Blackstone Innovations Investments
We invest in early-stage companies that are well-positioned to benefit from a deeper relationship with Blackstone. Our engagement with the venture ecosystem helps drive innovation forward at the firm and positions Blackstone to stay at the forefront of technological change.
FinTech
PropTech
Cybersecurity
Enterprise
Our Team
John Stecher
Chief Technology Officer and Head of Blackstone Technology and Innovations
John Stecher
Chief Technology Officer and Head of Blackstone Technology and Innovations
John Stecher is the Chief Technology Officer of Blackstone. Mr. Stecher is responsible for all aspects of technology across Blackstone and advises the firm’s investment teams as well as acts as a resource to portfolio companies on technology-related matters.
Before joining Blackstone, Mr. Stecher was a Managing Director, the Chief Technology Officer and the Chief Innovation Officer at Barclays, based in New York, and he was also a member of the Barclays Technology Management Committee. Prior to joining Barclays in August 2017, Mr. Stecher worked for Goldman Sachs where he held a variety of senior management and engineering roles across the firm’s capital markets and technology divisions, and most recently built their Marcus-branded consumer finance division. Mr. Stecher has had an extensive career in technology and engineering across industry sectors. Mr. Stecher was appointed as an IBM Master Inventor and led application development, architecture and strategy for IBM’s WebSphere product line in the Software Group, and he delivered/created over 45 patents across several diverse problem spaces.
Mr. Stecher holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and a MS in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota.
Before joining Blackstone, Mr. Stecher was a Managing Director, the Chief Technology Officer and the Chief Innovation Officer at Barclays, based in New York, and he was also a member of the Barclays Technology Management Committee. Prior to joining Barclays in August 2017, Mr. Stecher worked for Goldman Sachs where he held a variety of senior management and engineering roles across the firm’s capital markets and technology divisions, and most recently built their Marcus-branded consumer finance division. Mr. Stecher has had an extensive career in technology and engineering across industry sectors. Mr. Stecher was appointed as an IBM Master Inventor and led application development, architecture and strategy for IBM’s WebSphere product line in the Software Group, and he delivered/created over 45 patents across several diverse problem spaces.
Mr. Stecher holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and a MS in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota.
Eric Liaw
Treasurer and Head of Corporate Development
Eric Liaw
Treasurer and Head of Corporate Development
Eric Liaw is a Senior Managing Director, the Treasurer, and the Head of Corporate Development for Blackstone. Mr. Liaw leads Blackstone Global Treasury, which oversees the firm’s balance sheet, risk management activities, and treasury operations. Mr. Liaw also leads strategic mergers and acquisitions, new business initiatives, and special projects in support of Blackstone. Mr. Liaw is also a member of the firm’s Capital Markets, Enterprise Risk, Liquid Asset Investments, and Valuation Committees.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Liaw was a Senior Managing Director in Blackstone’s private equity business, focused on investments in the energy sector. Prior to joining Blackstone in 2014, Mr. Liaw was a Principal at TPG Capital where he evaluated and executed investment opportunities in a wide range of industries. Prior to TPG, Mr. Liaw was an associate at Bain Capital, where he focused on private equity investments in a wide range of industries.
Mr. Liaw received his BA, with highest honors, and BBA, with highest honors, from the University of Texas at Austin and received his MBA, with distinction, from Harvard Business School.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Liaw was a Senior Managing Director in Blackstone’s private equity business, focused on investments in the energy sector. Prior to joining Blackstone in 2014, Mr. Liaw was a Principal at TPG Capital where he evaluated and executed investment opportunities in a wide range of industries. Prior to TPG, Mr. Liaw was an associate at Bain Capital, where he focused on private equity investments in a wide range of industries.
Mr. Liaw received his BA, with highest honors, and BBA, with highest honors, from the University of Texas at Austin and received his MBA, with distinction, from Harvard Business School.
