ClearSky

James Huff is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of ClearSky and sits on its Investment Committee, with over 20 years of financial experience in structuring, due diligence, and execution of debt and equity transactions. Before ClearSky, he was Vice President, Emerging Technologies at NextEra Energy and held finance roles at Chicago Venture Partners and Deloitte. He holds a B.S. in finance from the University of Florida and an M.S. in quantitative finance from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Daniel Furey is Partner and Head of Global Capital Formation at ClearSky, with over 20 years of experience in capital formation, investor relations, and alternatives distribution. He previously held roles as a Principal at HarbourVest, Global Co-Head of Wealth at Global Infrastructure Partners (a BlackRock division), and senior leadership positions at UBS and Merrill Lynch's Investment Bank. He earned a B.A. in Economics from Southern Illinois University and an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Erik Straser, Ph.D., is a Partner at ClearSky and a member of its Investment Committee, with 25 years of experience in early-stage venture capital. Before ClearSky, he was a VC-in-residence at Current by General Electric, worked with GE Ventures, served as co-president of Stanford Angels and Entrepreneurs, and was a general partner at Mohr Davidow Ventures. He holds a B.S. in engineering from Harvey Mudd College and an M.S. and Ph.D. in engineering from Stanford University.

Howard Shecter is an Executive Partner at ClearSky and was previously Managing Partner and Chairman of the international law firm Morgan Lewis, working as an M&A and corporate governance lawyer. He currently chairs the Board and Audit Committee of Venerable Insurance & Annuity Company, and previously chaired the Board of Harris Interactive and served on the Board of Safeskin Corp. He holds a degree in Government from Harvard University and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Robert Rauch is a Partner at ClearSky and sits on the firm's Investment Committee, bringing over 20 years of engineering and business experience. Before joining ClearSky in 2012, he worked in corporate development at NextEra Energy and, earlier, served as a contract lead materials engineer for NASA's Space Shuttle Program. He holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Florida and an M.B.A. from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.

Ryan Crum is a Partner at ClearSky who combines operational cybersecurity experience with investing. He spent about a decade at Apollo, where he moved from Chief Information Security Officer to Chief Security Officer and Chief Technology Officer, and previously held cybersecurity leadership roles at TIAA-CREF and JPMorgan. He started his career as a Director in the Cyber Security Practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Guy Nizan is a Venture Partner at ClearSky, where he opened and runs the firm's Tel Aviv, Israel office after joining in 2023. He previously co-founded and led IntSights, an external threat intelligence and protection company acquired by Rapid7, and earlier co-founded Cyber-School, a cyber training education company acquired by Highdele Group. He studied law and accounting at Tel Aviv University and was a founding member and officer of the IDF's cybersecurity unit.

Anjali Nagaraja is an Associate at ClearSky, which she joined in 2023. She previously worked as a management consultant focused on mergers and acquisitions at PricewaterhouseCoopers. She holds a B.A. in business and economics from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Austin Summers is a Senior Vice President at ClearSky, which he joined in 2019. He previously worked as an investment banking analyst in mergers and acquisitions at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey and as an investment banking analyst at Frisch Capital Partners. He holds a B.A. in business administration and finance from the University of Georgia.

Jacqueline de Sanctis is Managing Director and Head of Investor Relations at ClearSky, a role she rejoined in 2023 after first holding it in 2020. She previously served as Head of Institutional Business Development at Cliffwater and as Managing Director at Neuberger Berman, where she worked for a decade with investment consultants and institutional limited partners, and earlier held roles at Allianz Global Investors, Credit Suisse, J.P. Morgan, and Callan Associates. She holds an M.A. Honors in Classical Studies from the University of St. Andrews.

Joseph Wright is Chairman of ClearSky's Investment Committee and also serves as Executive Partner of Comvest Group, Inc. and Chairman of the Advisory Board of Chart National, L.P. His prior roles include Executive Chairman of FedData, CEO of Scientific Games Corporation, Executive Chairman of MTN Satellite Communications, Chairman of Intelsat, CEO of PanAmSat, and Vice Chairman of W.R. Grace & Company. In the 1980s he served under President Reagan as Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Director of the Federal Office of Management and Budget. He holds a B.S. from the Colorado School of Mines and a Master's in Industrial Administration from Yale University.

Nick-Anthony Buford is a Managing Director and General Counsel at ClearSky, a role he has held since 2012, where he handles investment and exit transactions along with fund formation, governance, and compliance. He has more than 20 years of legal experience in capital markets and venture capital, previously serving as a Senior Attorney leading NextEra Energy's venture capital investment activities and working at Linklaters, Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells), and Herbert Smith Freehills across London, Miami, and Singapore. He holds a B.A. in government from Harvard University and a J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law, is admitted to the New York and Florida bars, and is fluent in Spanish.

Owen Santos is an Analyst at ClearSky, which he joined in 2025. He holds a B.A. in Business Administration and an M.S. in Business Analytics from the University of Florida.

Vince Nicchi serves as Controller at ClearSky, which he joined in 2019. He previously worked as a senior accountant at LeverPoint Management and as an accountant at MPSC Certified Public Accountants and Advisors, P.C. He earned two B.S. degrees from Pennsylvania State University in accounting and agribusiness management, with a minor in information systems management.