles with a sound understanding of the role of economics in larger society. To further enrich the experience, economics students have access to the Woltemade Center for Economics, Business, and Entrepreneurship.
Launched in 1985, the Woltemade Center maintains a range of fellowships, speaking events, internships, and other holistic programs that help economics and business students at the University put their academic studies into real-world practice. Among other programs, the Economics Management Fellows Program at the center accepts 15-20 incoming freshmen students annually for focused mentoring, travel opportunities, and other perks that will help them develop their careers.
