3i Member Spotlight

A 3i Member since 2024, Ankur Bansal is the President of HomeLight Inc. He brings over a decade of experience as a founder, operator, and investor in the technology space. Ankur began his career in private equity before launching SnapSaves, a receipt-scanning cashback app that was acquired by Groupon in just 11 months. He later served as a founding executive at SnapTravel (now Super.com), where he helped scale the business from inception to over $175 million in revenue in just two years.

In this episode, Ankur talks about:
 • Lessons from building and exiting SnapSaves in under 12 months
 • Opportunities and emerging trends in proptech—and where the space is heading
 • How AI is already reshaping mortgage operations and real estate workflows
 • Why product-market fit is a spectrum—and how entrepreneurs should think about raising capital

A 3i Member since 2022, Adam H. Schwartz is a Partner and Portfolio Manager at First Manhattan, where he has worked since 2001. Adam played a pivotal role in launching the FM First China Funds in 2009—First Manhattan's China-focused investment vehicles—and regularly travels to China to collaborate on research, portfolio management, and due diligence. He holds a BA in Economics and International Relations from Brown University and an MBA from Columbia University Graduate School of Business.

First Manhattan has a deep-rooted legacy of partnership and investment alignment with Warren Buffett. Throughout his 25 years at First Manhattan, Adam has embraced and carried forward this tradition, fostering lasting relationships with Berkshire Hathaway and securing exclusive access to the Annual Shareholder Meeting on behalf of 3i members for the third consecutive year.

In this episode, Adam shares:

• Effective strategies for investing in China

• Importance of management incentives and compensation

• Long-term discipline in navigating technological disruption

Craig Weiss is a leading Entrepreneur, Investor, and an Author. Currently, he is the Managing Partner of Flagstaff Ventures, where he brings entrepreneur-focused perspective to the venture capital field as one of the few institutional investors to have both built a unicorn as a CEO and also identified and invested in an early-stage startup that has achieved unicorn status. Craig has been a 3i Member since 2023.
In this episode, Craig discusses his experience writing two books on Israel's War of Independence, coining the concept of a "karmapreneur," and finding deep community value in Зі. He reveals how spiritual and commercial aims merge to create both financial and societal impact.

Listen to the podcast to learn more about:

Lessons from Authorship: Through archival research, interviews, and declassified military documents, Craig uncovered overlooked historical narratives-an approach he sees as mirroring the diligence required in startup investing.

Pivoting from Patent Attorney to CEO: How a background in patent law primed Craig for evaluating inventions and led to growing a vaping-tech startup that helped bring about a near smoke-free generation.

Integrating Business & Spirituality: Craig reflects on seeing seemingly different domains—venture investing, intellectual life, and moral purpose—as fundamentally connected, guiding his vision for future “karmapreneurs.”

Craig's Books:

• I Am My Brother’s Keeper: American Volunteers in Israel's War for Independence 1947-1949
• Fighting Back: Stan Andrews and the Birth of the Israeli Air Force

Documentary:

• Above and Beyond (2014 documentary featuring Craig Weiss)

Craig's Professional Links:

• Flagstaff Ventures (Craig Weiss's Venture Firm)
• Craig Weiss LinkedIn

Additional References from Conversation:

• Reason.com article covering Sen. Rockefeller’s vaping remarks
• Cast a Giant Shadow (1966 film about Mickey Marcus, mentioned in episode)

3i Members Links:

• 3i Members Official Website
• 3i Members LinkedIn

Zoë, formerly the Senior Vice President of AI at Citi, is a distinguished leader in the AI field with over 12 years of experience. At Citi, she spearheaded the adoption of agentic AI across the firm, enhancing various business processes. Prior to this, as a Staff Applied Scientist at Etsy, she led initiatives in personalized search and discovery. A graduate of NYU with a deep background in AI, Zoë holds three patents in large language models and is an active angel investor in AI-first startups such as Tough Day, Starcycle, and Eden Labs. She is now the co-founder and CEO of Sequen AI, where she patented the first-of-their-kind scalable specialized agents that autonomously seek to maximize conversion rates. She has been a 3i member since 2024.

In This Episode, Hear About:

Sector Impact: Discover how AI is transforming sectors like banking, healthcare, and retail, setting the stage for future innovations and investment opportunities.

Bridging the AI Ecosystem: Zoë shares insights from her experiences on how AI strategies vary between corporate giants and nimble startups across various fields.

Emerging AI Trends: Zoë highlights the latest advancements in AI, including generative models, Deepseek, and agentic technologies, and their profound effects on the market.

Learn more about 3i Members and follow us on LinkedIn for updates.

Peter Boockvar is the Chief Investment Officer at The Bleakley Group and publisher of The Boock Report. He is a trusted voice in financial media, regularly contributing to CNBC. Prior to joining Bleakley, Peter was the Chief Market Analyst at The Lindsey Group, a macroeconomic and market research firm founded by former Federal Reserve Governor Larry Lindsey. Earlier in his career, he worked as a Macro Analyst and Portfolio Manager at Omega Advisors and served as an Equity Strategist and Portfolio Manager at Miller Tabak + Company. Peter has been a 3i Member since 2023.

