Vedat Mizrahi, PhD, FCMA, CGMA®

CFO of a pioneering online marketplace and ecosystem for whisky and spirits, partnering closely with the founder/CEO and board to lead financial strategy, governance and capital raising. • Designed and implemented a zero-based budgeting framework, creating full visibility on cost drivers, improving resource allocation across product, marketing and operations and instilling stronger cost discipline. • Led a successful £875k crowdfunding raise via Republic (ex-Seedrs), shaping the equity story, financial model and investor materials and managing the due diligence process. • Structured and secured a £1.5m revolving credit facility, enhancing liquidity and enabling the business to scale cask acquisitions in a capital-efficient manner. • Built and now own the group financial model, integrating marketplace, inventory and credit dynamics to support board decision-making, commercial planning and investor discussions. • Introduced routine cash flow forecasting, KPIs and board reporting, strengthening financial governance and transparency for shareholders and senior leadership.

Fractional CFO for a UK-based biotech ecosystem making advanced solutions (stem cells, bio-engineered exosomes) more broadly accessible, working directly with the founding team. • Lead financial strategy and capital planning, aligning resource allocation with clinical, commercial and R&D priorities across multiple entities. • Played a central role in designing the group corporate structure with a view to launching Exocube in the US, advising on the optimal configuration of IP, manufacturing and commercial entities to support scale, investor participation and regulatory compliance. • Led financial and commercial negotiations with a potential US master distributor for Exocube, shaping key terms around pricing, margin structure, minimum volume commitments, marketing support and territorial/IP protections. • Elevated investor readiness, refreshing the financial model and investor deck, and supporting ongoing conversations with strategic and financial investors. • Partner with clinical, commercial and operations leaders to enhance financial reporting, performance analysis and decision support, improving visibility on unit economics and profitability across services and products.

Advisor to a US-based fund manager pursuing an opportunistic credit strategy in complex or dislocated markets, including regulated sectors such as cannabis. Chicago Atlantic’s opportunistic credit strategy seeks to capitalize on North American investment opportunities that are time-sensitive, complex, or in dislocated markets such as cannabis, where we believe risk is fundamentally mispriced.

I am a visiting lecturer in MBA and MS in Finance programs at Koc University. I teach Financial Econometrics and Valuation lectures to graduate students since 2013. During my PhD studies and my professional work experience, I realized my desire to channel my knowledge to a wider audience. Since 2013, I transferred this accumulated knowledge to more than 200 students at Koc University, where I taught Financial Econometrics and Company Valuation in MS in Finance and MBA programs. During my 15 years of professional work experience mostly in the area of investment advisory, I have learned about economic drivers and dynamics as well as various industries (banking, insurance, oil & gas, aviation, building materials, metals & mining, etc.) in the Emerging Markets space. I get acquainted with different capital markets products such as equity, fixed income and derivative instruments and advised institutional investors that have different investment criteria and horizons. Combining my strong academic background and theoretical knowledge in the area of Finance and my professional experience in the Finance industry, I helped students understand the theory behind key financial concepts along with their real world applications and I received good student reviews on these lectures.

I worked as a fractional CFO at Aventur, an award-winning, high-growth FinTech business bringing a unique approach to managing personal finance. My key roles and responsibilities included leading the company's financial strategy, strategic decision-making, finance function process improvement and fundraising. • Owned the financial model and long-range plan, integrating user growth, pricing, product roadmap and funding needs into a single planning tool for the board and investors. • Led the fundraising strategy and execution, successfully raising £2.0m from angel investors and extending the company’s runway by ~24 months. • Professionalised finance operations by improving processes, controls and reporting, enabling timely and decision-useful information for the CEO and leadership team.

• Developed and delivered an 8-week lecture series on Emerging Market Finance, focusing on macroeconomic trends. • Conducted a 2-week Valuation Workshop for the MS in Finance Program, enhancing students' practical skills. • Utilized case studies from emerging markets to provide real-world insights, fostering critical thinking.

Fractional CFO for a VC-backed B2B SaaS and marketplace for construction equipment hire, part of the “easy” family of brands (including easyJet). • Partnered with the CEO and investors to refine commercial strategy, pricing and unit economics for the marketplace model. • Refined the finance operating model, including management reporting, cash flow forecasting and KPI dashboards, supporting growth and fundraising conversations. • Established light yet effective controls and governance suited to an early-stage, fast-scaling organisation.

I continued my role as CFO at Mintus on a part-time basis maintaining key finance functions such as financial reporting and analysis, regulatory compliance, budgeting and forecasting, and fundraising.

CFO for a VC-backed alternative investment platform specialising in fractionalized fine art. • Led all core finance activities including cash flow management, capital budgeting, financial reporting and regulatory-facing responsibilities. • Co-led fundraising and distribution strategy, with the sales team raising $4m from individual investors within six months of platform launch. • Built and managed relationships with wealth managers, family offices and institutional partners, shaping Mintus’ positioning in the alternative assets ecosystem. • Used financial and commercial insights to influence product design, pricing and go-to-market decisions, balancing growth with risk management.

► I worked as a senior wealth manager at Bank. J. Safra Sarasin, covering high net worth individuals and corporates in Turkey, the Balkans, Greece, and Israel. ► I raised and managed a client book of $130m and advised these clients on their multi-asset portfolios. My previous experience in the capital markets allowed me to establish a view on global equity, debt, and FX markets and advise clients to build a diversified portfolio with the best possible returns. ► I also helped my clients plan for retirement and succession planning by putting together different and efficient structures.

Gained this qualification whilst working full-time PhD Dissertation Thesis: Ownership Structure, Corporate Governance, and Firm Performance: Evidence from Turkey

2002 Fall Exchange Student