Pilot Growth Equity

Analyst who previously interned with the firm, holding degrees in Industrial Engineering and a certificate in Financial Economics from Northwestern University.

Neil Callahan is a Founder and Managing Partner at Pilot Growth Equity, based in New York City, with over 25 years of technology investing and operating experience. He previously co-founded and served as CEO of the CRM software company Sitaro LTD, which was acquired by CoActive Marketing Group, where he later held executive roles leading M&A and business development. Earlier in his career he worked at Young & Rubicam/Wunderman and began at Andersen Consulting as a software developer and engagement manager; he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Studies from the University of Chicago.

Alexandra Echevarria-Brown is a Senior Investment Analyst at Pilot Growth Equity. She graduated from the Murray Koppelman School of Business, studying Business Administration with a concentration in International Business, and studied abroad in Madrid, Spain. Prior experience includes organizing events with New York City government offices and fundraising galas at the New York Academy of Medicine, as well as work with the Coalition for Healthy School Foods.

John O'Brien is Chief Financial Officer at Pilot Growth Equity. He has 20 years of experience in startup and high-growth environments, with a background in financial and operational practices related to productivity, efficiency, and company value.

Jonathan Sherry is a Portfolio Advisor at Pilot Growth Equity, where he supports portfolio companies on growth and operations, helping founders shift from short-term to longer-term strategic planning. He co-founded CB Insights and served as its Chief Operating Officer, growing the company to eight-figure revenue and over 250 employees, after earlier roles at American Express, Towers Perrin, and Deloitte. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Julianna Smoot is a Business Development Advisor with Pilot Growth Equity and co-founder of the Smoot Tewes Group, a public affairs consulting firm focused on public policy and strategic positioning. She previously served as National Finance Director for Barack Obama's 2008 campaign and Deputy Campaign Manager in 2012, and held administration roles including Chief of Staff to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and White House Social Secretary. She graduated from Smith College.

Phil Cooper is a Senior Advisor at Pilot Growth Equity with three decades in investment management and private equity as an entrepreneur, principal investor, and fund investor. In 1996 he founded and led the Goldman Sachs Private Equity Group, retiring as a Goldman Sachs Partner in 2004. He is a Senior Lecturer in Finance at the MIT Sloan School of Management, holds US patents in investment technology, and has co-founded several technology and healthcare companies. He earned a BS from Syracuse University and an MS in Management from MIT.

Promise Phelon is founder and managing director of Growth Warrior Capital, a venture firm investing in industrial AI and automation across manufacturing, public safety, logistics, and field operations. He previously founded and scaled three companies, including JazzHR, which achieved a nine-figure exit, and raised over $100 million as an operator. Phelon serves as board director at Loopr AI and leads Growth Warrior Capital's portfolio of industrial AI companies including Loopr, ForceMetrics, and StaffAI.

Analyst with prior internship experience at Citizens Bank's digital infrastructure M&A team, holding degrees in Economics and Statistics from Duke University.