Ignite Capital Partners
Ignite Capital Partners is a Family Office that invests globally in high growth companies across most asset classes. Our mission is to implement our resources and experience to ignite and synergize all aspects of busineses to help companies attain their goals.
Richard V. Gonda
CEO & Founder
Richard Gonda is the founder and CEO. He has over 20 years experience in capital formation as a venture capitalist, investor, investment banker and as an investor relations advisor. He has seed financed private companies, invested in public companies and has global experience in a diverse range of industries.
Richard was CEO and Co-Founder of Titan Resources, Inc. a New York based oil and gas publically traded company. He was instrumental in initiating the first wave of Chinese US public listings by engineering Gosun Communications’ entry into the US public markets in 2001.
Richard was one of the early members of Tech Coast Angels www.techcoastangels.com, a pre-eminent Angel investment group, a Board member of Junior Achievement of Southern California: www.jasocal.org and was a Board member on the California Committee of the American Australian Association www.americanaustralian.org.
He was CEO of International Corporate Innovations, Inc. a technology and resources advisory firm, CEO of Asea Limited a technology company and a corporate and criminal attorney and Barrister in Sydney, Australia for several years. He attended the prestigious Geelong Grammar School in Victoria Australia and graduated in Arts and Law - B.A. L.L.B. from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Richard is fluent in French, German and reads Hebrew.
Richard was CEO and Co-Founder of Titan Resources, Inc. a New York based oil and gas publically traded company. He was instrumental in initiating the first wave of Chinese US public listings by engineering Gosun Communications’ entry into the US public markets in 2001.
Richard was one of the early members of Tech Coast Angels www.techcoastangels.com, a pre-eminent Angel investment group, a Board member of Junior Achievement of Southern California: www.jasocal.org and was a Board member on the California Committee of the American Australian Association www.americanaustralian.org.
He was CEO of International Corporate Innovations, Inc. a technology and resources advisory firm, CEO of Asea Limited a technology company and a corporate and criminal attorney and Barrister in Sydney, Australia for several years. He attended the prestigious Geelong Grammar School in Victoria Australia and graduated in Arts and Law - B.A. L.L.B. from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Richard is fluent in French, German and reads Hebrew.
Paula Paizes
Managing Director
Paizes is the Managing Director of Ignite Capital Partners. Her focus is company operations and executing our strategic initiatives. She is also responsible for handling all media, entertainment and tech projects for the company and provides operations and business affairs services for various media, entertainment and tech clients.
Paula has over 25 years of experience in the media and entertainment industries as a lawyer, business affairs and strategic advisor for film, TV, live theatre and digital media projects. Paula also has significant international experience working on many cross border transactions in Asia, Australia, Europe and North America and has direct operations experience with several company clients.
Paula was an entertainment attorney in Australia with Blake Dawson Waldron ( now Ashhursts) for several years and later served as in-house legal counsel to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's Co, The Really Useful Co working in Sydney and New York. She also worked for business and legal advisory firm Business Affairs Entertainment working primarily with producers and international sales companies. Paula volunteers and provides leadership to several not for profits by serving on their corporate boards. Paula co-founded LA based non-for-profit Australians in Film and has served on its board for thirteen years as Vice President, President and Chairman of the Board ( www.Australiansinfilm.org). Paula is currently a visionary circle member of Visionary Women, an LA based not for profit, which mentors young women in the arts, entertainment and technology. Paula holds doubledegrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney. Paula is fluent in Greek.
Paula has over 25 years of experience in the media and entertainment industries as a lawyer, business affairs and strategic advisor for film, TV, live theatre and digital media projects. Paula also has significant international experience working on many cross border transactions in Asia, Australia, Europe and North America and has direct operations experience with several company clients.
Paula was an entertainment attorney in Australia with Blake Dawson Waldron ( now Ashhursts) for several years and later served as in-house legal counsel to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's Co, The Really Useful Co working in Sydney and New York. She also worked for business and legal advisory firm Business Affairs Entertainment working primarily with producers and international sales companies. Paula volunteers and provides leadership to several not for profits by serving on their corporate boards. Paula co-founded LA based non-for-profit Australians in Film and has served on its board for thirteen years as Vice President, President and Chairman of the Board ( www.Australiansinfilm.org). Paula is currently a visionary circle member of Visionary Women, an LA based not for profit, which mentors young women in the arts, entertainment and technology. Paula holds doubledegrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney. Paula is fluent in Greek.
Dr. Ajay K. Agrawal
Managing Director, Europe
Dr Ajay K Agrawal is the Managing Director Europe and Advisory Board Member of Ignite Capital Partners. He is an experienced entrepreneur in the biotech & pharma industry, who currently sits on the board of directors of several companies in UK and Europe, including the development board of Buckingham Medical School and Ecron Acunova, an award-winning CRO that has been conducting clinical studies over 25 years, audited by both FDA and European Regulators. Dr Agrawal has been on the editorial board of six international medical journals from the Bentham press, California USA.
