Ben Kolada

Visionary
DISC Type : Ds

Managing Director & Head of US Tech Investment Banking at ICON Corporate Finance

San Francisco Bay Area, United States

Overview

Ben Kolada is the Managing Director and Head of US Tech Investment Banking at ICON Corporate Finance, based in the Bay Area. He specializes in M&A and capital raising for AI and Data Technology companies. A graduate of Loyola University Chicago, he has advised on numerous international transactions.

Personality Overview

Early Adopter

Objective Evaluator

Goal-Oriented

They are very professional in their approach and can weigh multiple perspectives together.  They might take some time to make their mind up but once they do, they don't change it easily. Reading between the lines and seeing beyond your words comes naturally to them.

Topics They Care About

AI & DataTech M&A
Advises AI and data technology companies on M&A and fundraising, with recent deals including Octopai's sale to Cloudera and Zeenea's acquisition by HCLSoftware.
Cross-Border Tech Deals
Focuses on hunting down opportunities worldwide for his clients, having recently closed deals for companies based in the Czech Republic sold to US and South Korean firms.
DevOps Valuations
He tracks the rising valuations in the DevOps sector, noting that they have risen faster than the overall market due to the drive for greater developer efficiency.

Media Appearances

ICON promotes Ben Kolada to Managing Director, Head of US Tech Investment Banking. Featured in ICON Corporate Finance

See Now

Work History

6-2025
Managing Director & Head of US Tech Investment Banking at ICON Corporate Finance
5-2020 - 6-2025
Director & Head of US Tech Investment Banking at ICON Corporate Finance
5-2020
Strategic Business Development Consultant at Independent
Vice President, Big Data Investment Banking at Catapult Advisors
Research Manager at The 451 Group

Education

2004 - 2007
BA from Loyola University Chicago
2005 - 2005
Education details unavailable from John Felice Rome Center

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 5 Location : San Francisco Bay Area, United States Job Level : Mid-senior Designation : Managing Director & Head of US Tech Investment Banking at ICON Corporate Finance
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Insights For Selling To Ben

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Suggest clear next steps with confidence, don't be vague or hesitant
  • Use phrases like 'your team deserves', 'best in class' etc.
  • Ask them at the end if they see a strong value prop in your product; expect an honest answer

DONT's

  • Don't shy away from asking hard questions, but be extra polite
  • Avoid putting conscious effort into relationship-building
  • Don't get into pricing discussions early on, steer conversation towards proven results

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Ben is

  • Strong proof of impact and their conviction will matter the most, but they wouldn't want to act unilaterally either
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Ben

  • They will say no if they are not convinced but you will have to prompt them.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Ben move?

  • They will want to understand things well but can move fast once they have a clear picture.
  • Can Ben take some risk or not?

  • They have good risk tolerance but are likely to think it through once or twice.

You And Ben

Personality Compatibility


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