Stevi Petrelli
Head of Blackstone Innovations Investments
Stevi Petrelli
Head of Blackstone Innovations Investments
Stevi Petrelli is a Managing Director and Head of Blackstone Innovations Investments (BXI Investments) at Blackstone. She oversees the firm’s internal investments in early-stage FinTech, PropTech, Cybersecurity and Enterprise Tech companies, working across BXTI and various businesses to drive these investments and help accelerate innovation across the firm.
Prior to joining Blackstone in 2021, Ms. Petrelli worked at Goldman Sachs, where she helped oversee the firm’s principal strategic investments portfolio and internal innovation incubation efforts as part of the Firmwide Strategy team. Ms. Petrelli also worked on core strategy efforts with a number of Goldman’s businesses and helped lead the firm’s financial technology partnership efforts. Earlier in her career, she was a Vice President at Point72 Ventures and a member of the Principal Strategic Investments team at Goldman Sachs. In both roles, Ms. Petrelli focused on sourcing and executing early-stage investment opportunities in the financial technology space.
Ms. Petrelli received a BA in Political Science from Yale University.
Prior to joining Blackstone in 2021, Ms. Petrelli worked at Goldman Sachs, where she helped oversee the firm’s principal strategic investments portfolio and internal innovation incubation efforts as part of the Firmwide Strategy team. Ms. Petrelli also worked on core strategy efforts with a number of Goldman’s businesses and helped lead the firm’s financial technology partnership efforts. Earlier in her career, she was a Vice President at Point72 Ventures and a member of the Principal Strategic Investments team at Goldman Sachs. In both roles, Ms. Petrelli focused on sourcing and executing early-stage investment opportunities in the financial technology space.
Ms. Petrelli received a BA in Political Science from Yale University.
Sal Saroni
Vice President
Sal Saroni
Vice President
Emma Willsky
Assistant Vice President
Emma Willsky
Assistant Vice President
David Kim
Assistant Vice President
David Kim
Assistant Vice President
Pedro Celis
Associate
Pedro Celis
Associate
Sector Leads
Josh Schertzer
Enterprise Technology
Josh Schertzer
Enterprise Technology
Josh Schertzer is a Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer of Enterprise Technology within the Technology and Innovations group. He is responsible for all foundational aspects of technology including Cloud Computing and Infrastructure, Enterprise Workspace and Applications, and Services and Operations.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Schertzer oversaw all technology delivery for the Firm. Before joining Blackstone in 2008, Mr. Schertzer worked at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), where he was responsible for the architecture and implementation of many critical components to the company’s corporate and trading businesses.
Mr. Schertzer previously sat on the board of CloudGenix, a former Blackstone portfolio company, and currently sits on various advisory boards across the technology sector. Mr. Schertzer received a BA in Business Administration from the University at Albany, SUNY.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Schertzer oversaw all technology delivery for the Firm. Before joining Blackstone in 2008, Mr. Schertzer worked at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), where he was responsible for the architecture and implementation of many critical components to the company’s corporate and trading businesses.
Mr. Schertzer previously sat on the board of CloudGenix, a former Blackstone portfolio company, and currently sits on various advisory boards across the technology sector. Mr. Schertzer received a BA in Business Administration from the University at Albany, SUNY.
Rob Wisniewski
FinTech & Enterprise Technology
Rob Wisniewski
FinTech & Enterprise Technology
Rob Wisniewski is a Managing Director in the Blackstone Technology and Innovations group and serves as the firm’s Chief Software Architect as well as the Chief Technology Officer of Client and Firmwide Platforms. He is involved with technical leadership of firmwide tools such as Niagara, BXAccess, Investran, Anaplan and their underlying frameworks.
Before joining Blackstone, Mr. Wisniewski served as Chief Technology Officer at CLEAR, building a technical delivery organization focused on biometric identity and security. Prior to joining CLEAR, he was Vice President of Engineering at Symphony Communications, delivering end-to-end secure and compliant messaging systems for financial services companies.
Mr. Wisniewski received a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota.
Before joining Blackstone, Mr. Wisniewski served as Chief Technology Officer at CLEAR, building a technical delivery organization focused on biometric identity and security. Prior to joining CLEAR, he was Vice President of Engineering at Symphony Communications, delivering end-to-end secure and compliant messaging systems for financial services companies.
