A Fond Farewell And A Warm Welcome

Transition and opportunity often go hand in hand, and so they do this week here at CincyTech, as we bid a bittersweet farewell to principal Justin Thompson, and welcome chief financial officer Ashley Keating.

Justin has been a rock solid colleague and team member, well known and well regarded by entrepreneurs, investors and stakeholders across the startup community. This community was a glimmer of the thriving scene we know today when Justin joined CincyTech (which was then just a year old seed stage investor!) as an intern in 2008, while studying for his master's degree.  

Justin learned about the complexity of investing and building companies, progressing from intern to analyst to principal at a time when southwest Ohio's entrepreneurial ecosystem, and interest in it, was also taking off.

Reflecting on eight years at CincyTech, Justin points to the importance of relationships. "We have built a network of people who care about startups in the city.  It's one of the most important things we do as a fund-- we validate deal flow for people who care and want to get active in the community."

Health care innovation runs in Justin's family, and he is following that interest to join Two B Pharmaceuticals as Senior Director of Business Development.  Two B aims to create new opportunities for therapeutics currently on the market. "I am glad to know that Justin will be joining a company that invests in early stage life science opportunities, and, as such, will remain a part of the region's startup ecosystem," said CincyTech president and CEO Bob Coy. "We wish him the very best."

Justin departs as we welcome Ashley Keating, who joins CincyTech as our first full time chief financial officer.  Ashley is an Ohio native who brings big corporate and big city perspective to the role. Ashley launched her career at the Cincinnati office of PwC in audit services.  She transferred to the company's transactional services practice, moving to New York and then London.  

Working on mergers and acquisitions of mature companies, Ashley has acquired a multifaceted understanding of the deal process.  "I've learned there can be a little bit of an art to getting a deal done; sometimes it's more than what's on paper," she said.  "I look forward to applying that knowledge and that lens to CincyTech's work in support of its portfolio companies."

"Ashley Keating is well qualified to be CincyTech's CFO," said Coy.  "I am delighted that she has chosen to join the team."