About Us
Company Overview
RCG Ventures makes opportunistic investments in small to mid sized companies where we believe we can add value. Simply put, our mission is to utilize all our resources and knowledge to help you build your company into a market leader.
RCG Ventures is a wholly owned subsidiary of River Capital Group Holdings, a leading family investment office. Our partner companies love our unique approach to supporting them. Our value is not just providing capital; We leverage our extensive network to open doors and have purpose built a high growth team of industry experts whose sole focus is helping our partners succeed. These team members have helped to build, grow and exit various entities, helping to guide them through each phase of a company existence from startup, through hyper growth through mature company. We know each phase provides distinct challenges that we can, if needed, help navigate through.
Key Leadership
Vincent Puma
Co-Founder & CEO, River Capital Group Holdings
A masterful venture capitalist and seasoned operator, Vince Puma has served as Co-Founder and CEO of River Capital Group Holdings and River Capital Group Ventures since their formation in 2012. Before founding RCG, Mr. Puma spent most of his career on Wall Street, working at firms like Gruntal & Co. and Josephthal & Co.
Before becoming a principal in his own firm, Mr. Puma then spent the next 12 years building several small firm sales and banking divisions in multiple roles, from Managing Director to CEO. Mr. Puma studied at Baruch College and New York University. He has also served on many boards, both private and philanthropically, including the Arc of Monmouth County and Hackensack Meridian Health.
Under his leadership, River Capital Group has made opportunistic industry-agnostic investments in growth companies ranging from five hundred thousand to $50 million. RCGH identifies forward-thinking companies for which its capital, financial expertise, and relationships would add both significant quantitative and qualitative value.
Mario Monello
Chairman of the Board, River Capital Group Holdings
As Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board at River Capital Group Holdings and River Capital Group Ventures, Mario Monello has an extensive background leading high-growth companies and acting in an executive capacity across leading financial firms.
After serving as a partner at Lehman Brothers from 1979-1993, Mr. Monello went on to cofound Argosy Group, a firm specializing in bank/sales and trading/bankruptcy restructuring, working as Head of Leverage Finance. He went on to work with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, MaxCor Financial Group, and Guggenheim Partners before joining River Capital Group.
Mr. Monello studied Business Administration at Brooklyn College in New York and philanthropically has been engaged as an Advisory Board Member of the Monmouth Medical Center Foundation and as a Board Member of the Count Basie Center for the Arts.
Our High Growth Team
Here are the key members that lead our team that are tasked with accelerating growth in our partner companies
Travis Sales
Operating Partner
Travis Sales., RCG Ventures Operating Partner, provides leadership for the continued development of an innovative, robust, and secure information technology environment that aligns with the unique nature of its clients. Through RCG Ventures, and in collaboration with business and technology leaders, Travis explores emerging technologies, assesses their impact on the client’s business, prototypes and evaluates new concepts, and recommends new strategies and solutions.
With over 25 years of industry experience, Travis has worked with and co-founded multiple technology startups (3 successful exits). Travis is a Serial Enterprise Software, Virtualization and Cloud Entrepreneur with over 25 years of industry experience. Notably Co-founder of CloudVolumes – named one of Five Strategic Acquisitions That Reshaped VMware by Forbes. Prior to joining RCG Ventures, Travis served as the President of BTG, Inc. which was the leading white-label cloud provider for Fortune 10 companies.
Richard Pasqua
Managing Director (CEO of Arc Innovations, a RCGV Portfolio Company)
Richard has worked with industry leaders across the globe, leveraging his more than 30 years of UX and design expertise to help consumer, media, hi-tech, banking, and finance create optimal user experiences, products, and content that builds and aligns brands with customer needs. Richard has led creative, UX and product teams for prominent global agencies and publishers, reimagining the digital essence of iconic brands like American Express, Coach/Tapestry, HP, Juilliard, Newsweek, Nickelodeon, SAP, and the United States Mint.
Having worked with companies of all sizes, ranging from early-stage startup to Fortune 500 companies, Richard brings an extensive track record of launching and building high-growth CX practices. As CXO of RCG Ventures, Richard will help partners re-imagine what branded customer experiences mean in their fast-evolving sectors. Unfettered access to Richard’s insight and guidance will propel RCG Venture partners’ solutions to forefront of digital finance, consumer technology, transportation, and blockchain.
