
UGA Capital Ventures I Who We Are
Today, at UGA Capital Ventures, we build remarkable value for our portfolio of independently owned and operated companies by providing strategic investment and operating guidance. We work collaboratively to ensure advantageous market positioning, sustainable growth, and, when appropriate, a clear path to exit while producing outstanding, risk-adjusted returns for our stakeholders.
UGA Capital Ventures advises our portfolio of companies on a full range of liquidity transactions ranging from early-stage growth capitalization [which blends the best elements of venture capital and private equity] to a minority sale to a majority recapitalization with a financial sponsor. Additionally, UGA has the resources to structure, when desired, the most advantageous exit, whether it be a full sale to a financial or strategic acquirer, a merger, or an IPO.
With expertise and investments in data management, cloud architecture, cyber security, software development, professional services, social benefit, beauty and wellness, property management, and food services, UGA Capital Ventures is uniquely positioned to help produce significant financial returns and meaningful social impact for each of our portfolio companies [along with the fulfillment of their founder’s vision].
Our UGA mission is to provide the vision, resources, and confidence necessary to enable the development of our portfolio of independently owned and operated businesses as a rewarding experience for those willing to take the full measure of the challenge. Building real value in a business is not easy, but it is certainly rewarding.
Battery Attached
The key to launching a dynamic partnership starts with being in sync with the founding partner’s ambition. But the success of any UGA partnership has always been dependent on having a visionary partner who is not only an expert in the business but, most importantly, the battery attached.
Power is the ability to initiate and sustain action, translating intention into reality – and without the core power that the visionary partner provides, there is no energy source.
Without the energetic engagement and inspiring leadership of the visionary partner, there is little or no chance of success. As we look back on all of our really successful partnerships, we have been fortunate to have been engaged with several magnetic and energetic partners who understand the basic premise that defines leadership in UGA’s portfolio of companies: Leadership is the ability to create an environment where people are motivated to give 100% effort toward the desired result.
Continuos Development & Renewal
In order to bring a visionary partner’s ideas and concepts to life and, more importantly, to continue their ever-changing and dynamic growth, it is UGA’s responsibility to build and support a flexible matrix for each business that enables, encourages, and ensures ongoing paradigm shifts through the simple restructuring of elements providing maximum speed to benefit and market ascendancy.
We never agreed with the “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” adage. At UGA, we believe that if it is working, we can still make it work better [because the competition is definitely working on something better]. For us, the challenge remains to always stay ahead of the competition by continuously renewing who we are. Unfortunately, renewal often frustrates those who simply do not want to change.
In the early years of the Stereo Advantage, we remodeled the entire store every February. We built buildings, rooms, walls, counters, offices, or displays only to tear them down as soon as we recognized we could [and should] build something better. And while this disruptive approach can be disconcerting, it continues to stoke the fire within and accelerate our growth.
UGA Capital Ventures I Portfolio
At UGA Capital Ventures, we learn from the past, live in the present, and build for the future. The past provides us with precious memories, moments, and a building block for the future.
The present is here to both challenge us and provide enjoyment [and neither meeting the challenge nor enjoying the moment should ever be delayed until tomorrow]. The future provides us with the promise of what we can be. Fortunately, the future of UGA Capital Ventures provides us with more promise than ever before.
In our technology partnerships, UGA helped bring value to Autonomic Resources by changing our vanguard FedCLOUD into a FedRAMP product instead of a service and to Capax by splitting it into Capax Global and Capax Discovery [now Zantaz EAS].
The profile below of our UGA portfolio of businesses starts with our Ten Tech lineup of independently owned and operated technology companies. Be big, be a builder.

UGA Capital Ventures Directory
UGA Capital Ventures
1955 Wehrle Drive
Williamsville, NY 14221
TheAdvantage.com
Katherine Ragusa
CEO, Advantage Co
[716] 626-3280
Tracy Allen
Human Resources
[716] 866-6425
Jamie Welsted
Creative Director
[716] 430-2929
Walker Global Funding
16736 Prato Way
Naples, Florida 34110
Black Progress Matters
22918 N 45th Pl
Phoenix, AZ 85050
BlackProgressMatters.org
Dean Haynesworth
CEO & Executive
Minority Partner
[480] 352-2679
Jordyn Haynesworth
Director of Executive Minority Staffing
[716] 783-1167
Giancarlo's Sicilian
Steakhouse & Pizzeria
5110 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221
[716] 650-5566
GiancarlosSteakhouse.com
Anthony Ragusa
Managing Partner
[716] 650-5566
Gabriela Ragusa
Founding Partner
[716] 650-5566
Fred Palmer
Manager
[716] 544-5985
Paul Bartholomew
Manager
[716] 803-5501
Emily Marchiori
Events Manager
[716] 597-9731
Grivani Wine Cellar
5110 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221
[716] 650-5566
GiancarlosSteakhouse.com
Lifetime Service
& Solutions
1955 Wehrle Dr., Suite B
Williamsville, NY 14221
[716] 632-0216
LifetimeService.com
Mike DeJoy
COO/President
[716] 204-5460
Al Walters
EVP Purchasing &
Global Supply Chain
[716] 868-0194
Joe Switniewski
Senior Technical Manager
[716] 632-0216
Jim Berent
Senior Technical Manager
[716] 632-0216
Bill Hoyt
Director, Smart Squad
[716] 204-1616
Connor Ortolani
Logistics Manager
[716] 626-3248
Advantage Technology Integration
1955 Wehrle Dr., Suite B
Williamsville, NY 14221
[716] 222-2048
AdvantageTI.com
Kevin Bohner
Director
[716] 222-2048
iWorld Professionals
155 Culver Road,
Suite #200
Rochester, NY 14620
[866] 631-5492
Guylaine DiSalvo
Managing Partner
gdisalvo@iworldprofessionals.com
AP Professionals
5110 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221
[800] 635-0230
[716] 635-0290
Kelly Cultrara
President
Joe Kreuz
Managing Partner
AP Professionals
500 Linden Oaks
Rochester, NY 14625
[800] 770-1716
[585] 381-7350
APProfessionals.com
Matt Taylor
Managing Partner
matt@rochesterap.com
AP Professionals
4110 N. Scottsdale Road
Suite 380
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
[480] 947-1441
APProfessionals.com
Jerry Tenenbaum
Founder, AP Arizona
The Walker Center
5110 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221
Advantage Legal
& Fiduciary
5110 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221