Our Team

General Partner

Lucas J. Pols is a successful entrepreneur, investor, and writer based in Los Angeles. He has an extensive background in sales, marketing, and business development, having previously worked at ADP where he managed teams, won numerous awards, and helped roll out technology-driven national pilots.

He is currently the Managing Partner of the Pegasus Angel Accelerator and Chairman of the Board for Sparkxyz, a software platform that manages general operations, portfolio management, and deal flow for incubators, accelerators, and angel groups.

Lucas is also highly involved in the startup and venture capital ecosystem. He is the President Emeritus of Tech Coast Angels Los Angeles, one of the largest angel networks in the nation, where he actively seeks great startups to fund and provides connections, knowledge, mentoring, and operational assistance to early-stage entrepreneurs. Lucas also writes for Forbes and does speaking engagements around Los Angeles.

Lucas received his Master's in Entrepreneurship from the University of Southern California, where he was the case protagonist of professor Noam Wasserman's case study, which focused on his venture, Sparkxyz, and hybrid entrepreneurship.

Venture Partner

Scott Alderton is a Founding Partner of Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP, the Managing Partner, and a member of the Firm’s executive committee. He is also Co-Chair of the Firm’s Venture Capital and Emerging Growth practice group and serves as Chairman and Board Member at the Preccelerator, the Firm’s accelerator for early-stage ventures.

Scott advises clients across several industries, including software, technology, digital media, interactive entertainment and video games, cybersecurity, and life sciences.

His practice focuses on advising early-stage to middle-market technology and emerging growth companies in all aspects of capital formation, venture capital and finance, corporate and securities laws, mergers and acquisitions, high technology, intellectual property, licensing, interactive entertainment and video games, the internet, digital media, manufacturing and distribution of goods in commerce, and commercial contracts.

Venture Partner

With a distinguished 18-year tenure in the tech sector, Christopher Yang holds the title of Vice President of Engineering at Away, a $1.4 billion lifestyle brand celebrated for its pioneering travel offerings. Before Away, he led as the VP of Engineering at Onriva, an AI-driven travel platform, and at Corporate Travel Management (ASX: CTD), an ASX Top 200-listed global firm, where he was instrumental in shaping the North American Tech hub. His leadership portfolio also includes industry powerhouses like DIRECTV and Ticketmaster, and he was involved with Onestop Internet before its acquisition by Nogin (NASDAQ: NOGN). As an executive board member of Tech Coast Angels (TCA), Christopher's influence has been profound, with TCA directing over $15 million into 40+ companies in 2022. His academic accolades include an MBA, an MS in Industrial and Systems Engineering, and an MS in Computer Science from the University of Southern California, underscoring his stature as a distinguished expert in the tech domain.

Technologist in Residence

Dr. Min-Yi Shih is a dynamic technologist and an accomplished business executive. Dr. Shih has a background in physics and earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, he also attained his EMBA from UCLA Anderson.

Dr. Shih has a wealth of experience in executive roles such as CTO and COO across various industries including R&D, defense, medical, and communication equipment. He is currently an angel investor and an advisor to multiple startups and academic programs. Dr. Shih has a successful track record in obtaining non-dilutive government funding (e.g., SBIR and various BAAs).

Principal

Griffin Hermes is a sales and go-to-market leader, founder, and investor. Currently, he serves as a Principal for Pegasus Angel Accelerator.

His background includes several years scaling and building new territories at CDW, a Fortune 200 technology provider, before joining NutKase, an EdTech startup, as the first sales and go-to-market hire. There, he built out and led the sales team driving annual revenue from $750k to more than $6.5M in 20 months.

This experience fueled his passion for the early-stage venture space. He subsequently worked at two accelerators, most recently as Head of Business Development at Expert Dojo. During this time, he founded AnthroMachina, a sales and business development automation firm focused on helping founders and lean teams execute their go-to-market strategies.

Griffin holds a bachelor's degree in advertising and consumerism from Miami University. He also mentors at Techstars and PlugandPlay.

Senior Associate

Ben Kahan is a storyteller at heart with a passion for solving problems and building things from the ground up. After studying filmmaking with a specialization in cinematography, Ben transitioned into the world of entrepreneurship, recently receiving his Master's in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the Marshall School of Business at USC.

His unique background has given him a distinct perspective on what makes a great brand and company truly resonate with people. Ben understands the power of crafting compelling narratives and making emotional connections, skills he has honed through his successful YouTube channel, Four Speed Films, which boasts over 75,000 subscribers.

In addition to his own content creation, Ben has helped numerous other companies grow their social media presence organically to tens of thousands of followers. He provides video production and social media strategy services focused on cultivating authentic audience engagement. Ben's expertise lies in developing creative yet strategic content that forges genuine connections between brands and their audiences. His approach prioritizes organic growth to build sustainable and passionate communities.

Venture Partner

Taissa Maleh is a distinguished figure in the intersection of finance, entrepreneurship, and venture capital. With 17 years of experience in the financial industry, Taissa built a successful career and reputation on Wall Street with her focus on Alternative Investments and Portfolio Management. At Safra Group, Taissa served as Vice President of Advisory Services, managing over $2B in assets. Driven by her passion entrepreneurship, Taissa founded Bluefin Foods, a cultivated seafood startup in Los Angeles, California. Transitioning into venture capital, Taissa brought a unique blend of financial acumen, startup experience, and innovative investment philosophy to Expert DOJO, where she held the Portfolio Growth Manager position, guiding 270 startups in the portfolio to build and execute their strategies from Pre-seed to Series A

Taissa holds an Executive MBA from UCLA Anderson, where she received the Entrepreneurial Award and a Graduate degree in Finance from Columbia University. She is a speaker, an active member of TCA Venture Group, and a mentor at the Women Founders Foundation.

Investor in Residence

Stacy Cumberbatch is the Founder and Managing Director of Blended Impact, a Southern California-based innovation lab and B Corporation that works in public-private partnerships to reimagine the future of how we invest, live, and earn. She leads strategy and partnerships with cities, nonprofits, and project sponsors and has co-created initiatives with the City of Coachella, Mastercard, the Center for Social Innovation at UCR, Accelerator for America, and more. Additionally, she is an emerging fund manager, both as a Partner with Aventura Ventures, a seed-stage venture capital fund, and as a Venture Partner with Republic, a national equity crowdfunding platform.

Previously, she served as a Principal at a seed-stage venture capital fund and accelerator program where she joined in the launch of the Los Angeles office. Stacy led its accelerator program while also operating as an integral member of the investment committee for thirty seed-stage companies, deploying $4.5M in early-stage ventures.

Stacy holds a Masters degree from the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business and a Bachelors degree from the University of Georgia, Terry College of Business. Additionally, she has earned a Certificate in Private Equity Fund Management from the National Association of Investment Companies and a Certificate in Real Estate Development from the University of Southern California, Lusk Center for Real Estate.