Published: St. Aloysius of New Canaan Educates Adults in the Catholic Faith

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Published: New Canaan CARES — Programs for Parents

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A Look at Venture Capital Statistics in 2019

The recipient of a bachelor's degree in economics management from Ohio Wesleyan University, Kevin Graetz is an experienced venture capital professional who has raised more than $1 billion for various companies. Kevin Graetz has facilitated high-profile deals with Fisker Automotive, Motricity, and Bloom Energy, among other companies.

The venture capital industry exceeded $130 billion in investments in US-based companies for the second consecutive year in 2019. The industry deployed $136.5 billion and achieved a record $256.4 billion exit value through more than 880 liquidity events, according to a report compiled by the National Venture Capital Association and PitchBook. The report also highlighted a shift in the industry, with 85 percent of deals in excess of $100 million involving nontraditional investors like family offices or sovereign wealth funds. Moreover, companies founded by women experienced all-time annual records in transaction volume and capital raised.

Like most other industries, venture capital is expected to be negatively impacted as a result of COVID-19. The Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, for instance, announced a 7.5 percent decline in investment in the Canadian market for Q1 2020. While many experts are concerned, early signs indicate tech investment in Silicon Valley companies has been impacted minimally through the spring, with a modest decline in up-rounds and an increase in deals from March to April.

Deep-Sea Fishing Seasons in Jamaica

Fishing rod
Photo by Mathieu Le Roux on Unsplash

Connecticut-based venture capital and private equity professional Kevin Graetz leverages more than 15 years of experience to provide consulting services to clients. An avid fisherman, he enjoys catching big game fish around the world. Kevin Graetz has previously caught marlins, tuna, and sailfish in such countries as the Bahamas and Jamaica.

Jamaica is one of the top destinations for deep-sea sport fishing thanks to its plentiful coral reefs and deep waters. The country hosts some of the world’s top sport fishing tournaments, including the Annual Port Antonio International Marlin Tournament and the Montego Bay Yacht Club Fishing Tournament. It is also a great spot for anglers seeking such species as wahoo, sailfish, barracuda, and white marlin.

Although fishing in Jamaica is great year-round, there are certain times of the year that are best for specific fish species. At the beginning of the year, anglers have the best chances of catching dolphin fish, also known as dorado. Dorado fishing in Jamaica is at its peak through April. Montego Bay is a particularly popular spot for dorado fishing in April and May.

From April to August, Jamaica experiences a rise in blackfin and yellowfin tuna fishing. These species do start becoming more common at different times of the year, depending on the area, but, as a whole, April to August is the best season for them.

Starting in August, the marlin population around Jamaica starts increasing. By this point, white marlin will already have experienced some of its peak population in February in areas such as Montego Bay, but blue marlin aren’t seen as much around the country until August, since that is when their breeding cycle usually begins. Peak blue marlin season doesn’t usually occur until September and October.

What to Do and Not Do While Landing a Big Fish

A professional involved in the private equity and venture capital sector, Kevin Graetz has been working in the field for more than 15 years. Aside from his professional pursuits, Kevin Graetz is an avid big game fisherman. Over the years, he has caught many yellowfin tuna, big eye tuna, and marlin in such locations as the Hudson Canyon, Bahamas, and Jamaica. Listed below are a few suggestions on what to do and what not to do while trying to land a big fish.

1. Set the hook properly. To do this, firmly lift up your rod rip using your elbow and wrist. If you do this too early or too lightly, the hook will not penetrate the fish’s mouth and you will lose your catch. Meanwhile, if you do it too hard, you may tear the hook out of the fish’s mouth.

2. Don’t forget about the slack. Assuming you set the hook properly, you can pump the fish by lifting the rod tip to bring the fish closer, then lowering it to create a bit of slack. As soon as you lower the rod, reel the line in to eliminate this slack and repeat the process. However, slack in the line is detrimental if you haven’t set the hook right. If you’re uncertain, focus on applying steady pressure instead.

3. Be conscious of when you reel in your catch. Reeling in a fish at the wrong time increases strain on the line and increases the risk of losing the catch. Let the fish tire itself out by allowing it to run without reeling in the line. Once the fish has stopped pulling line out, reel it in slowly.

4. Don’t fight every fish the same. You must fight fish differently depending on both the species and the environment you are fishing in. For instance, in lakes where fish can snag the line around underwater obstacles, apply heavy pressure to the fish until it’s out in more open water. Conversely, when fishing in open water, let it tire itself out by swimming away.

A Look at Bloom Energy’s Energy Server Platform

Kevin Graetz leverages decades of venture capital experience as a consultant and private equity investor in Connecticut. Over this career, Kevin Graetz has worked closely with Silicon Valley executives. To date, he has raised and allocated more than a billion dollars for early-stage startup firms that include Raza, Iskoot, and Bloom Energy.

Bloom Energy, an innovative provider of on-site electric power solutions, has worked to provide reliable, sustainable electrical power since its founding in 2001. The San Jose, California-based company shipped its first commercial products to Google in 2008, and since that time has helped customers generate millions of kWhs of power through its high-tech Energy Server Platform.

The Energy Server Platform provides constant power through a distributed generation system. A customizable solution, the Energy Server Platform leverages technology rooted in NASA fuel cell concepts that used electric solar panels to produce air and fuel on other planets. By leveraging this technology, Bloom Energy’s platform offers one of the most efficient energy generators for corporate applications in the world. Moreover, the platform provides customization options for customers. 

For additional information on the Energy Server Platform, visit bloomenergy.com.

Blue Marlin Named Top Game Fish in Latest Rankings

A private equity executive in New Canaan, Connecticut, Kevin Graetz has raised in excess of $1 billion for technology-focused companies over the course of his career. Away from work, Kevin Graetz is a sportfishing enthusiast and has angled for marlin and other game fish in locations such as Jamaica and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

While game fishing offers anglers a wide range of targets, including tarpon, shark, and mahi-mahi, few fish offer the thrill and challenge of the blue marlin. According to a recent ranking of the top 100 game fish by Sport Fishing magazine, the blue marlin is officially the number-one game fish in the world. 

In compiling its rankings, the magazine considered many factors, including the speed and stamina of the fish and the aerobatics that add to the beauty and excitement of the catch. The blue marlin also received points for becoming increasingly rare. Due to illegal fishing practices and environmental degradation of its habitats, the blue marlin is now a relatively threatened species.