Akira Hirai - Managing Director

Phoenix, AZ

With over 15 years of experience in entrepreneurship, management, business planning, financial analysis, software engineering, operations, and decision analysis, Akira has the breadth and depth of experience needed to quickly understand entrepreneurs' businesses and craft the most suitable solutions.

Before founding Cayenne Consulting in early 2001, Akira started two Internet companies in Silicon Valley. Previously, Akira held various management positions in New York at Salomon Brothers (now CitiGroup), most recently as Vice President in Fixed Income Derivatives Trading, focusing on new business development, risk management, and trading desk management. He has also worked as a senior financial risk management consultant to the financial services industry; software engineer; advertising sales manager for the popular Let's Go travel guide series; general manager of an advertising and graphic design agency; and engineering intern at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. Akira earned his B.A. in Engineering Sciences from Harvard University.

Akira is a frequent guest lecturer on the topics of business planning, financial forecasting, and capital formation at the Phoenix chapter of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation's FastTrac entrepreneur training program and at various programs affiliated with Arizona State University (ASU). He also mentors companies preparing to present before the Arizona Angels and the Arizona Venture Capital Conference (AVCC).

Akira has also served on the Board of Directors for ITASA (Information Technology Association of Southern Arizona). He was named Entrepreneur of the Week in October 2000 by vCapital.com.

Booway Balhaajav, MBA - Principal Consultant

Boston, MA

Booway brings over 8 years of experience in business development, entrepreneurship, strategic planning, financial analysis, and market research in the financial services, healthcare, and IT industries, and an additional 6 years in international diplomacy. An expert financial modeler, he has developed over 100 models including pro forma projections for over a dozen startups, valuations, budget planning, sales forecasting, revenue models, cost analysis, and operations metrics.

Prior to joining Cayenne Consulting, he spent three years advising startups; co-founded a financial services company; performed international business development at GTech Corporation, the world's largest transaction processing company; consulted to Fortune 500 financial services and healthcare companies at Symmetrix; and conducted financial analysis at Allmerica Financial.

Booway earned his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, and his M.A. and B.A. in Linguistics from Moscow Linguistics University.

Ryan Chester - Principal Consultant

Phoenix, AZ

Ryan brings over ten years of experience in strategic implementation planning, financial analysis, and management consulting to businesses. He has worked with Big 5 and start-up companies in multiple industries and has expertise in bringing high performance ideas and teams together. He has hands-on experience in running start up companies and in launching new ventures in highly complex, mature enterprises.

Prior to joining Cayenne Consulting, he spent five years advising start-ups and early stage companies; prepared dozens of business and financial plans; created and implemented new internal business channels; facilitated international negotiations; migrated operations offshore; and formed strategic partnerships. Previously, he led the US West Communications channel for Paladyne Corp, during which he instituted numerous changes in direction and process increasing average monthly profitability by 130%.

Ryan earned his B.S. in Business Marketing at University of Phoenix.

David Daniels - Principal Consultant

Phoenix, AZ

David is a dynamic marketing professional with a track record of successfully delivering products to market. He has a consistent ability to conceptualize and implement effective marketing strategies to achieve business objectives on a global scale. David is skilled at creating winning teams and has a proven ability to lead, motivate, and inspire cross-functional teams. An insightful thinker, David consistently delivers innovative solutions to challenging problems.

David has held management and senior executive positions with companies that include: Level 8 Systems, Viasoft, Softlab GmbH (a BMW company), Kaseworks, Yancey Bros.(a Caterpillar affiliate), and Georgia-Pacific. He earned his BS in Computer Science with a Minor in Mathematics from Columbus State University.

Denisha de Mos - Principal Consultant

Phoenix, AZ

Denisha has a proven track record of analyzing, developing and executing product launches and business opportunities from global Fortune 500 companies to Internet start ups. With more than 13 years of experience in digital media, magazine and newspaper publishing, and retail, she is adept at growing new products and markets, and at bridging the gap between new and traditional media.

While at Hearst Magazines, one of the world’s largest publishers of monthly magazines, Denisha developed and executed multi-tiered marketing communication and development programs for some of the industry’s best-known titles: Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, O, The Oprah Magazine, and CosmoGirl!, to name a few. Denisha managed interactive marketing strategy for Hearst Magazines’ titles on the former leading women’s Internet portal, Women.com. She has also served as marketing manager in support of the product re-launch of a multi-million dollar portfolio of private label brands across 400 Federated Department Stores (Macy’s) nationwide.

