Fifth Down Capital

James Boyd has more than ten years of experience as an entrepreneur, operator, and investor. He previously founded and led Treasure, an e-commerce brand marketing and acquisition platform, built and led the strategic finance function at Marine Layer, and worked as an investor at Fireman Capital Partners. He started his career in investment banking at Jefferies and holds an MBA from UNC Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Janki Gandhi is a Managing Partner at Fifth Down Capital, which she joined in late 2025. She previously served as Managing Director of Parkwood Ventures, the corporate investment arm of Parkwood Entertainment, where she led business development, investments, and strategy, and remains a Senior Advisor there. Earlier roles include Managing Director positions at Goldman Sachs (in the Cross Markets and Consumer Retail Groups, focused on beauty, apparel, and accessories) and Lincoln International; she holds a degree from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Alan Swierczynski joined Fifth Down Capital in 2024. He previously established the Corporate Development practice at Go1, an education technology company, where he handled M&A, venture, and corporate strategy, and began his career as an investment banker at BMO Capital Markets covering the Technology and Business Services sectors. He holds a BA in Economics from Brown University.

Mike Guirguis is a Partner and Music Agent at UTA, based in Los Angeles, where he represents artists across pop, hip hop, R&B, and other genres and has worked on major tours and live events. His career includes work as a talent manager and radio executive at iHeartRadio, CBS Radio, and Power 106. He has been recognized on Billboard's R&B/Hip Hop Executive Power Players list and Power 100, and is active as a venture capital limited partner and angel investor in sports, energy, and consumer brands.

Brian Rowen is a Senior Advisor and Venture Partner at Fifth Down Capital, a role he took on in 2026 after previously serving as the firm's President and Managing Partner. Earlier in his career he was Chief Operating Officer of Thiel Capital and founded Propeller, a mobile software startup acquired by Palantir Technologies in 2014, where he then led corporate development until 2021. He holds a degree from Stanford University and has invested in and advised private technology companies for over a decade.

Alex Dermer is an operator and investor who started his career in entertainment, managing artists, launching a label, and building brand partnerships. In 2015 he co-founded a location-based task management platform acquired by Amazon in 2017, and later co-founded Get Engaged, an influencer and social-first marketing agency in the United States. He invests across consumer, tech, gaming, fintech, and sports.

Cam Fordham is an entrepreneur and investor who founded Get Engaged Media in 2016, serving as Partner/Co-Founder, and grew it into a multi-office agency focused on campaign ideation, influencer marketing, social strategy, and talent partnerships. A former college football player at LSU and NC State, he holds a degree in sports management. He invests across consumer, tech, fintech, food & beverage, and sports, and was named to Forbes' Next 1000 list.

Candace Parker is a former professional basketball player whose accomplishments include WNBA Champion, WNBA Finals MVP, two-time WNBA MVP, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, and WNBA Rookie of the Year. She has also worked as a sports analyst and commentator for Turner Sports, delivered a TED Talk, appeared in the ESPN documentary 'Candace Parker: Unapologetic', and wrote the book 'The Can-do Mindset.' She works with Fifth Down and its holdings and sits on the board of Mike's Hot Honey.

Chrysa Chin joined Fifth Down Capital as a Senior Advisor in Q3 2026 and also serves as Managing Director at NKSFB. She has more than 30 years of experience in strategic engagement and business development, including 17.5 years at the NBA, advising athletes, agents, teams, corporations, and governments. At the National Basketball Players Association she was Executive Vice President, Strategic Relations, overseeing crisis management, the anti-drug policy, and programs spanning mental health, player health, and career development. She graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

David Weise founded David Weise & Associates, which merged into the global business management firm NKSFB in 2019. He has more than 30 years of experience in business management, serving clients across music, television, film, and sports. He serves as a non-control Senior Advisor / Operating Partner to Fifth Down Capital.

Dean Dakolias is President of Asset Management at Rithm Capital, where he leads investment strategy and the integration of the firm's diversified asset management platform and sits on its Executive Management Committee. He is a former Co-Chairman of Fortress Investment Group and previously served as Co-CIO for its Credit Funds, following nearly 25 years at the firm. Earlier he co-founded and was Managing Director of American Commercial Capital LLC and Coronado Advisors, both sold to Wells Fargo & Co. in 2001. He holds a B.S. in Physics from Columbia University.