In This Episode, Hear About:

• 2025 Market Predictions: Positioning portfolios for shifting economic cycles
• Global Opportunities: Leveraging Asia’s growing middle class and regional momentum
• The Role of Crypto: Evaluating digital assets as a hedge and growth opportunity in volatile markets

Learn more about 3i Members at 3imembers.com and follow us on LinkedIn for updates. 

Mawi Asgedom is a world-renowned speaker, bestselling author, and entrepreneur. After fleeing Ethiopia as a child and spending years in a refugee camp, Mawi overcame incredible challenges to graduate from Harvard University, where he delivered a commencement address to 30,000 people.

Driven by his passion for social-emotional learning (SEL), Mawi founded Mawi Learning in 1999, transforming education for millions and earning prestigious awards before its acquisition by ACT in 2019. In 2023, he launched Inner Heroes Universe, a groundbreaking platform empowering kids with mental health and SEL skills through innovative tools for parents and educators.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How Mawi’s journey from refugee to Harvard graduate shaped his resilience and entrepreneurial vision
• Lessons on grit, goal-setting, and overcoming imposter syndrome
• The impact of Inner Heroes Universe on education and youth development

Learn more about 3i Members at 3imembers.com and follow us on LinkedIn for updates. 

You can learn more about Mawi at Mawi.com and InnerHeroesUniverse.com.

Ed Newman is a Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he leads the firm’s Corporate Strategy business in North America and the private equity and M&A team in the Midwest. With over a decade of experience, Ed specializes in corporate strategy, portfolio management, and shareholder value creation. He has co-authored influential reports, including “Ten Lessons from 20 Years of Value Creation Insights” and “Four Ways PE Can Accelerate Returns in Automotive.”

Listen to the episode to hear:

• Insights into effective corporate strategy and value creation

• Common pitfalls in corporate management and how to avoid them

• Advice for young professionals entering corporate America or consulting

Learn more about 3i Members and follow us on LinkedIn for updates.

3i Member Ted Seides, CFA, is the Founder of Capital Allocators LLC, an ecosystem that encompasses podcasts, gatherings, and advisory services for managers and allocators. In this special edition podcast episode, we spotlight him on the launch of his new book, Private Equity Deals.

In Private Equity Deals, Ted provides insights into the conversations that typically happen behind the closed doors of institutional investors and private equity managers. Through a series of case studies across different types of private equity transactions, the book reveals the dynamics of deal-making, companies, and ownership structures that make private equity a powerful force in the financial world.

In this special edition Member Spotlight episode, Ted joined 3i Members Chair Mark Gerson for an insightful discussion on key takeaways from the book, followed by an interactive Q&A session.

Listen to the episode to hear:

- Insider conversations between investors and private equity managers revealed in Private Equity Deals

- How smaller private equity funds can outperform mega funds, depending on deal size and strategy

- The rise of retail private equity investing: liquidity challenges and new opportunities

Learn more about 3i Members at our website and follow us on LinkedIn for updates.

Purchase Private Equity Deals here: https://amzn.to/3XMPIHv

Dave Balter is a serial entrepreneur with a distinguished track record of impacting various industries. He founded BzzAgent, which was acquired by Dunnhumby, and Smarterer, which was acquired by Pluralsight. His current venture, Flipside Crypto,  powers growth for blockchains. 

Dave's career includes executive roles at prominent global organizations and venture investments as a partner at True Ventures. In 2024, he was honored as one of The Boston Globe’s Top 50 Tech Power Players. He is also the author of several influential books, including The Humility Imperative. Dave has been an engaged 3i Member since 2023.

Listen to the episode to hear:

 * Revolutionizing industries with data: Insights from his work with BzzAgent and Flipside Crypto

 * Leadership and innovation: Key lessons from his book The Humility Imperative 

 * The future of blockchain and cryptocurrency: Dave's Predictions and strategic outlook

Learn more about 3i Members and follow us on LinkedIn for updates. 

In this episode of our Member Spotlight podcast, Mark Gerson interviews Jon Weber, founder of Jon F Weber & Co., LLC, exploring the intricacies of corporate boards and the role of board members. Jon, a seasoned Board Member, Advisor, and Executive with over 20 years of experience, shares his insights from working with top institutional investors like Goldman Sachs, Icahn Enterprises, and Elliott Investment Management. With leadership roles including President of Icahn Enterprises (NYSE: IEP) and CEO of Philip Services, WestPoint Home, and Viskase, Jon brings a wealth of experience to the conversation. He also discusses his recent venture, Jon F Weber & Co., LLC, which assists creditors in value creation during post-restructuring.

Tune in to learn about:

• The key differences between public, private equity, and post-reorganization boards.
• What to expect when serving on different types of boards and how to get involved as a board member.
• How aligning board roles with specific challenges can transform corporate governance and drive success.

Learn more about  3i Members and follow us on LinkedIn for updates.

Further reading:

• 7 Deadly Sins of Post-Reorg Boards
• Governing the Post Restructured Company
• Picking Impactful Board Members