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John Smilgin
Manhattan Venture Partners
Professional Background
John Smilgin is a prominent figure in the financial sector, currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Sales at Manhattan Venture Partners (MVP). In his role at MVP, he has contributed significantly to the transformation of the market for venture-funded, later-stage technology companies. MVP is renowned for modernizing a previously fragmented and opaque secondary market into a structured, transparent, and authoritative entity. Under John’s leadership, the firm has established itself as a go-to resource for family offices, institutional clients, and high-net-worth individuals looking for insights and access into compelling technology investment opportunities within the private market. In addition to providing in-depth research, MVP assists C-suite executives in strategizing and facilitating structured liquidity programs, showcasing John’s deep understanding of both market dynamics and client needs.
Career Journey
John’s extensive career is marked by diverse experiences across various sectors of finance and business development. Prior to his impactful role at MVP, he held several key positions that demonstrate his leadership and expertise. He was a Partner at Metropolitan Wines, where he honed his skills in business strategy and client engagement. His role as Head of Business Development at Traveling4Health further complements his background, emphasizing his ability to identify and capitalize on lucrative opportunities.
Before that, John served as Senior Vice President at Global Direct Financial Services and Hoenig & Co., Inc., both of which are based in New York, showcasing his commitment to developing strategic sale initiatives within financial services. Notably, he also held the position of Branch Manager at Hoenig & Co.’s Tokyo branch, which highlights his international business acumen and adaptability in global markets.
His extensive experience in institutional sales is particularly exemplified during his tenure as Managing Director at TIR Securities / Tiedemann International Research Ltd. in Hong Kong. Here, he was responsible for directing institutional sales and managing key client relationships. This role not only solidified his sales prowess but also his understanding of the Asian financial landscape, further enriching his professional portfolio. John's career began at Lehman Brothers where he served as a Retail Salesman and Registered Representative, establishing the foundational skills that would support his ascent in the competitive world of finance.
Education and Achievements
John Smilgin’s educational journey has been influential in shaping his articulate approach to business and finance. He began his academic pursuits at Choate Rosemary Hall, a prestigious preparatory school known for nurturing talented individuals. After this foundational experience, John transferred to Columbia University in the City of New York, where he studied History at the School of General Studies. This exposure not only provided him with crucial analytical skills but also a broad perspective on global trends that influence modern business practices.
Later, he completed his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History at Middlebury College, coupled with a unique summer course in Intensive Elementary Japanese. The combination of history and language studies indicates John's commitment to understanding cultural nuances and their impact on international business, which is remarkably beneficial in his career in global finance.
Notable Contributions and Expertise
John’s expertise extends beyond his current roles; he is recognized for his significant contributions to the fields of finance and technology investments. His ability to conceptualize structured liquidity programs reflects a forward-thinking approach and a keen understanding of market mechanics.
Furthermore, his professional advice to C-suite executives is highly valued, as it enables businesses to navigate the complexities of capital deployment and profitability while maintaining liquidity pathways.
John's insights into the technology investment landscape, particularly for venture-funded enterprises, have positioned him as a thought leader in this domain. His engagement with family offices and institutional investors showcases his ability to facilitate meaningful connections between liquidity and investment opportunities ready to be tapped into, further emphasizing his influential position in the private market.
Achievements
- Senior Vice President Sales at Manhattan Venture Partners
- Over 30 years of experience in finance and business development.
- Expertise in structuring liquidity programs for private technology companies.
- Successful track record in leading institutional sales initiatives in international markets, including Asia.
- Contributor to transforming the secondary market for venture funding through strategic insights and relationship management.
Location
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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