CATALYZING GROWTH FOR LASTING IMPACT

Connecting. Advising. Capitalizing.

TAVO is a purpose-built investment and advisory business.

Our mission is to catalyze leaders to successfully scale their growing businesses.

Our vision is an economy where gender and racial wealth gaps are eradicated and overlooked entrepreneurs emerge as the next generation of investors.

OUR PARTNERS

Our partners are overlooked leaders, both entrepreneurs and emerging managers, who have historically lacked access to networks, resources, and funding.

TAVO delivers three integrated solutions designed to break down these long-standing barriers to their success: TAVO Connect, TAVO Advise, TAVO Capitalize.

Within this ecosystem every impact is multiplied: businesses thrive and expand, capital flows more freely, growth accelerates, jobs emerge, communities strengthen, and wealth compounds across generations.

OUR SERVICES

  • Networking Events

  • Webinars & Workshops

  • Online Courses & Resources

  • Alliances

For Entrepreneurs:

  • Market Analysis & Valuation

  • Financial Planning

  • Tech & AI Enablement

  • Team & Leadership Development

For Emerging Managers:

  • Back-office Readiness

  • Fractional COO/CCO/CFO

  • Vendor Selection

  • Tech & AI Enablement

  • Financial Planning & Market Analysis

  • Flexible Investment Structures

  • Return-driven Performance

  • Ownership Preservation Focus

INVESTORS

TAVO’s strategy is designed to achieve meaningful outcomes for both its investors and its entrepreneurs. Its construction is designed to deliver fund liquidity without sacrificing founder flexibility. TAVO partners with companies, defining in advance clear expectations and outcomes, to ensure that everyone wins – its leaders, their teams, their community, their investors.

TAVO invests in established businesses led by overlooked entrepreneurs. Our target companies have demonstrated proven success:

  • 1MM+ revenue and established profitability

  • Documented growth trajectory

  • Scalable service models

  • Potential for market expansion

  • Clear opportunities for tech and AI enhancement

  • Further defined by having succeeded despite limited resources

TAVO's investment strategy combines flexible capital structures with the access, insight, and value-add to catalyze growth.

TAVO deploys four distinct capital solutions engineered to generate attractive investor returns through structured downside protection, predictable cash flows, and predetermined exit path strategies while matching founders' growth trajectories and optimizing ownership retention. These flexible capital structures are combines with the access, insight, and value-add to catalyze growth.

MEET THE TEAM

  • Katie Bouton is the Founder & Managing Partner of TAVO, bringing 30 years of expertise in human capital, talent acquisition, executive search, and business strategy to her role. Prior to founding TAVO, Katie led Koya Leadership Partners, an executive search firm focused on the social impact sector. She built Koya from a bootstrapped startup in 2004 to a successful exit in 2019 with Shoreview Industries, a $900 million private equity firm. As President of the newly merged organization, Diversified Search Group (DSG), she managed operations and implemented growth strategies, doubling revenue from $50 million to $100 million in 2.5 years. Today, Katie is a board member at DSG and was a 2023 Advanced Leadership Initiative (ALI) Fellow at Harvard University. In 2024, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from her alma mater for her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

    Katie’s expertise spans change management, culture building, DEI, and systems integration within high-growth, mid-sized organizations. She also has extensive experience with organic, equity, and debt-backed growth strategies. Her deep understanding of founder-driven businesses enables her to advise founders on business growth and exit opportunities.

    Katie has consistently been recognized for her business acumen in management consulting and professional services. She was a finalist for EY’s prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year® New England award and was named a Boston Brava Award winner by SmartCEO, which honors high-impact women business leaders. Under her leadership, Koya earned accolades, including being named to Inc. Magazine’s list of “Fastest-growing Private Companies,” Boston Business Journal’s “Fast 50 Company” list, and Forbes’ list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” for three consecutive years.