Steve McCaffrey
Managing Director (Senior Managing Partner of Proviniti, a RCGV Portfolio Company)
Steve McCaffrey serves as Managing Partner at Proviniti with 30+ years of experience in technology management. He has a proven track record of consistent success in various management roles, including web and mobile development, large multi-tiered systems development, payments, architecture, production support, and infrastructure. Steve managed teams globally, ranging from 20 to 1000 employees, with budgets ranging from $6 million to $100 million. He received the “Outstanding Performer” award for three years at Bank of America and was selected as one of the top 1% of executives to participate in the prestigious “Accelerated Development” program. Steve was also selected as a top executive in a similar development program at Lehman Brothers. His achievements include developing a global private banking system that ties together a unique web-based experience for high net-worth clients with a customer relationship management system, winning an Infoweek 500 Innovations award and a Nielsen award for Bank of America, and has achieved CMM Level 2 for a bank development group. Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the New York Institute of Technology.
Giovanni Cappellini
Managing Director (President, Flex, a RCGV Portfolio Company)
Giovanni Cappellini is a seasoned recruiter with over 25+ years of experience, having developed a deep understanding of the needs of various industries, from global investment firms to leading telecom providers. As Managing Director at Flex Employee Services, he oversees a specialized group of worldwide recruiters, helping people navigate their careers and achieve their goals. Before joining Flex Employee Services, Giovanni was Senior VP of Sales and Recruiting IT Consulting at Solomon Page Technology Partners for 18 years. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Fordham University in 1996.
Jordan Monello
Manager, Strategic Projects, RCG Ventures
Jordan Monello is a highly detailed analyst and strategist. He graduated from Marist College in 2019 with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Business Finance. Jordan’s current position is as an Analyst and Manager of Strategic Projects for River Capital Group (RCG). In this role, Jordan is responsible for analyzing potential acquisitions and investments, acting as a resource to portfolio companies, researching and developing new business lines and products, and conducting industry and competitive analyses. Jordan’s experience includes identifying synergies, cost-savings opportunities, and new business opportunities for portfolio companies, leading and implementing operational process improvements, and conducting market research.
Chris Crowley
Managing Director (President & Owner, Pathways Personnel, a RCGV Portfolio Company)
Chris Crowley is an experienced recruiter with 28+ years of experience, 22 of which he spent at Pathways Personnel, specializing in legal staffing. Chris has had many roles throughout his career, including as a litigation paralegal at a San Francisco-based law firm and as a customer service representative at Chevron. In 2005, Chris became President and Owner of Pathways Personnel. In 2020, he founded a startup credential verification platform, leveraging decades of expertise in recruiting and staffing. Chris is a graduate of Florida State University with a degree in political science and a Paralegal Certificate from Saint Mary’s College in Moraga.
Jordan Bloom
Managing Director, RCG Ventures
Jordan Bloom is a Managing Director with an impressive track record in investment management. He joined Trimaran in 2019 and was appointed Vice President in 2021. Before his tenure at Trimaran, Jordan founded South Ave Capital, a specialty finance and asset-backed investment manager, in 2017. His career in finance also includes a role as an investment professional at Aristeia Capital, where he focused on distressed credit and special situation investments across various industries. Jordan started his career as a research analyst on the Special Situations Desk at the Royal Bank of Scotland. Jordan holds a B.S. in Finance from Cornell University, having graduated cum laude, and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School. He also sits on the Triphammer Ventures and Entrepreneurship Board of Advisors at Cornell.
Joseph Giamanco Jr.
VP, Business Development, RCG Ventures
Joseph Giamanco Jr. is an experienced financial professional that has consistently broken barriers to entry over the last three decades. Joseph’s career began on Wall Street, where he quickly became the youngest member of the American Stock Exchange, beginning as an Equity Specialist for GHM Inc. In a very short time, he assimilated the ranks to Vice President of the Equity Division and oversaw the daily trading of over 150 publicly traded stocks. Joseph also was responsible for directly listing over 100 private/ public companies to the American Stock Exchange. As a highly accomplished financial professional and entrepreneur, Joseph has invested/ co-invested in over 1000 deals. He remains well-revered among his peers for his intrinsic financial knowledge and ability to add value to any situation.
