Ben Docksteader is a seasoned technology leader with extensive experience in product management and engineering, currently serving as Principal Product Manager at Affinity overseeing our API and Developer Platforms. Ben has previously founded start-ups and participated in a number of acquisitions including Influitive, where he worked as Director of Product & Engineering from 2016 to 2024. His early career included participation in The Next 36, a program aimed at fostering high-impact entrepreneurship in Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Prince Edward Island.
Kyle specializes in boosting early sales for Gradient portfolio companies, offering both tactical support in closing deals and support establishing effective sales processes. He also provides strategic insights on sales team expansion and market positioning, playing a pivotal role in scaling startups from zero to over $1M in revenue.
Previously, Kyle worked on Google’s enterprise sales team, where he helped large customers drive revenue across advertising products and tech platforms. Before that, Kyle led Sales and Customer Success teams at startups and big companies, including building a B2B SaaS startup from $0 to $18M in ARR. He holds a BS in Marketing from Boston College.
Away from work, Kyle is passionate about outdoor activities, often found running, biking, and skiing in Boulder, CO, with his wife and two sons.
Jason Baibokas is a managing director at BDC, currently managing the firm's $100-million Black Entrepreneurs Fund. Prior to BDC, Baibokas has over 25 years of experience in capital markets and entrepreneurial growth, including serving as a principal at investment and advisory firm KASCorp and chief financial officer at Toronto-based digital mortgage platform 8Twelve Financial Technologies.
Andrew Brackin is a Partner at Gradient Ventures. Prior to Gradient, Andrew co-founded Vial, a tech-enabled clinical trial platform that raised over $100M in venture capital from top-tier firms. Prior to Vial, he was part of the founding team and the Head of Growth at Newfront (YC W18), an AI-powered commercial insurance brokerage valued at $2.2BN, insuring numerous Fortune 500 companies. His career began at Jobr, a mobile job search business that Monster.com acquired in 2016.
Andrew was a 2013 recipient of the Thiel Fellowship. Outside of work, he loves reading about global affairs, working out at Barry’s Bootcamp, and enjoying live music.
Ryan Bateman is the Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at Sands Capital, where he has led technology strategy and cybersecurity since 2011. Before joining Sands Capital, he held senior technology roles at Ipreo and FBR Capital Markets, including directing global sales, trading, and equity capital markets systems.