Ben Chatraw

About Ben Chatraw

Ben holds a rich history of entrepreneurial and investment management experience, marked by his roles in founding and leading companies in financial services, private equity, and banking. His diverse skill set encompasses leadership, strategic planning, financial analysis, and deal structuring.

As an eight-time founder, Ben's leadership journey includes spearheading a forensic accounting research firm, managing a short-biased hedge fund, and orchestrating various private equity investments across a wide range of industries and geographies. One of the standout achievements in Ben's career is the founding, growth, and successful sale of North Avenue Capital, a specialized commercial lender devoted to supporting rural communities across the United States. Notably, North Avenue Capital achieved profitability in every single quarter of its existence, experienced multiple years of 100% revenue growth, and ultimately exceeded net income margins of 50% before its acquisition by Veritex Bank (VBTX) in 2021.

Ben serves as a director at various foundations and non-profit organizations, and readily lends his expertise as an advisor to early-stage businesses. His educational background includes an engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology (with high honors) and an MBA from The Harvard Business School (with honors).