Most recently, Denisha developed and managed the business planning, market research, financial modeling, and P&L efforts surrounding the launch of several print and online products for Gannett Corporation’s largest metropolitan newspaper and website, The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com.

Denisha holds an MBA from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, and a BS from the University of Arizona. She is a member of The Arizona Technology Council, the Economic Club of Phoenix, and the W. P. Carey MBA Alumni Council.

Tom Dykstra, MBA, CFPIM - Principal Consultant

Phoenix, AZ

Tom has over thirty years of business experience in strategy development, software design, engineering management, sales, marketing, channel creation, consulting, business modeling, decision analysis, capital acquisition, and new venture start-ups.

He is the co-founder of two ERP software companies: Effective Management Systems (ERP for discrete manufacturers) and EMS Solutions (ERP for automatic merchandising companies). Effective Management Systems appeared on the Inc 500 twice (28 and 37), acquired venture funding, and was taken public.

Before founding Effective Management Systems, he was with the Data Systems Division of AO Smith Corporation, a Fortune 500 diversified manufacturer. He was responsible for all financial and HR systems used by the corporation and the service bureau customers. He also founded the firm's small business computer line of business and the IT consulting practice.

He currently serves on the board of directors of Synergex International, a software firm.

As an adjunct faculty member at Grand Canyon University and Arizona State University, he has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in strategy, supply chain / operations management, project management, information systems, statistics, business modeling, and decision analysis.

Tom has an MBA from the University of Chicago and a BA in Mathematics from Hope College. He is also a Certified Fellow of the American Production and Inventory Control Society.

Jenifer Grant, MBA - Principal Consultant

New York, NY

Jenifer has been involved with finance, strategy, and marketing in a wide variety of roles and industries for over 15 years. In addition to third-party clients, she developed plans and implemented strategies for internal new businesses within IT and investment banking during the corporate phase of her career. Jenifer’s clients range from start-up through high middle market companies in fields including IT, software, telecom services, wireless, financial services, Internet/e-commerce, media/entertainment, healthcare products and wellness, consumer and industrial products, retail, mining and commodities, energy and tourism.

Prior to working as an independent consultant, Jenifer structured and managed transactions in global merchant banking and derivatives, and held strategic planning and management positions within investment banking and IT functions at Bankers Trust Company. Earlier, she worked in credit corporate finance at Manufacturers Hanover and portfolio strategy, equity and fixed income research at Kidder Peabody. Jenifer has an MBA in Finance from Wharton and a BA in Economics from Columbia.

Norton Greenfeld, Ph.D. - Principal Consultant

Boston, MA

Norton brings decades of experience in the information technology industry as an entrepreneur, as well as in the fields of product development, strategic market research, research and development, and management consulting. Norton has advised numerous startups as co-founder of a virtual incubator, where he assisted entrepreneurs in refining concepts and creating investment materials, evaluated deal flow, and provided technology perspective, including patent applications. He has also advised dozens of industry leaders including 3M, Amdahl, BankBoston, Cigna, DEC, Great Plains Software, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, NCR, Novell, NTT, Open Software Foundation, SAP, Sun, Sybase, Unisys, Xerox, and Ziff-Davis.

He has served as an industry analyst and columnist, contributing to PC Week, Computerworld, and Unix Review. Norton also holds several patents, and teaches management and entrepreneurship at Babson College in Wellesley, MA.

Norton earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in Engineering Science (Computer Science), and a B.S. in Mathematics, all from the California Institute of Technology.

Charles Krakoff, MBA - Principal Consultant

Boston, MA

Charles brings over 20 years of experience in financial and strategic consulting, private equity, investment banking, privatization, market research and investment and trade strategy. His industry expertise includes internet/e-commerce, media, telecommunications, agribusiness, security services, industrial parks and energy. He has been an executive in and fund-raiser for several start-up companies, and has worked with over 20 other established and start-up businesses to develop business and revenue models, prepare business plans and investment memorandums, conduct valuations, carry out due diligence, and raise debt and equity finance.