    Deeply committed to civic and women’s leadership, Katie serves on several boards. On the corporate side, she is a board member for DSG. On the nonprofit side, she is actively involved with the University of New Hampshire (UNH), where she serves as Secretary of the UNH Foundation, Co-Chair of the Sustainability Institute, and a board member of the College of Liberal Arts.

    Katie is also an angel investor and was previously a fellow at Pipeline Angels, a network that empowers women investors and creates capital for women-led social enterprises. She is a member of the Massachusetts Women’s Forum, a community of top women leaders from all sectors of society.

    Katie holds an MS in Human Resource Development from Towson University and a BA in English, Journalism, and Women’s Studies from the University of New Hampshire. Katie currently resides in Massachusetts with her husband Chris, their two teenage sons, Aidan and Cam, and bulldog Ruby who is the real boss of the household. Katie enjoys reading, traveling, and attempting to learn Italian.

  • Bethany is a Partner & COO of TAVO, bringing 30 years of experience in finance and business operations to her role.

    Bethany spent the first 10 years of her career in accelerators, incubators, and venture capital before serving as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at LNK Partners, a retail and consumer private equity firm managing over $1.2 billion, where she played a pivotal role since its inception in 2005. LNK’s portfolio companies included several female-led and founder-driven businesses, such as Ariat, Beachbody, Life Time, and Dogfish Head. After LNK, she continued her leadership as COO and CCO at Coalesce Capital, which raised over $900 million, overseeing critical operational and compliance functions before transitioning to serve as a Senior Advisor.

    In her earlier career, Bethany was Senior Director of Product Management & Marketing at Gartner, where she led key product initiatives, worked in M&A, and received the Values Recognition award for Accountability—one of five corporate awards granted globally, out of over 20,000 employees worldwide. She worked at Accordia, a venture-backed incubator that helped traditional retailers navigate e-commerce challenges, with clients including Dick's Sporting Goods and Ulta Beauty, where she ran product and business strategy. Before Aspelle, she worked in the New Markets venture capital group at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein as a portfolio advisor. At Aspelle, a carve-out of DrKW, she served as Vice President of Marketing, executing successful company and product launches while managing the entire marketing and communications function across borders. At barnesandnoble.com, she developed consumer strategies and patented technologies to enhance the company’s competitive position against Amazon.

    Bethany is a Senior Advisor to Fernweh Group, an investment and transformation firm spun out of McKinsey & Company. She is also a member of the Private Equity CFO Association (PECFOA), the PEI Private Funds CFO network, and ACG's Private Equity C-Suite. Additionally, she serves as a Senior Advisor to the non-profit Brightway Foundation and on the Board of Assumption School. A frequent speaker at private equity and women in finance events, she shares her expertise on topics of financing, operations, and compliance.

    Bethany received a dual B.A. in Computer Science and Art and the History of Art from Amherst College, as well as a Certification in Technology and Applications from Columbia University in the Analysis and Design of Information Systems. Known for her strategic vision and operational expertise, she excels in fostering strong relationships with partners and stakeholders. Bethany lives in New Jersey with her husband, Kevin, her two tweens, Juliette and Logan, and their much-loved mutt, Jeter.  When not collaborating with Katie and team, Bethany enjoys every minute she can spend with her family, and loves mindfulness, creativity, friends, fitness, and food.

  • Kwame brings over 20 years of experience in strategic partnerships, real estate development, and investment management to his role as Managing Director, Portfolio Development at TAVO. His expertise in driving expansion and innovation strategies in high-growth environments makes him an asset to the company’s leadership team.  

    As Partner and Director of Affiliate Partnerships at FBF Creators Fund, Kwame directed investor engagement for a $220MM REIT fund, establishing corporate partnerships that expanded the fund’s network and investor base. His strategic acumen was further demonstrated at Kitchen United, a Google Ventures-backed startup, where he led real estate strategies resulting in 500% site growth through Series B and C rounds. 

    Kwame’s career includes notable achievements in portfolio management at McDonald’s, growing an asset portfolio from $2 billion to $2.8 billion, and at Citibank, where he consistently outperformed KPI metrics in site selection, asset management and development. These experiences showcase his ability to drive financial optimization and strategic planning across diverse industries. 

