Board of Directors
Rick Auletta
President and Chief Executive Officer, Softgate Systems
Rick Auletta brings over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry to his roles as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Board member of Softgate Systems. Previously, Rick was Chief Operating Officer, Softgate Systems where he was responsible for overseeing all sales activity and operations. Prior to joining Softgate, Rick was Vice President of Sales for Princeton eCom's electronic bill payment solutions. During his tenure at Princeton eCom, he developed and implemented strategies that increased sales by over 150%.
Before joining Princeton eCom, Mr. Auletta served as Vice President of Business Development for TheStreet.com where he created the Professional Markets Group, designed to sell private label consumer financial information to online services, such as consumer portals, online brokerage firms and national consumer financial institutions. Prior to TheStreet.com, Rick worked for Standard & Poor's Corporation as Vice President of Sales in the Retail Brokerage Division where he was responsible for growing a $60 million division that sold independent equity research to major retail brokerage and commercial banking institutions.
Mr. Auletta also serves on the board of RewardsNow, a premier provider of turnkey loyalty programs headquartered in Dover, NH.
Michael Cichowski
Principal, Edison Ventures
Michael Cichowski is a principal at Edison Ventures, a leading venture fund in the Mid-Atlantic region (www.edisonventures.com). He evaluates and helps lead investments in financial services. Michael focuses on innovative technology and business models in securities/capital markets, payments, banking and real estate. He is a active member of many venture and financial services organizations in the NY/NJ region.
Prior to joining Edison, Michael held a variety of operating roles within technology, financial services and strategy consulting. He began his career at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers where he led middle office product initiatives in data and reporting for institutional clients. He served as a Consultant at Monitor Group where he helped organizations address strategic challenges, such as M&A evaluation and supply/demand planning. Michael also led the launch of a new web-based product at a venture-backed photo and video sharing startup.
Michael received a BS from Rutgers University and MS from Columbia University.
Marc Cole
Managing Director, Metropolitan Equity Partners
Prior to joining Metropolitan, Marc spent six years as a Partner and co-founder of Hamilton Investment Partners, LLC (HIP), a family office and private equity firm. At HIP, Marc led direct equity investments and managed a mezzanine and bridge loan portfolio. Prior to that, Marc spent five years at Mellon Ventures, the $1.4 billion private equity partnership affiliated with Mellon Financial Corporation. At Mellon Ventures Marc served as a Vice President in the Financial and Business Services Practice Group. Marc began his career with Legg Mason as an investment banking analyst covering middle market and emerging growth companies. Marc is the Executive Chairman of Capital Payments, LLC, a Metropolitan Equity Partners' portfolio company and serves on the Boards of Capital Payments, LLC, The DoublePositive Marketing Group and In Person Payments of America. Marc graduated with a BS in Finance Magna Cum Laude from the Pennsylvania State University.
Manu Rana
Managing Director, Financial Partners
Manu Rana is a Managing Director of the Financial Partners Fund, a fund sponsored by Citi Capital Partners. Manu was previously a Managing Director of Old Lane, LP, a $4B diversified investment fund where he led Old Lane’s negotiated investments in financial services. Manu joined Old Lane from Lazard Alternative Investments, where he was a Managing Director of the firm and was responsible, on behalf of Lazard Technology Partners, one of Lazard’s funds, for equity and debt investments in investments in early- or growth- financial- and related business and information services companies. Prior to joining Lazard in 1994, Manu was a member of A.T. Kearney’s financial institutions practice. Manu received a BA from Columbia University, is based in New York.