Much of Charles’s career has focused on emerging markets in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Before joining Cayenne Consulting he worked for a $150-million Africa-focused private equity fund, managed a financial consulting and advisory unit for Standard Corporate & Merchant Bank in Johannesburg, and worked for six years as a senior associate with Abt Associates, a leading U.S. research and consulting firm. He has also worked for the World Bank as an advisor to national governments on business and investment climate issues, and has advised numerous U.S., European and South African corporations on cross-border investments and market entry and expansion strategies.

Charles earned his MBA in finance and international business from Columbia University and his BA in Anthropology from Reed College. He is fluent in French.

Sara Moren, MBA - Principal Consultant

San Francisco, CA

Sara brings over ten years of experience in strategy and product development, management consulting, and financial analysis to Cayenne Consulting. She has worked with Fortune 500 and start-up companies domestically and internationally, and has extensive hands-on experience managing cross-functional teams comprised of marketing, business development, engineering, customer support, design, research, and third party vendors. Her industry experience includes online communities, consumer services, wireless technology, and health care.

Prior to joining Cayenne Consulting, she managed six product launches for companies including Match.com and Classmates Online, and advised numerous start-ups with their strategic plans, promotional efforts, and financial projections. Sara also has management consulting experience and was an investment banker, working on three international billion dollar mergers and a medical device venture capital fund.

Sara has an M.B.A. from the Wharton School and a B.A. in Mathematics from Columbia University.

Rick O'Hara, MBA - Principal Consultant

Austin, TX

With over twenty years of experience in management, management consulting, strategic and business planning, financial modeling and analysis, and launching new ventures, Rick has the broad-based experience to quickly comprehend the nuances of your business and create winning solutions that get results.

Rick served as CFO for several startups in multiple industries, including Paramount Digital Entertainment (a division of Paramount Television), Carter Aviation Technologies, and Trinity Thermal Systems. While Director of Business Planning at The Becker Group of Companies, he oversaw development of business plans and financial models for four technology startups, and participated in the merger and IPO of a software firm and hardware manufacturer. As Marketing Manager at Teledyne Analytical Instruments, he managed the launch of four new product lines.

As a management consultant, he has developed business plans, financial models, engineering models, proposals, and white papers used to successfully raise millions of dollars. While still a student at the University of Southern California’s MBA program, where he majored in Entrepreneurial Studies, he founded a software firm that developed and published the first business graphics software for microcomputers. Rick received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University.

George Papaioannou, MBA - Principal Consultant

Princeton, NJ

George Papaioannou has 15 years of experience in developing, analyzing, evaluating and executing business models, from an investment as well as an operational perspective.

George worked on Wall Street for a total of eight years, analyzing investment opportunities and positioning them with institutional investors. As a research analyst for Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, he covered the media & entertainment sector. While at DLJ, George played a central role in more than two dozen public offerings and M&A transactions worth a total of over $3 billion. As product manager for Thomas Weisel Partners, George oversaw all aspects of the equity research department's daily product output. He collaborated with the firm's research analysts to develop thematic investment ideas and position them with appropriate investors. George was a member of TWP's Research Review Committee, which reviewed and approved stock rating changes.

As a management consultant for IBM Global Services, George specialized in the development and execution of Internet strategies for Global 2000 media companies. At online music retailer CDNOW, he formulated a strategy and business model for selling digital downloads. Most recently, George was director of business development for Clique Communications, a provider of Web-based video communication technologies. At Clique, he was responsible for developing commercial applications for the technologies, finding new business opportunities and forging strategic partnerships.

George serves as a Mentor for the Eugene M. Lang Center for Entrepreneurship at Columbia University. He earned his BA from Cornell University and his MBA from Columbia Business School.

Dennis Pape, Ph.D. - Principal Consultant

Florida

Dennis brings over twenty five years of experience with high technology companies, from research scientist to manager to start-up founder to entrepreneur, corporate, and investor advisor. His primary expertise is in advising and directing new venture business, technology, and product development. He has strong technical, communication, organizational, and business skills with technical expertise in optics, photonics, optical networks, acoustics, electronics, communications, and medical devices.

Dennis has authored or co-authored business plans and investor presentations that have resulted in over $200M in institutional venture capital funding. He has hands-on experience as both a CEO and CTO during a new venture’s formative stage. He was a key player in a number of corporate technology spin-outs while he was at Milcom Technologies, a venture capital backed corporate spin-out firm.