Previously, he was a founder of polyMASC Pharmaceuticals plc, London, the first UK biotech company from a university that was directly listed on London stock exchange, raising approximately $40 million in 1995, and subsequently merged with a NASDAQ-listed company, Valentis Inc, USA in 1999 to become one of the biggest companies in the delivery of biologics at that time, and the Managing Director of the worldwide organization of collaborations in the pharmaceutical industry, London, and special advisor on healthcare for commonwealth Business council, London, and Director of business development for Almac Sciences (the group had over 3000 people in the UK and USA), and Lipoxen plc London (listed on LSE at the time, now called Xenetic Biosciences Inc, listed on NASDAQ).
He is a trustee of the Ramphal Institute, King’s College London (got a distinguished panel of patrons consisting of number of House of Lords, former presidents, prime ministers & cabinet ministers) thataims to advance knowledge and education in the Commonwealth countries in social, economic, governance and environmental policy areas for the benefit of both the public and policy makers and a patron of APTUK, Action on Poverty (chaired by Baroness Kennedy) that is rebuilding communities and their livelihoods to the most vulnerable people in the world.
Dr Agrawal was awarded with Bharat Samman Award (India Honour Award) for excellence in healthcare by the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation at the Leela Palace in New Delhi, India in January 2015. The award is conferred on the Non-Resident Indians for their outstanding achievements in the chosen field of activities. He has been included in the who’s who in the city of London since 2008..
Previously, he was a founder of polyMASC Pharmaceuticals plc, London, the first UK biotech company from a university that was directly listed on London stock exchange, raising approximately $40 million in 1995, and subsequently merged with a NASDAQ-listed company, Valentis Inc, USA in 1999 to become one of the biggest companies in the delivery of biologics at that time, and the Managing Director of the worldwide organization of collaborations in the pharmaceutical industry, London, and special advisor on healthcare for commonwealth Business council, London, and Director of business development for Almac Sciences (the group had over 3000 people in the UK and USA), and Lipoxen plc London (listed on LSE at the time, now called Xenetic Biosciences Inc, listed on NASDAQ).
He is a trustee of the Ramphal Institute, King’s College London (got a distinguished panel of patrons consisting of number of House of Lords, former presidents, prime ministers & cabinet ministers) thataims to advance knowledge and education in the Commonwealth countries in social, economic, governance and environmental policy areas for the benefit of both the public and policy makers and a patron of APTUK, Action on Poverty (chaired by Baroness Kennedy) that is rebuilding communities and their livelihoods to the most vulnerable people in the world.
Dr Agrawal was awarded with Bharat Samman Award (India Honour Award) for excellence in healthcare by the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation at the Leela Palace in New Delhi, India in January 2015. The award is conferred on the Non-Resident Indians for their outstanding achievements in the chosen field of activities. He has been included in the who’s who in the city of London since 2008..
Jordan Gonda
Business Development, Analyst
Jordan Gonda, a Chapman University alumnus, holds a bachelor's degree in business management, as well as a minor in law. As a business development analyst, Jordan focuses on new opportunity development for Ignite Capital Partners, where he combines his interpersonal skills with his tenacious work ethic to foster long-lasting successful relationships.
Jordan is fascinated with business operations concerning sports and entertainment, seeking/sourcing venture capital opportunities in the space. With valuable experience in business operations, hospitality, sales, management, and marketing, Jordan is constantly improving his professional craft. During his sophomore year of college, Jordan started a self ran fitness company; GondaFit, which proved to be a tremendous success amongst the student and faculty population. With Jordan’s collegiate level football background, he uses his platform to provide training and diet programs to clients, as well as selling fitness apparel. As a multifaceted individual, effective communication is a skill Jordan holds highly and uses frequently to provide clarity to the team and its partners.. Being a goal-oriented team member, Jordan is acutely focused on the bigger picture and providing results.
Jordan is fascinated with business operations concerning sports and entertainment, seeking/sourcing venture capital opportunities in the space. With valuable experience in business operations, hospitality, sales, management, and marketing, Jordan is constantly improving his professional craft. During his sophomore year of college, Jordan started a self ran fitness company; GondaFit, which proved to be a tremendous success amongst the student and faculty population. With Jordan’s collegiate level football background, he uses his platform to provide training and diet programs to clients, as well as selling fitness apparel. As a multifaceted individual, effective communication is a skill Jordan holds highly and uses frequently to provide clarity to the team and its partners.. Being a goal-oriented team member, Jordan is acutely focused on the bigger picture and providing results.
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