Currently, Joseph serves as the Managing Director for River Capital Group Holdings, LLC., where he is responsible for business strategy, deal sourcing, capital sourcing, and acquisitions. He also holds a residential real estate license in the state of New Jersey.
In addition to his professional accolades, Joseph remains extremely involved in fundraising for various charities, hospitals, and boards across the country. He is a connoisseur of cars and also enjoys golfing, bowling, and travelling in his spare time.
Joseph attended Florida Atlantic University and the New York Institute of Finance. He holds licenses and certifications in the following: Series 7 General Securities, Series 63, Series 25, and Residential Real Estate Sales.
Dean Klein
Controller, RCG Ventures
Dean is a detail and results-driven Junior Controller with a strong background in finance and accounting. He started his career at KPMG as a Senior Associate, where he worked for 5 years and gained extensive experience in financial statement audits of financial services clients. During his tenure at KPMG, Dean obtained his license as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and developed a deep understanding of accounting principles and financial reporting standards. Dean holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) from the University of Richmond’s E. Claiborne Robins School of Business. As a Junior Controller, Dean is responsible for overseeing the financial operations of the company and ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements. He has a keen eye for identifying areas of improvement and implementing efficient financial systems and processes to streamline operations.
Amy Mathis
Director of HR
Amy Mathis brings 20 years’ experience and a diverse background in human resources, sales, and business development to RCG Ventures. Having thrived at high-growth companies like Breakthrough Technology Group and NexusTek, Amy will work alongside RCG Ventures’ partner companies, establishing HR practices, leading recruitment, onboarding, and workforce development. In addition, Mathis will ensure that RCG Ventures partner companies adhere to OSHA and pandemic-specific mandates.
Mathis implements employee-centric policies that foster collaborative and inclusive corporate cultures. In a customer-centric world, understanding the connection between customer satisfaction and a brand’s success is essential. She brings a unique ability to help businesses adopt employee and customer-centric protocols, as well as flexible, equal-opportunity workplaces that fuel advancement and reject bias.
Mathis’ expertise onboarding and training protocols mitigates employee churn by equipping personnel with agile workflow strategies, technology, and training. In today’s world of hybrid work environments, ensuring unfettered engagement with employees is critical to maintaining exceptional customer experiences.
Susan Kennedy
Proposal Manager, RCG Ventures
Susan Kennedy is a seasoned, highly skilled government contracting professional with 28+ years of experience in the staffing industry. She currently serves as VP of Government and National Proposals for IOS Acquisition LLC and as Proposal Manager at Proviniti. Susan manages contracts from inception, develops proposals, and analyzes RFP requirements. She has a proven track record of capturing and securing government contracts, generating revenue in excess of $175M, and expanding companies into new regions. Susan’s expertise includes onboarding, employee agreements, expense reports, and practice management. She focuses heavily on strengthening client relationships and retaining existing revenue while attaining additional business.
Rishab Gupta
Staff Accountant, RCG Ventures
Rishab Gupta is a skilled and versatile staff accountant. He earned a Double Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from Queens College and an Associate’s Degree from LaGuardia Community College. Rishab served as a Staff Accountant at The Ride NYC and Horizon Star Services, where he has managed the month-end closing process and streamlined departmental paperwork. He has reduced errors found at later stages by 70% and decreased departmental paperwork by 33% by implementing a new digital memo and report distribution system. One of Rishab’s noteworthy accomplishments has been the creation and implementation of a new AP system that has reduced human error by 50%.
Valerie Lynn
Director & Business Manager, RCG Ventures
Valerie Lynn is a seasoned Director/Business Manager at RCGV with 35+ years of experience assisting senior management in running daily operations. Her expertise and problem-solving skills enable her to prioritize important tasks and projects, ensuring that senior management is able to run operations efficiently. With experience in accounts payable and receivable, Valerie currently works on the receivables side of RCG’s portfolio companies while also helping manage office workflows. Prior to joining RCGV, Valerie worked at Argosy Securities Group, CIBC World Markets, and Mistral Equity Partners.