Smart capital for early-stage Vertical AI
Proofpoint Capital partners with founders building the next category-defining companies
Vertical AI with a core focus on
Healthcare, Life Sciences, and Financial Services
We invest in industries where our team built category leaders and where domain expertise, deep workflow ownership, proprietary data, and distribution flywheels lead to superior defensibility and enduring competitive moats.
Success as
Operators
Success as
Operators
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Dan Goldsmith
Co-Founder & Partner
Dan Goldsmith is an operator–entrepreneur with deep experience across vertical software, healthcare and life sciences. He is the co-founder and former CEO of Tendo, a healthtech company improving patient access, experience, and outcomes through data-driven technology.
Previously, Dan was CEO of Instructure, where he led the $2 billion take-private of Canvas, the leading education platform used by over 30 million students and educators. Before that, he joined Veeva Systems (NYSE: VEEV) as one of its first 30 employees, serving in multiple C-level roles over eight years. He helped lead the company through a successful IPO and over $1 billion in revenue, helping establish Veeva as one of the most iconic vertical SaaS companies.
Dan began his career as a software engineer at Accenture before joining IBM, where he became one of the youngest Partners in the firm’s history. He led global life sciences units and advised most of the top twenty Pharmaceutical companies.
As an investor and advisor, Dan has supported dozens of early-stage companies, helping raise hundreds of millions in capital and generate billions in market value. At Proofpoint Capital, he now partners with ambitious founders to turn vision into velocity.
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Jonathan Brassington
Co-Founder & Partner
Jonathan Brassington is a founder and builder of technology-enabled businesses. He co-founded LiquidHub and, as CEO, scaled it to more than $240 million in annual revenue before a $530 million sale to Capgemini.
Following the acquisition, he became Executive Vice President and Managing Director at Capgemini, overseeing one of the firm’s largest digital transformation practices with global P&Ls and thousands of consultants. Jonathan has served as a board member and advisor to leading organizations including SEI (NASDAQ: SEIC), Cordial, Penn, and PACT.
His career reflects a consistent ability to win enterprise customers, run complex operations at scale, and create durable value. At Proofpoint, he partners with founders to install the operating cadence, hiring plans, and go-to-market systems that compound.
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Matt Wallach
Co-Founder & Partner
Matt Wallach is the co-founder and former President of Veeva Systems (NYSE: VEEV), a Public Benefit Corporation and global leader in cloud-based software for the life sciences industry, with a market capitalization exceeding $30 billion. Under his leadership, Veeva grew from inception to billions in revenue and established itself as the most successful vertical SaaS company in history, creating the playbook for an ‘industry cloud.’
Earlier in his career, Matt led the life sciences vertical at Siebel Systems, where he gained deep operating experience and domain expertise during the company’s rapid growth phase. Beyond his operating success, Matt serves on the boards of Veeva and HealthVerity, as well as the non-profit boards of The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Union Foundation. A high school All-American and Division I soccer player, Matt is also on the ownership team of the Philadelphia Union.
After a six year retirement from Veeva, Matt is jumping back in to help identify the next generation of founders and actively help them build great, enduring companies.
Success as
Investors
Success as
Investors
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![Ita Zur Headshot]()
Matt and Dan were among Veho’s earliest investors and have been two of my most trusted advisors over the past seven years. As an entrepreneur pursuing an ambitious vision, their pattern recognition and experience scaling companies from startup to billion-dollar enterprises have been essential to Veho’s rapid growth and success. They’ve been instrumental in shaping our go-to-market and long-term product strategy, building/mentoring the team, board engagement, and raising capital. What I value most is their deep commitment—always accessible, unafraid to roll up their sleeves in the warehouse or office, and consistently pushing our thinking at the highest strategic level.
Itamar Zur
Co-Founder and CEO -
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Jonathan Brassington has been far more than an investor and advisor — he’s been a trusted mentor and strategic partner, whose wisdom and steady perspective have shaped how I think and lead. His insight helped me see around corners, anticipate what was coming, and chart a course that enabled the SevOne team to transform how the world’s largest enterprises monitor and optimize their digital infrastructure. Jonathan brings a unique combination of experience — entrepreneur, investor, and strategic advisor — that allows him to understand challenges from every angle.