Prior to joining Milcom, Dennis founded and was President of Photonic Systems Incorporated (PSI) in Melbourne, Florida. His firm specialized in the development of optical information processing technology products for both government and commercial customers. He secured seed venture capital funding for the firm and was responsible for the firm's technical leadership position in its field, which resulted in the award of over $7 Million of government R&D contracts, which he managed. Before founding PSI, Dennis worked as a Group Leader at Harris Corporation and as a Member of the Technical Staff at Texas Instruments. Dennis is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University of Central Florida Technology Incubator. He is a member of AUTM, IEEE, SPIE, and OSA. He is the coeditor of a book, the author of 3 book chapters and some 50 publications, and was the organizer of numerous national and international conferences in the field of optical information processing.

Dennis earned an A.B. in Physics from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Physics from Duke University.

Harry Phillips, J.D. - Principal Consultant

Phoenix, AZ

Prior to joining Cayenne, Harry developed business plans, financial models and investor presentations as part of a team of leveraged buyout specialists at a $1.2 billion private equity fund. He played a central role in over 20 deals that involved raising equity and debt financing from Wall Street and institutional sources totaling $9.5 billion, and helped create a portfolio of companies whose aggregate annual sales exceeded $10 billion. His experience includes developing revenue and operating models, part profitability analyses and enterprise-wide IT projects that integrated sales, volume, and cost data for strategic planning use. He worked closely with CEOs and CFOs of Fortune 500 companies, and played a significant role in managing a $4 billion a year, publicly traded auto parts manufacturer.

Previously, Harry has been involved with investor relations, business development, marketing, finance, and operations in a broad range of positions and industries for over 20 years. In addition to his work for a top accounting firm and Wall Street investment banks, he held a key operating and financial role at a regional painting and wallcovering contractor with $10 million in annual revenue. He has worked closely with companies spanning the start-up through high middle market stages in sectors including financial services, healthcare, real estate, consumer products, automotive, construction, high tech, industrial products, telecommunications, retail, and energy.

Harry has a J.D. from Pace University School of Law and a B.A. from Harvard University.

Jim Pinyan, MBA - Principal Consultant

Los Angeles, CA

Jim brings over 20 years of general management, marketing, business development, and program management experience to Cayenne Consulting. He has hands on experience running start up companies and working with boards and investors on strategic planning and corporate development, as well as implementing operating plans. Prior to joining Cayenne, Jim was an operations consultant for a solar engineering company where he developed a new business plan focusing on strategic sourcing partnerships and customer diversification. He was the President and co-founder of Valutrax, a system integrator of wireless solutions for improving asset utilization of large defense contractors. He has held COO and VP of Sales and Marketing positions with Lightcross and InLight, two high-tech start-ups where he was responsible for quickly assessing the companies and establishing and implementing a new business direction.

Jim's public company experience includes key management positions at Raychem Corporation and Tyco Electronics in the areas of domestic and international marketing and engineering program management. He has successfully led joint venture projects and delivered rapid growth products in multiple business categories. He has operational experience with both in-house and outsourced manufacturing models. Jim began his career as an engineer with Bell Labs and has compiled 10 patents while working as an engineer and technical manager.

Jim earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, and an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University.

Melissa Schaller, MBA - Principal Consultant

Phoenix, AZ

With over 12 years experience in business planning, financial modeling and analysis, entrepreneurship, marketing, strategic planning, and capital formation, Melissa has the breadth and depth of experience to quickly address your business challenges. As a Senior Research Analyst at Salomon Brothers (now CitiGroup), Melissa covered the medical device industry. She actively participated in several successful capital raises for Salomon Brothers’ investment banking clients. Prospectus drafting and the fine tuning of investor presentations were some of her important tasks as a part of raising capital for clients.

Melissa also has faced the professional challenge of founding, managing, and raising private equity capital for an Internet start-up company. Virtually all of Melissa’s professional experience either in operating companies or the financial services industry has been related to med tech or health care. Her MBA is in finance and marketing from University of Southern California, and she earned her BA in liberal arts from the University of Arizona.

