Involvio
is a campus based real time system of social calendars that allows groups and students to leverage technology...
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...fuel for the engine of innovation.
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Driving Modern Manufacturing
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Focused on a Sustainable Future
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Supporting Innovative Technologies
DeSimone Group Investments is a family office providing growth funding for early to mid stage companies in the Philadelphia, tri-state region.
Our Portfolio
Holganix
is a manufacturer of organic products (bio-stimulants) for lawns, trees and shrubs that enables plants to more...
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Novira
is an antiviral drug discovery company that is focused on the discovery of novel, first-in-class therapeutics...
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Christini AWD Motorcycles
is a manufacturer of All Wheel Drive (AWD) Motorcycles. The company...
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Resonate.me
is an interactive mobile marketing company that brings media, mobile technology, marketing and sales...
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Smart Structures
is a global leader in wireless Embedded Data Collector (EDC) solutions precast into concrete....
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Locus Energy
is a provider of software solutions to the distributed renewable energy market. The company was founded...
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OxiCool
is an innovative, solid absorption-based, heat-actuating cooling system operating under a continuous,...
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Runa
is a producer of Guayusa (gwhy-you-sa) a native Amazonia, Ecuadorian tree leaf brewed as a tea...
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ANDalyze
produces products globally for testing water contamination using catalytic DNA technologies. The company...
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CloudMine
offers a hosted backend-as-a-service platform for developers to build rich and interactive apps...
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Andante Medical
is the manufacturer of Smart Step™, an innovative biofeedback and monitoring device designed to...
MoreAbout DGI
Approach
We support entrepreneurs in their pursuit to build great companies. Our practice involves combining early to mid-stage growth capital with our expertise and mentorship. We assist portfolio companies with high level strategic business planning, while also connecting them with our network of regional sources of support and funding.
DGI's primary investment focus targets the industrial realm and ranges from manufactured products to renewable energies. More specifically, we enjoy products that involve some degree of engineering and that offer solutions to industries that encourage efficiency.
We collaborate with angel funding groups, institutions and Venture Capital firms in our network to bring additional and later stage funding to our portfolio companies.
History
The DeSimone family has been in business in Southern New Jersey for over 40 years. Michael's father, Tony DeSimone, became the owner of a Cadillac dealership on a small corner lot in Camden. With a love for everything involving small business, Tony attributed his success to "hard work, luck, a good attitude, and timing." Under the guise of his fathers values, Mike DeSimone took over the auto dealerships in 1988, leading the business to become a widely successful landmark that would later be acquired by Holman Enterprises in 2007. By driving the success of his family's business from growth to exit, Michael DeSimone has gained a deep understanding of what it means to be an entrepreneur.
Values
In his desire to support entrepreneurship in the region, Michael formed DeSimone Group Investments - a vehicle to propel fellow entrepreneurs and innovators that perpetuate his family's values. DGI seeks to support companies for which we find our team's collective experience to be uniquely relevant.
Our Team
Michael A. DeSimone
President & CEO
Michael DeSimone has a lifetime of experience in business and the automotive industry, having successfully exited two family-owned, New Jersey landmarks: DeSimone Cadillac Company and DeSimone Enterprises, Inc., dba DeSimone BMW, Ltd. Michael also owned and operated the region's largest high-end, multi-brand Motorsport dealership, marrying his passion for motorsports with his entrepreneurial drive. As a second generation auto dealership operator, he lead both companies for twenty-five years as the successor to his father, Anthony (Tony) DeSimone. Additionally, Michael has contributed to the industry by holding a variety of advisory and board positions, including the General Motors National Dealer Marketing Advisory Board, the Cadillac National Dealer Marketing Advisory Board and currently, as an active member on the NADA (National Automobile Dealers Association) IT Committee. Michael has earned numerous awards through his franchise operations for his business acumen and holds a B.A. from Kings College New York.
Lauren Shippy
Voting Board Member
Lauren DeSimone Shippy has grown up in an entrepreneurial environment, following in her grandfather and father's footsteps. She has had the opportunity to have multiple internships with the DeSimone dealerships while family owned and then moved on to a career life in private equity. She served as the Operations Manager of a real estate private equity firm, where she was responsible for the development of sales and marketing programs, reporting systems, and cash flow management. She joined the DeSimone Group Investment team in August of 2009 and has been responsible for overseeing and liquidating prior company assets. Lauren now contributes sector intelligence and market research, identifying bigger picture trends within our investment niche. Lauren is a full voting member of the family office in all investments and assists in overall portfolio strategy and development.
John Goodwin
Managing Partner
John Goodwin has been a longstanding member and leader of the DeSimone family enterprises. After graduating from Rowan University in 1983 with a B.S. in Business Administration, he went on to gain valuable experience in the automotive industry. Once recruited by the DeSimone Automotive Group, he began his tenure as the companys Controller for its flagship Cadillac dealership from 1986 to 2002 . In 2002 the company formed the DeSimone Group providing executive oversight to the organizations Cadillac and BMW dealerships and real estate holdings. John was promoted to Secretary, VP, and served as CFO, until DeSimone Automotive was acquired by the Holman Group in 2007. As an integral part to the companys exit to Holman Automotive, it was fitting that John would go on to lead the next chapter of the DeSimone family's ventures, DeSimone Group Investments.
Kendra Brill
Managing Partner
Kendra Brill joined the DGI team in October 2008 as an independent business consultant, following the development of her own NJ enterprise. Kendra's expertise and graduate work centers on Social Research. She also brings a vast array of government, non-profit and business experience in market research and business management/strategy. After conducting business and operational analytics for companies within the DeSimone portfolio, she evolved to serve as full-time COO for The DeSimone Group. In January 2010, she partnered with the companys CFO to lead the familys newest venture, DeSimone Group Investments. As a Managing Director of DGI, Kendra assists the family in identifying innovative companies for early stage investment, as well as funding and financing opportunities to develop and expand its portfolio.
Partners
Meidlinger Partners
Meidlinger Partners invests in, grows and develops water technology, product and service companies that have scalable solutions to address the worlds water problems. Many of these problems are associated with cleaning water and wastewater in an energy efficient manner in and treating water and wastewater in order to meet governmental standards.
Mid-Atlantic Angel Group (MAG II)
The Mid-Atlantic Angel Group Funds I & II, LP (MAG I & II) were created to bridge the gap between angel funding and institutional venture capital funding serving the Greater Philadelphia Region. These member-managed funds provide investors with an opportunity for active involvement in diversified venture capital investments throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, New York, and Maryland. The funds seek to leverage various public and private funding resources and networks by providing equity capital to seed and early-stage, technology-based, high-growth companies.
Investors Circle
DGI is a member of Investors' Circle, the oldest, largest and most successful early-stage impact investing network. Together with hundreds of angels, venture capitalists, foundations and family offices, we have propelled $168 million plus $4 billion in follow on investment into 269 enterprises dedicated to improving the environment, education, health and community.
New Spring Capital
NewSpring Growth invests in industry transforming, high growth companies across the business services, enabling technology and information technology sectors.
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Contact
Address
DeSimone Group Investments, LLC
6 Esterbrook Lane
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003