    As part of TAVO’s executive team, Kwame’s multifaceted background in high-growth environments, coupled with his expertise in opportunity identification, scaling operations, and fostering partnerships, uniquely positions him to provide invaluable guidance for the company’s growth initiatives and strategic direction. 

    Kwame is also a committed community and industry leader, as is evident in his board service. He serves as a Trustee for both the Aperture Foundation in New York, NY and the Polytechnic School in Pasadena, CA, contributing his insights to educational and cultural institutions.  

    Kwame received an Executive MBA from USC Marshall School of Business and a B.A. in Law, Jurisprudence and Social Thought from Amherst College.

    Kwame Brathwaite lives in Pasadena, CA, with his wife, Robynn, and their three children, Jackson, Carter, and Kennedy. They share their home with Ranger, a steel-colored toy poodle. A founder and speaker, Kwame is the director of the Kwame Brathwaite Archive, where he preserves his father’s photography and creates meaningful experiences for art lovers and younger artists. Whether exploring exhibits, speaking on a panel about strategic growth, the importance of his father’s legacy, or supporting his kids in their activities, he enjoys balancing his professional and personal passions. 

  • As a Principal at TAVO, Adolfo Reinoso is a passionate impact investor dedicated to unlocking capital for underserved communities and overlooked founders. His diverse background spans business operations and impact investing, bringing a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to build and scale successful ventures. With deep expertise in the Central American startup ecosystem, he brings valuable experience in identifying, supporting, and scaling ventures that create meaningful social impact. Selected as a Kirchner Food Fellow during his graduate studies at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Adolfo honed his skills in strategic capital deployment. He later served as Investment Manager at Atta Impact Capital, where he further developed his expertise in emerging markets and impact-driven investments.

    The four values that drive the TAVO team are possibility, integrity, intentionality, and bravery. When asked about how possibility energizes TAVO's mission and goals, Adolfo shares:

    "I believe in the boundless power of possibility – it's the driving force that transforms bold ideas into reality. At TAVO Partners, we see possibility where others might see obstacles. We're committed to unlocking capital for overlooked founders who demonstrate extraordinary potential but lack access to traditional funding channels. These entrepreneurs are already creating remarkable impact in their communities, and with the right resources, their possibilities for growth are limitless. By combining capital with strategic support, we're not just investing in businesses – we're investing in the infinite potential of visionary founders who dare to dream bigger. This is what possibility means to us: transforming 'what if' into 'what's next' for entrepreneurs who are ready to scale their impact."

    Beyond his professional work, Adolfo brings valuable cross-cultural perspective and a deep understanding of both local market dynamics and global investment trends. His experience bridges the gap between international capital markets and emerging entrepreneurial ecosystems, making him uniquely positioned to identify and nurture high-potential ventures that others might overlook.

  • Aliya plays a pivotal role in driving key initiatives and enhancing organizational visibility at TAVO. With a strong background in strategic communications, project management, and landscape analysis, Aliya excels at crafting impactful messaging and aligning business goals with creative solutions. Her passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion fuels her work to help underrepresented founders thrive.

    Aliya is a recent graduate of the University of New Hampshire where she earned a B.A. in Political Science, Women's and Gender Studies, and Spanish and a minor in International Affairs. During her academic career at UNH, she completed fellowships at the UNH Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research, Prime Buchholz (Portsmouth, NH), and D&P Creative Strategies (Washington, D.C.). She currently resides in Connecticut. In her free time, Aliya enjoys reading, cooking, traveling, and attending Zumba classes.

  • As a member of the investment team at TAVO, Allie firmly believes in the power of capital, allocated strategically, to affect positive societal change. Allie recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of New Hampshire, where she earned her B.S. in Business Administration with a Finance concentration at the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics. On campus, she served as both an analyst and sector leader for the Atkins Investment Group, a completely student-managed investment fund, across healthcare, technology, and financial institutions.