Hal Siegel, Ph.D. - Principal Consultant

Phoenix, AZ

Hal is the founder of Siegel Consultancy, providing strategic and tactical expertise to life science companies, helping them meet FDA requirements from pre-clinical studies through the regulatory submission process and into the post-approval marketplace. He has delivered scientific, clinical and regulatory compliance assistance as well as submission preparation and management services to life science client companies developing drugs, therapeutic biologics, combination products, traditional devices, and in vitro diagnostic products.

Hal previously provided strategic and tactical management consulting services to a start up software company making knowledge management and collaboration tools for regulated life science companies, as well as Sun Microsystem’s Global Life Science group, working with sales, marketing, business development, legal, and professional services groups.

His degrees are from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and SUNY Buffalo (Ph.D., Biochemical Pharmacology).

Rick Tifone, MBA - Principal Consultant

Pittsburgh, PA

Rick brings over 25 years of executive management, marketing, sales and consulting experience to Cayenne Consulting. He has hands on experience running start up companies and working with CEOs on strategic planning, performance improvement and process improvement. In addition to his duties at Cayenne, Rick has a management consulting practice working with CEOs of B2B companies to help them start, grow or save their business. He has been working with companies involved with software development, IT services, real estate brokerage, staffing, sales and executive recruiting, medical equipment, construction, manufacturing and government sourcing. Rick also operates a residential real estate investment company.

As CEO of Danet, Inc., a consulting and systems integration company providing solutions for the telecommunications industry, Rick managed the profitable growth of the company from one employee to over one hundred. He was recognized by the Pittsburgh Technology Council as the CEO of the fastest growing company in the $10M to $25M range. During his nine years at Danet, Rick guided the company through dramatic telecom market changes and a transition from a software company to a system integration and consulting company. Rick conducted business throughout the US and Canada, South America, Europe and the Middle East.

Rick's public company experience includes positions at General Dynamics, Alcoa, Wang Laboratories and Tandem Computers. His formal education includes a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from the State University of New York at Potsdam and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School of Business.

Principal Consultant, MBA

Tel Aviv, Israel and New York, NY

Our Tel Aviv & New York based consultant has fourteen years of experience in the financial services sector, and has functioned in a variety of leadership roles. Most recently, he serves as a founding executive of a VC-backed P2P financial company, where he has been instrumental in strategy, business development, operations, and capital raising. Prior to this, he was a portfolio manager of a major international asset management company, where he oversaw $3 billion of institutional equity in the financial sector, which included banks, thrifts, fiduciaries, credit card and diversified financial companies. During his tenure, his investments performed in the top quartile relative to his peers. In addition, he has also served as a consultant, investment banker, and regulator within the financial services sector.

He earned an MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School, and B.A. in Economics from Yeshiva University.

Principal Consultant, MBA

San Francisco, CA - Bay Area

Our San Francisco consultant has twenty years of experience as a management consultant. He specializes in working with San Francisco Bay Area / Silicon Valley companies to raise venture capital. He is the author of numerous business plans leading to successful multi-million dollar investments. His plans have been used to raise capital, to solve critical business problems and to persuade investors, boards and senior management to take action. His plans are effective because they are based upon thorough qualitative and quantitative analysis, yet are able to communicate complex ideas in a simple straightforward manner. He has client experience in venture capital, high tech, financial, biotech, aerospace, manufacturing and service industries.

He earned his MBA from Harvard University and his BA in Biochemistry from Brown University.

Jan Knight, MA - Market Research Specialist

Tucson, AZ

Jan delivers both marketing and advertising experience to her role as our market research specialist. Her focus is on providing customized business intelligence and secondary market research. Her work has helped to shape business plans, marketing strategies, and new business development for a diverse set of clients. Jan has access to professional subscriber-only databases that provide authoritative data, nationally and internationally.

Previously, Jan spent a number of years working as a client liaison for two successful Advertising/Marketing Agencies. She also worked as a Purchasing/Manufacturing Manager for an international educational publisher. Jan also speaks to business groups and writes occasional columns on advanced online search strategies and market research related topics.

Currently she is an advisor and business plan judge for the University of Arizona's McGuire Entrepreneurship program and acts as advisor and guest speaker for the Microbusiness Advancement Center. She currently serves on the Greater Tucson Chapter of National Association of Women Business Owners, and is an active member of Association of Independent Information Professionals.

Jan earned her M.A. in Information Resources & Library Science from the University of Arizona, and her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.