June 9, 2023
Similar to hiring talent, finding advisors to guide the leaders of an organization through important business phases is a process that requires an abundance of thought and relationship building.
Each entrepreneur and leader on Prophia’s advisory board was chosen because of the contributions they’ve made as experts in their respective industries and the personal connection they’ve maintained with Cameron and team throughout the ideation and growth of Prophia.
Read on to find out more about each of these unique individuals who comprise Prophia’s own source of truth and inspiration.
Alisa Weiner
Strategic Marketing Consultant, AWSM Group
Alisa Weiner’s consulting career began at OpenTable where she played an important leadership role in a number of strategic initiatives for the company. It was at this time that she and Cameron developed a business relationship, bouncing ideas off of one another while sharing a working space at OpenTable. After Prophia launched, Alisa naturally found her footing in an advisory role to the company. Today, she continues her entrepreneurial pursuits as a consultant to both up-and-coming organizations as well as major players in SaaS and B2B markets.
“Prophia has already demonstrated that it has a solution that provides value to its customers. The customer retention rate is fantastic and it’s that demonstration that determines when it’s time to scale. I think Prophia is at that point where you’re about to have that inflection point from demonstrating that the product works to thinking about how to scale.”
Brandon Sedloff
Managing Director/SVP, Juniper Square
As Managing Director and SVP of Juniper Square, Brandon joined the private investment fund as a founding revenue leader where he grew the team to 100 employees. Brandon’s experience as a leader and an expert in business development, sales, and executive engagement has made him an incredibly important member of Prophia’s advisory board as the company navigates investor funding and finding top tier talent.
"Technology is no longer a nice-to-have, it's a must-have. It's no longer real estate or technology, it's real estate and technology. Whether you're a residential broker, you're in commercial, you're in institutional, you need to use technology to be relevant—and Prophia is a great example of that specialized technology for CRE."
Howard Hersch
Vice Chairman, Brokerage, JLL
Howard Hersch is a highly effective and uniquely creative Vice Chairman based in Midtown Manhattan, sought after for high-profile assignments across diverse asset classes and global markets. With exceptional expertise in tenant representation, agency leasing, and multinational advisory work, Howard's expertise lies in his exceptional communication skills and sales ability, making him one of JLL's youngest and most consistent top producers. Howard’s first-hand industry experience has proven vital Prophia’s growth and ability to support the needs of CRE professionals as the industry continues to change.
Jim Harris
Founder & Former CEO, Wall Street Journal Office Network
Jim Harris brings both marketing chops and entrepreneurial experience to his role as a Prophia advisor. His own real estate-centric digital media company, The Wall Street Journal Office Network, spans 760+ premier office buildings in 15 cities across the US. In addition to founding his own company, Jim Harris was also a marketing consultant for a little start-up called Google and helped to write the business plan for Audible. His knowledge and experience in the business world is essential for Prophia’s growth from Proptech start-up to industry leader.
“If you've operated a commercial real estate company and you've seen how data is siloed across departments and across disparate software systems, you actually have a significant need for a solution, like Prophia, that can drive spectacular productivity while cutting expenses and gaining value across the organization."
Jeff Toporek
Principal & Co-Founder, FD Stonewater
Jeff Toporek is a Principle and Co-Founder of boutique real estate and investment firm, FD Stonewater. As an original founder and Stonewater Partners executive, Jeff brings considerable knowledge and experience pertaining to business growth and maturation. At FD, Jeff has overseen the development and launch of initiatives that drive both business-side innovation as well as the production of new technology in sectors such as construction management and industrial and logistics. Jeff’s deep CRE and technology background has solidified his place on Prophia’s advisory board as the company continues to grow.
“We are recognized in the industry as a leader in embracing technology, demoing 2-3 new solutions every month. When we learned about Prophia, we committed after 2 weeks and now it is one of the most heavily utilized platforms across multiple disciplines internally and externally.”
Jon Mirkin
Managing Principal, MLN Partners
Jonathan Mirkin is a Managing Principal at MLN Partners with expertise in acquisitions and finance, particularly in the west coast markets. With a strong background in structuring and executing deals, he has overseen transactions worth over $2 billion. Jonathan is a valuable asset for investment pursuits and Prophia's go-to market strategy. His strategic approach, industry involvement, and market expertise make him an exceptional advisor.
Larry Serota
Executive Managing Director & Board Member, Transwestern
Larry Serota is an Executive Managing Director at Transwestern where he actually started his career out of college. A Chicago native, Larry has an affinity for being near the action. Whether that’s being an active member of the Transwestern Board of Directors, assisting and overseeing the company’s ventures or boisterously making his way through a crowded room of people, Larry stands out as a Prophia advisor for his ease with people and CRE acumen.
“Prophia powers those who regularly use portfolio data to make greater decisions while knowing that the insight is tied, ultimately, to the source. You can see it with your own eyes and have access to an enormous amount of data at your fingertips.”
Mark Wood
Former Executive Director & COO, Nuveen
Mark Wood is a seasoned entrepreneur who spent his career at a number of notable CRE firms. He spent a majority of his career at TIAA-CREF (now Nuveen) as Executive Director and COO. He sponsored many technology initiatives at Nuveen until he stepped away to retire and become an independent business consultant. Today, Mark is providing his CRE business acumen to the Prophia team advising CEO, Cameron Steele, and continuing to keep ties with the industry that launched his career.
"The return on investment with Prophia is dramatic, particularly when you look over the lifespan of the investment."
Rajiv Patel
President & Managing Director, Spear Street Capital
Rajive Patel is currently President of San Francisco-based commercial real estate firm, Spear Street Capital, that owns and operates distinctive office properties in the United States, Europe, and Canada. Over nearly a 30-year period, the firm has invested in over 85 properties representing over $11 billion in total value. As an advisor and Prophia customer, Rajiv’s partnership illustrates Prophia’s positioning as a tech solution that both serves and nurtures relationships with CRE leaders.
Thriving in the fiercely competitive vertical SaaS market and establishing ourselves as a burgeoning startup require meticulous strategic planning and an unwavering go-to-market strategy at every turn. Moreover, the invaluable guidance from our esteemed advisory board members has played an instrumental role in shaping Prophia's present success and future success to come.
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