Arie Abecassis brings more than twenty years of experience of working with emerging software and information solution companies, both as an operator and venture capital investor.

Prior to joining MindFire Inc, Mr. Abecassis served as a member of the investment team at Updata Partners, a $500 million venture capital firm focused on software and technology-driven business services companies. At Updata, he was responsible for identifying new investment opportunities and building a team to help support deal sourcing, analysis and execution. Prior to Updata, he was a Managing Director for Research Partners, Ltd., an investment firm focused on small to mid-sized businesses in the information and technology markets. In addition to helping manage the firm's portfolio of companies, he also served as interim CEO of CDR LLC, an information services company. At Thomson Financial Ventures, part of Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC), Mr. Abecassis actively participated in executing and supporting growth-stage investments in a portfolio of leading technology companies including CCBN, Creditex Inc. and Trepp LLC,

Earlier in his career, Mr. Abecassis served in corporate development at Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL), where he helped incubate and manage several business units related to Marvel's licensing and interactive efforts, and the New York Daily News, where he worked in strategy and business development.

Mr. Abecassis holds an M.B.A. from New York University's Stern School of Business, where he was a Stern Scholar and Beta Gamma Sigma member, and an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. He serves on the boards of several private companies and trade organizations.