Eula Smith is the Founder and CEO of EMS Consulting Inc., a Los Angeles-based firm focused on brand development, private label strategy, and business growth in the fashion and retail sectors. She began her career at Nordstrom in roles including Buyer, Store Manager, and Designer Divisional Manager, and later developed private label brands for retailers and boutiques nationwide. In 2019 she launched EMarie Travel, whose travel blanket appeared on Oprah's Favorite Things list, and she has also worked on fashion and beauty business development at United Talent Agency.

Joined Fifth Down as an Operating Partner in 2025. A restaurant industry executive with nearly four decades of leadership experience, he is Chairman and CEO of SPB Hospitality and Managing Partner of EMERGING Fund, and previously led Red Robin, Torchy's Tacos, California Pizza Kitchen, and Texas Roadhouse. He serves on the boards of Portillo's and Dutch Bros.

Jan Risi joined Fifth Down as an Operating Partner in October 2025, bringing four decades of experience across CPG and foodservice, including executive roles at Ralston Purina, Chef America, Jack-in-the-Box, the Inno-Pacific Group, and Burger King. She founded and led the Independent Purchasing Cooperative (IPC) as President and CEO for 28 years, supporting Subway's growth, and served as Head of International for Jersey Mike's from 2022 to July 2025. She holds a degree from DePauw University.

Jared Carver is a consumer and digital commerce executive with more than 20 years of experience leading global brands. In January 2026 he became CEO of Tracksmith, a New England-based premium running brand, after spending over a decade at Converse where he served as President & CEO; he began his career at Digitas. He holds an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and a BA from Hamilton College, and serves as an Operating Partner at Fifth Down Capital supporting its consumer-focused investment efforts.

Marc Roberts is a real estate developer and businessman whose projects include the E11EVEN CLUB (now also a hotel and residences) and Miami World Center. From 2003 to 2007 he completed over $2 billion in condo conversion projects, and he has been admitted to the New Jersey Jewish Hall of Fame. At Fifth Down he serves as a non-control advisor, drawing on his industry relationships for the firm and its portfolio companies.

Mickey Segal is the Founder and Managing Partner of NKSFB, a large U.S. business management firm, with over 40 years of experience advising high-net-worth clients on accounting, tax, and financial strategy. A CPA and Cal Poly Pomona Distinguished Alumnus, he has been recognized in entertainment industry publications as a leading business manager. He is a former four-term Mayor of Arcadia and has led fundraising campaigns for organizations including the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Nick Papapolitis is Chairman of EverExcel, a privately owned investment group with offices in London and Athens, where he oversees the group's investment strategies and focuses on originating, structuring, and executing transactions across the capital structure. He began his career as an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in New York and has held board positions at public and private companies in financial services, real estate, technology, and healthcare. He holds an LLB (Hons) from University College London and an LLM (Merit) from Queen Mary College, University of London, and works with Fifth Down as a non-control advisor.

Has more than 25 years of experience in financial services, investment banking, and private equity, with expertise in sourcing investments and managing assets. He is a family member of a large single-family office and a graduate of Elon University.

Tyler Scriven joined Fifth Down as a Senior Advisor in 2021. He is the Founder and CEO of Saltbox, a national network of flexible warehouses for e-commerce businesses, and previously was a senior leader at Palantir Technologies, where he served as Chief of Staff to the President during a period of significant company growth. He began his career at J.P. Morgan and holds a degree from the University of Virginia.

Bryan Stuart joined Fifth Down Capital after roughly a decade of strategic and operational advisory work with international executives and government entities. He previously served as a Navy SEAL and continues to be involved in the defense community as an advocate and coach.

Liam Patrick became an Operating Partner at Fifth Down Capital in 2025, having joined the firm as a Partner in 2017. Before Fifth Down, he was CFO of portfolio companies &pizza and Mike's Hot Honey and a Partner at Fireman Capital, and he earlier worked at Rhone Group, HIG, and Lazard. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.