Our Team

Managing Partner 

Katherine Owens is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor with over 15 years of experience spanning investment banking, real estate, and entertainment finance. She is a Managing Partner at KCC Capital Partners, a full-service investment bank powered by Donna AI, where she works closely with family offices across industries including sports, technology, digital assets, and brand integration in film and television. In addition to her investment banking work, Katherine is a licensed real estate agent in California and a long-time crypto and decentralized finance enthusiast. She is an alumna of UCLA where she studied  Business & the Arts.

Strategic Advisor

Kevin J. Ernst brings over 25 years of capital markets and corporate advisory experience, having held senior positions at Merrill Lynch, UBS, NYSE Amex, and the New York Stock Exchange. He currently serves as Chief Investment Officer of a family office and Managing Director at Kingswood U.S., following prior leadership roles as Managing Partner at Ocean Capital and Senior Managing Director of Ernst Capital Partners. Mr. Ernst also sits on the board of the Critical Minerals Institute. He holds an Executive MBA in Finance from Rutgers Business School, an M.S. in Real Estate from New York University, and a B.A. in Economics from Rutgers University-New Brunswick.

Head of Data

Hemant Velidi is the head of data at KCC Capital Partners, where he leads proprietary data-driven deal sourcing initiatives and directs marketing strategy to strengthen the firm’s presence and outreach. He collaborates closely with the investment team to optimize evaluation processes and supports strategic decision-making across sourcing and communications.

He brings prior experience in private equity an  investment banking, having contributed to transactions across healthcare, aerospace & defense, and technology.

Hemant is pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Business at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, where he studies Economic Consulting and Business Analytics.

Business Development Associate

Anthony DeVoney is an associate at KCC Capital Partners, where he supports financial analysis, deal execution, and strategic initiatives across the firm’s investment activities. He works closely with the team to prepare transaction materials, evaluate opportunities, and contribute to client-focused solutions.
He brings prior experience in private equity and commercial real estate, with exposure to international energy projects and domestic real estate transactions. Anthony is pursuing his Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Florida, where he studies Business Administration and Management.

Director 

Shruti Thakkar is an Investment Banking Project Manager at KCC Capital Partners, where she oversees live deal execution, supports financial modeling, and develops investor outreach strategies to strengthen the firm’s pipeline. She collaborates closely with the investment team to drive research and transaction processes across middle-market opportunities.

She brings prior experience as a Finance Associate at Heramb Finserv, where she focused on valuation, tax structuring, and financial statement analysis, as well as internships in private equity and insurance..

Shruti is pursuing her Master’s in Finance at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, building on her Bachelors in Accounting degree from Mithibai College in India.

Director 

Chanwattey He is an Investment Banking Project Director at KCC Capital Partners, where she oversees live deal execution, supports financial modeling, and develops investor outreach strategies to strengthen the firm’s pipeline. She collaborates closely with the investment team to drive research and transaction processes across middle-market opportunities. 

She brings prior experience in venture capital and at a startup where she focused on market research, valuation, and strategy.

Chanwattey recently graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor's in Finance from California State University Fullerton.

Project Manager 

Benjamin Bessert is a project manager at KCC Capital Partners, where he supports the investment team with financial analysis, transaction execution, and research across a range of industries. He contributes to the firm’s deal evaluation process by applying skills in financial modeling, forecasting, and corporate analysis.

He brings prior experience as a Senior Research Analyst at Unfiltered Finance and as a Finance Intern at PROFIL®, where he worked on sales forecasting and transfer pricing analysis.

Benjamin is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Business Analytics at Miami University, where he continues to build his foundation in investment banking and strategic analysis.

Project Manager 

Eric Liao is an Investment Banking Intern at KCC Capital Partners, where he supports the investment team with research, analysis, and transaction execution. He previously served as a Market Research and Development Intern at Chefactory Cooking Academy in Florence, Italy, where he worked on expansion initiatives and business development strategy.

Eric is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Economics at the University of Minnesota, with academic and professional interests in data analysis, market research, and financial strategy.