Michael Phelan
CEO -
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Matt Wallach has been one of the most impactful advisors I’ve ever worked with. He has a rare combination of empathy and accountability — he calls it like it is, no fluff, no ego, and genuinely has your back. Over the past four years, he’s helped me think through everything from market segmentation, product expansion, value engineering, to board management and leadership transitions. Unlike many advisors who give armchair advice, he’s deeply engaged — he seeks to understand the context of the business and team, takes ownership of his advice, and is one of the best leaders to learn from and be mentored by.
Melissa Wong
Co-Founder and CEO -
![Gui de Zwirek Portrait]()
Dan has been instrumental to Artera’s success. He brings a rare combination of strategic insight, operational expertise, and a deep focus on value creation. Over the past five years, he’s been a trusted partner to our management team and a leading voice in the boardroom. Drawing from his experience as a CEO, Dan has consistently helped me anticipate challenges and navigate each stage of our growth.
Gui de Zwirek
Founder & CEO -
![Matt Bernardini Headshot]()
As one of our earliest investors, Jonathan Brassington's support has been foundational to Zenapse's journey. He doesn't just invest—he provides incisive coaching and strategic clarity across critical areas, including business growth, operational scaling, and capital markets. Jonathan possesses a unique and powerful ability to synthesize disparate market data, helping our founders to confidently chart a strategic path to market success. His proven experience in growing and operating companies at scale has been tremendously valuable, directly shaping our long-term planning and execution.
Matthew Bernardini
Co-Founder and CEO -
![Tom Stanford Headshot]()
From our early days of Nuvolo’s scale-up journey, Dan was a foundational partner to me and my leadership team - as a Board Director, advisor, investor, and coach. His knowledge and experience in vertical SaaS, scaling businesses, and navigating complex ecosystems as a CEO were critical to our growth and success. Over six years, Dan helped inform our strategy, build the team, open industry doors, and serve as my most trusted advisor driving meaningful financial value through our strategic exit.
Tom Stanford
Founder and CEO -
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Jonathan has been a cornerstone of the Greater Philadelphia innovation community for more than two decades—an entrepreneur, builder, and mentor who embodies the collaborative spirit PACT stands for. His launch of Proofpoint Capital reflects that same commitment: connecting exceptional founders with smart capital, operational insight, and a deep sense of purpose. Jonathan doesn’t just invest in companies—he invests in people and ecosystems, helping ideas scale into enduring enterprises.
Dean Miller
CEO -
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Matt doesn’t just bring capital, he brings clarity. He has a rare ability to quickly grasp complex situations, cut to the heart of the matter, and deliver sharp, actionable insights. His guidance has been invaluable as we navigate strategic decisions, particularly around go-to-market and fundraising. His involvement consistently adds real value far beyond investment dollars.
Joel Morse
CEO & Co-Founder -
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Jonathan Brassington’s involvement with Foundry9 was game-changing. His experience and hands-on approach gave us the clarity and leadership insight required to rapidly scale and launch our next-generation go-to-market vision. He was the vital combination of an unparalleled operational expert and an infectiously inspiring and motivating force.
Christer Manning
Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer
Our Approach
At Proofpoint, we’re more than capital—we’re company builders.
Our approach is informed by 25+ years building, advising, and investing in some of the best vertical software companies in the market. We deploy deep domain expertise, operating playbooks, and an activated network to help founders scale extraordinary businesses.
Operator-Led, Boardroom-Tested
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We have scaled companies from idea to IPO. We’ve been in the trenches—founding, funding, and building businesses in some of the toughest markets. That experience now works for you. From helping you attract and hire senior leaders, to setting the right operating cadence, to designing and managing your board, we bring firsthand insight into what it takes to build durable, high-growth companies.
Because we’ve done it before.
An Activated Operator Network
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Our Operator Network has been built shoulder-to-shoulder over 25 years — working inside some of the most iconic vertical software companies as founders, executives, and investors. It’s not a list of advisors — it’s a trusted, active community forged in the trenches. These operators engage directly with our portfolio to refine go-to-market strategy, coach executive teams, connect you with customers and partners, and share proven playbooks that help avoid the avoidable — all with the urgency and insight that only comes from experience.
All when it matters most.
Smart Capital, Deep Conviction
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We don’t just follow the trends—we back founders with purpose. Our capital is focused, our support is tailored, and our conviction runs deep. We partner with you to shape capital raising and deployment strategies, pressure-test business models, and prepare for the next stage of scale—whether that’s your next round, a key acquisition, or a strategic exit. We bring domain expertise, operating playbooks, networks, and the mindset of people who know how to build enduring enterprise value.
Built to help founders win.
Contact Us
Building something bold—or looking to back those who are?
We would love to connect.