CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 10 2023 13 Aug23169 Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Massimino Ventures is a global private equity and venture capital operation with a focus on SMEs. The mastermind of serial entrepreneur, Daniel Joseph Massimino, he was recently recognised as Most Influential CEO 2023 - Pennsylvania (Financial Services) for his dedication and commitment. We find out more from Daniel himself as he introduces us to a place where passion, purpose, and progress converge. Part of the Massimino Companies group, Massimino Ventures believes in creating a world where excellence, innovation, and compassion thrive. As a pioneering global private equity and venture capital firm, the group’s mission is to transform industries, nurture talent, and generally make Earth a happier planet to live upon! This is the motto by which the company’s namesake, Daniel (Dan) Massimino, lives, breathes and, indeed, thrives. The company’s journey began with a vision to cultivate ecosystems that inspire creativity, foster equality, and promote a healthy work-life balance. Over the years, Dan and the team have diligently maintained a warm and welcoming environment where co-workers feel empowered, and where the core values of the firm, which revolve around fairness and inclusivity, not to mention its firm commitment to sustainability and ethical practices, enable it to shine the light on the smaller, lesser-known companies who simply need a little help getting off the ground. Styling himself as an ‘angel investor’, Chief Executive Officer, Dan’s main roles and responsibilities lie in identifying individuals and organisations in order to build lifelong mutually profitable relationships with them, all the time humbled by the opportunity to pursue ideas with capital and striving to be a responsible investor. “We serve startups from pre-seed idea stage all the way through lower mid-market companies doing $200 million plus in annual revenue,” Dan elaborates. “My personal preference seems to focus more on the lower midmarket as it is the most exciting stage, in my opinion, and the work we do there has the greatest impact.” In fact, one of Massimino Ventures’ clients alone provides services to more than 250,000 retailers in India, an example which highlights just how many consumers the firm’s products and services impact on a daily basis. “Working on projects like that brings me great joy, just knowing that our work is positively impacting so many lives,” enthuses Dan. “The root of every endeavour is an insatiable curiosity and desire to leave earth a happier planet than when I found it. Having fun and helping other humans are my top priorities in life.” Having been an entrepreneur for more than half of his life, from the tender age of 12 when he set up his very first company, Dan has worn many hats, met many people, and ventured into a wide array of industries. Over this time, he has also developed a deep love of building things and a passion for solving super difficult problems. Confessing that he has failed more than he has succeeded, Dan seems to finally have hit the sweet spot. “I’ve sold a lot of stuff, wasted a lot of money, and made a ton of mistakes,” he humbly admits. “At the end of the day, I just love playing the game.” With that being said, Dan continues to tell us that he believes the single greatest challenge that we all face in life, and business, on a daily basis is knowing thyself and getting out of our own way. Having worked on himself over the course of his entrepreneurial journey, Dan now sees himself as much more self-aware of his defects and has learned that it is much easier to find people who are good at the things that he cannot do, rather than trying to change who he is to overcome his shortcomings. “I am what I am,” he laughs. “When I was younger, I used to be more of a micro manager, but now I primarily focus on crafting the vision for the future and simply steering our dedicated and global team in the right direction. I believe if you give your people the right aim and values, they will naturally do the right things within the organisation in order to accomplish the desired outcomes.” Regarding other obstacles and issues that have been faced and overcome, regulation is always a huge challenge in the financial industry, with regulators seemingly introducing more and more rules, slowing innovation and creating barriers to entry for the smaller guys – something which Dan finds incredibly frustrating. Opportunities, however, he sees everywhere and in everything. “I think the greatest opportunity we all share as executives is to make a meaningful impact on the world around us for our species and future generations,” continues Dan. “At this current moment on the space time continuum, I’m not quite sure exactly what it is that I want to do with my time here on this spinning rock we call Earth so for now I’m just following my God given intuition and genuine curiosities.” Recently, for his dedication and commitment to enabling and empowering the smaller companies out there in the hope that they can one day thrive, Dan was recognised in the CEO of the Year Awards and presented with the prestigious accolade of Most Influential CEO 2023 - Pennsylvania (Financial Services). Understandably delighted, he is quick to recognise the skills and hard work of his dedicated team too, who he states have helped the company to become the success story it is today. “A company is nothing but a group of people working really hard to create products and services,” he enthuses. “Without people, you have no company and so we have a people-first culture.” Now, as the firm looks towards a bright and exciting future, Dan has big plans. Over the next 12 months, his goal is to continue to build strategic partnerships and alliances across the globe that share his values and visions of a happier future for all humans on earth. He aims to attain this by building a global financial conglomerate consisting of a holding company; a private equity firm focused on fintech, AI, infrastructure, aerospace, and sustainability; a venture arm focused on founders with disabilities; and a non-profit focused on programming for gifted children! And where his own personal development is concerned? “Honestly, I don’t believe very much in concrete plans as I believe the universe itself does a much better job at planning than I could ever do,” Dan finalises. “Therefore, I tend to focus more on the present and the vision, then let the universe work the rest out. This perspective has made the greatest impact on my life.”
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