    Off campus, she interned as an investment banking summer analyst at Goldman Sachs (New York, N.Y.), having spent both her sophomore and junior summers within the Healthcare Leveraged Finance and Healthcare Coverage groups, respectively. At Goldman, Allie gained exposure to several high-profile deals involving private equity, activism defense, mergers and acquisitions, as well as biopharmaceutical research/development.

    Allie currently resides in New Hampshire with her partner and their German Shepherd/Husky mix, Horus. In her free time, likely listening to NPR (more specifically, "Marketplace") in the background, Allie enjoys cooking, music, and poetry.

  • Molly is an experienced operations and project management professional with extensive experience in driving strategic initiatives, operational excellence, and implementing systems that foster growth and scalability. With various roles supporting Founders, C-level executives and leadership teams, Molly is a trusted advisor who excels at aligning business operations with overarching company goals to ensure seamless execution and impactful results.

    In her current role, Molly is responsible for overseeing all operational aspects across a diverse portfolio of companies. She provides operational support for both the personal and professional endeavors of two executives, ensuring the seamless management of business operations and resource optimization for each entity. Through her experience, Molly strives to align company objectives with the family office's long-term goals, coordinating cross-company initiatives, and drive efficiency across operations.

    Earlier in her career, Molly spent seven years at Koya Leadership Partners (now Diversified Search Group), where she held various roles, including Senior Director of Strategic Projects, Manager of Search Operations, and Project Manager for Shared Services. Molly worked closely with the Founder & CEO and senior leadership, providing strategic counsel, managing executive priorities, and acting as a liaison between departments to foster collaboration and ensure that the company’s vision is effectively communicated and implemented across the organization. Through her roles at Koya and Diversified Search Group, Molly was responsible for managing critical projects, navigating complex organizational dynamics, and ensuring that executive teams operate efficiently and focus on high-impact areas.

    Molly is a graduate of West Virginia University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Molly lives in Newburyport, Massachusetts. In her free time, Molly enjoys traveling to new places, boating, and spending time at her family home on the coast of Maine.

  • Chris is a visionary leader in the fields of artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics with a strong track record of entrepreneurship and innovation. In 2016, he founded Vyasa Analytics, a cutting-edge generative AI company that applied novel deep learning techniques to drug discovery and enterprise-level data science. Vyasa was acquired by Certara in 2022. Prior to founding Vyasa, Dr. Bouton was the Founder and CEO of Entagen, a software company launched in 2008 that developed innovative Big Data solutions, including the award-winning Extera and TripleMap products. Entagen received numerous accolades, including the "Innovative Technology of the Year Award for Big Data" from the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council in 2012, and it was recognized as a Gartner "Cool Vendor" in Life Sciences in 2013. Entagen was acquired by Thomson Reuters in 2013.

    Dr. Bouton’s career began as a computational biologist at LION Bioscience Research Inc. and Aveo Pharmaceuticals, where he led microarray data analysis efforts. In 2004, he joined Pfizer as the Head of Integrative Data Mining, where he led a team of Ph.D.-level scientists conducting pioneering research in systems biology, machine learning, and large-scale ‘omics data analysis. During his tenure at Pfizer, Bouton developed Pfizerpedia, an organization-wide knowledgebase that earned him the 2007 William E. Upjohn Award for Innovation.

    In addition to his entrepreneurial successes, Dr. Bouton is a prolific author, having published numerous scientific papers and book chapters. His work has been widely covered in industry news. He holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Neurobiology from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A., Magna Cum Laude, from Amherst College.

    As an alumnus of the 1992 Science Talent Search, Dr. Bouton was appointed to the Society for Science Board of Trustees in 2023. He also serves as a Director on the Board of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, the Beth Israel Lahey Health Technology board, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Corporator board. Dr. Bouton lives in Newburyport, Massachusetts with his wife Katie Bouton, their two boys Aidan and Camden and their adorable English bulldog Ruby. When not on land (his preferred state of being), Dr. Bouton enjoys boating, fishing, snorkeling and shark diving.