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Team/Nate DaPore

Nate DaPore

Nate DaPore

Distinguished Executive Advisor

"I’ve spent my career building, scaling, and investing in companies, and I’ve seen firsthand how great leadership changes outcomes and why connecting the right people to the right opportunities matters most.”

Nate DaPore

Distinguished Executive Advisor

As a Distinguished Executive Advisor at Roo Partners, Nate DaPore brings more than 20 years of experience as an operator, venture and private equity investor, and entrepreneur. He is the Founder and General Partner of Roo Capital, a differentiated investment firm supporting founders with capital, talent, and growth execution.

Previously, Nate was a Managing Partner at Acertitude, the Founder and CEO of venture-backed PeopleMatter, and Vice President of Sales at Benefitfocus (NASDAQ: BNFT), where he helped scale the company into the largest benefits enrollment software provider in the United States. Nate is a member of YPO, an Aspen Institute Fellow, and was appointed economic ambassador by U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley in 2015.

Outside of work, Nate is an avid aviator, holding ten FAA pilot ratings, and enjoys kiteboarding and training for Ironman competitions.

Perspectives
INSIGHTS

A better way to venture: founder-aligned VC with PE-style execution

The last few years exposed a simple truth: capital is no longer a differentiator in venture. Funding has dropped sharply since 2021 and seed activity remains depressed. Founders and LPs now scrutinize how capital is deployed, not just how much is written.

Private equity’s playbook offers the answer. Hands-on operating support, functional expertise, and disciplined governance consistently outperform passive capital. Funds with dedicated value-creation teams deliver stronger IRR and higher TVPI, and top firms have rebuilt themselves around this approach.