Joe Kaiser

As a Managing Director at Mercato Partners, Joe serves on the boards of Klover, Beam Benefits, Summersalt, Kalderos, Paytient, and MNTN, and previously sat on the boards of Cradlepoint, Central Logic, Ephesoft and Venafi, all of which achieved successful exits. Joe supports entrepreneurs by leveraging 20 years of financial, operational, and strategic experience.

Prior to Mercato, Joe served as a director of capital markets at Vivint Solar, where he raised in excess of $1 billion in project financing and led several successful corporate development initiatives. Vivint Solar achieved an IPO in 2014 at a valuation of approximately $1.6 billion and was subsequently acquired for $3.2 billion by Sunrun. Prior to joining Vivint Solar, Joe worked at The Blackstone Group.

Prior to joining Blackstone, Joe had a variety of operating and entrepreneurial experiences, including launching and building several technology companies as well as turning around a manufacturing business. Joe began his career as an investment banking analyst at A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., where he supported the completion of $16 billion in financings and corporate advisory assignments.

Joe received an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a B.S.B.A. in accounting from Saint Louis University.

Growing up in Jefferson City, MO, Joe inherited his entrepreneurial spirit and grit from his parents, who owned and operated a local retail business.