Mr. Wisniewski received a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota.
John Fitzpatrick
PropTech & FinTech
John Fitzpatrick
PropTech & FinTech
John Fitzpatrick is a Senior Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer of Alternative Asset Management Technology at Blackstone. He handles all aspects of technology across Blackstone’s Real Estate and Private Equity businesses and assists our portfolio companies with managing their technology programs and strategy. He is also involved in the firm’s balance sheet investments in targeted, early stage, technology-related opportunities.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Fitzpatrick oversaw various initiatives across the entire Technology and Innovations group. Before joining Blackstone in 2011, Mr. Fitzpatrick worked at Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor’s, for seven years where he was most recently the Head of Product.
He received a BS in Finance from St. John’s University and currently serves on the Blackstone Charitable Foundation’s Leadership Council.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Fitzpatrick oversaw various initiatives across the entire Technology and Innovations group. Before joining Blackstone in 2011, Mr. Fitzpatrick worked at Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor’s, for seven years where he was most recently the Head of Product.
He received a BS in Finance from St. John’s University and currently serves on the Blackstone Charitable Foundation’s Leadership Council.
Adam Fletcher
Cybersecurity
Adam Fletcher
Cybersecurity
Adam Fletcher is a Senior Managing Director in the Technology and Innovations group and Blackstone’s Chief Security Officer. He is responsible for all aspects of cyber and physical security across Blackstone as well as managing a small portfolio of investments in leading early-stage cybersecurity companies.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Fletcher was Blackstone’s Deputy CISO and helped lead an engaged community of cybersecurity professionals across Blackstone’s portfolio of companies. Before joining Blackstone, Mr. Fletcher led the International Security organization for Equifax, coordinating a global security program across 14 countries, each with different business, regulatory, and privacy requirements.
Mr. Fletcher received a B.S. in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from Cornell University. He currently serves as a director on the board of Pentera, is an observer on the boards of ShiftLeft, CyberGRX and Mitiga, and has been a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) since 2011.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Fletcher was Blackstone’s Deputy CISO and helped lead an engaged community of cybersecurity professionals across Blackstone’s portfolio of companies. Before joining Blackstone, Mr. Fletcher led the International Security organization for Equifax, coordinating a global security program across 14 countries, each with different business, regulatory, and privacy requirements.
Mr. Fletcher received a B.S. in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from Cornell University. He currently serves as a director on the board of Pentera, is an observer on the boards of ShiftLeft, CyberGRX and Mitiga, and has been a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) since 2011.
Monty Hall
Enterprise Technology
Monty Hall
Enterprise Technology
Monty Hall is a Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer of Cloud, Platform & Developer Experience within the Technology and Innovations group at Blackstone. He is involved in operating a secure and reliable public cloud platform and is focused on the firm’s engineering efforts building patterns and tooling to enhance developer productivity and experience.
Prior to joining Blackstone in 2018, Mr. Hall served as Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at Hutchin Hill Capital, overseeing all aspects of the technology platform for the multi-strategy fund manager. Prior to joining Hutchin Hill, he worked as the Director of Technology for Capstone Investment Advisors, leading a team responsible for network, server & storage architecture, database management, application development and support, cybersecurity and vendor management. Prior to Capstone, he worked at Goldman Sachs managing Internet Operations and Security as well as managing projects for their Investment Banking Division.
Mr. Hall graduated with a BA in Finance from Franklin and Marshall College.
Prior to joining Blackstone in 2018, Mr. Hall served as Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at Hutchin Hill Capital, overseeing all aspects of the technology platform for the multi-strategy fund manager. Prior to joining Hutchin Hill, he worked as the Director of Technology for Capstone Investment Advisors, leading a team responsible for network, server & storage architecture, database management, application development and support, cybersecurity and vendor management. Prior to Capstone, he worked at Goldman Sachs managing Internet Operations and Security as well as managing projects for their Investment Banking Division.
Mr. Hall graduated with a BA in Finance from Franklin and Marshall College.
Our Portfolio
