What We Do
We take a unique, value-add approach to early stage investing.
Vera Equity is an early stage venture capital firm backing awesome entrepreneurs and innovative ideas at the pre-seed and seed stages. Vera offers founders not just access to capital, but also operations advisory and connections to transformative talent. The firm’s first fund has a US-focused fintech strategy, serving as a playbook for future expansion across sectors.
How We Do It
We draw on our deep industry relationships and expertise to support the growth of our portfolio companies.
Vera’s close strategic partnership with True, the global platform of innovative talent management products and executive search services, gives Vera a differentiated ability to help portfolio companies expand their networks and land important key leadership hires.
Co-Founder and General Partner
Michael Vaughan
Mike is an accomplished fintech operator, investor and advisor. He has spent 20+ years at high-growth tech companies. Most recently as the COO of Venmo, he helped lead the business from its Series A round in 2011 to acquisition by Braintree in 2012, and then again by PayPal in 2013 as part of the $800 million Braintree deal. By the end of Mike’s tenure, Venmo had grown to 40M active users and $300M annual revenue run-rate. Since leaving Venmo in 2019, he has spent the past few years as an active angel investor, building a portfolio of more than 75 high-growth tech companies, and is currently an operating partner at Stripes, a growth equity investment firm.
Co-Founder and General Partner
Jon Pomeranz
Jon is a leader in financial services executive search, working with the world’s premier fintech companies, founders and investors to identify and recruit board and senior management teams. Since joining True Search in 2018 as a founding member of the FinTech practice, he has built a team of more than 50 people bringing in >$50M in revenue. Jon is also an angel investor driven by his deep passion for and understanding of innovation in financial services.
Vice President
Maria Anthony
Maria is an experienced investment professional with a passion for people and entrepreneurship that led her to join the team in launching Vera in 2021. She continues to manage the operations, fundraising, and deployment of the fintech funds. Previously, Maria was on the investing team at General Atlantic where she helped source and diligence high-growth technology companies. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.B.A. in Finance and Spanish, magna cum laude. She remains involved in mentoring students at her alma mater as a board member of the Notre Dame Venture Capital Club, and is also a proud Girls Who Invest alumna.
co-Founder
Joe Riggione
Joe Riggione co-founded True with the goal of disrupting an antiquated executive recruitment industry. Joe brings to True 20+ years’ experience working with high growth tech companies and the VC and PE firms that back them. As co-CEO, Joe helps oversee True’s strategic direction; drive innovation and growth initiatives; and ensure operational alignment with short and long-term business objectives. Prior to founding True, Joe and co-founder Brad Stadler built IronHill Partners, a national retained search firm acquired by Heidrick & Struggles (NASDAQ: HSII) in 2008.
co-Founder
Brad Stadler
In 2012, Brad Stadler co-founded True with the mission to disrupt outdated practices in the executive search industry. Since then, True has become the global leader in efficient, forward-thinking talent management. With more than 20 years’ experience working with investment firms and their portfolio companies, Brad helps set and oversee True’s strategic direction; drive innovation and growth initiatives; and ensure the firm is operationally aligned with its short and long term business goals. Prior to founding True, Brad and co-founder Joe Riggione established and built IronHill Partners, a national retained search firm acquired by Heidrick & Struggles (NASDAQ: HSII) in 2008.
Marketing & Communications
Channa Green
Prior to joining True as chief communications officer for True and its subsidiary brands, Channa represented the National Venture Capital Association, the AICPA, and numerous top tier venture capital funds through her work with PR firm Tenor Communications. Channa began her career as a broadcast news journalist in Virginia and North Carolina and is a graduate of James Madison University. Channa drives employee engagement and supports company culture through internal communications strategies and programs. She is also responsible for amplifying the brands’ market visibility through PR and media relations.
Who We Are
Our team of experienced operators, investors and talent experts work together to source attractive investment opportunities and guide founders as they navigate the critical early phases of building their start-ups.