OUR TEAM
We are a powerful team made up of seasoned entrepreneurs and experienced investors who are experts at finding great people with unique ideas and potential. Our vast, combined expertise (which includes, though is not limited to, entrepreneurship, technology, finance, adtech, enterprise software, sales execution, HR, operations, product development, ecommerce, digital marketing, branding, mobile tech, retail, and manufacturing) can help you attain the true potential of your idea or product.
RUDY KARSAN
Co-Founder & Partner
Rudy thrives in building mode, whether directly or through actively supporting the entrepreneurs he’s backed. He loves reading, playing poker, bothering his grandkids and asking relentlessly infuriating questions.
He is currently the Founder and Managing Partner of Karlani Capital. Previously, Rudy was the Founder & CEO of Kenexa, a company which he founded, proceeded to IPO, and then sold to IBM in 2012 in a record deal. He also sits on numerous Boards.
Rudy has been recognized multiple times for his entrepreneurial and humanitarian achievements and is the author of a New York Times bestselling book, “We: How to Increase Performance and Profits through Full Engagement.”
Rudy holds a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo and at the age of 25 was inducted as a Fellow in the Society of Actuaries.
NYLA KONCURAT
Co-Founder & Partner
Nyla is an entrepreneur who thrives on shaking up the status quo. In addition to co-founding Karlani Capital, she has founded and worked closely on a number of other startups in the technology, retail and hospitality sectors. Nyla has served on multiple for- and non-profit boards, including The Citizenry and as Chair of the Rail Park. As an investor, Nyla leverages her experience in corporate finance, governance and startup operations to advise Karlani's portfolio companies.
Nyla graduated with Highest Honors from Emory University and has lived all over the world including in New York, Buenos Aires, London and Toronto. Currently, she lives in Philadelphia with her family.
DONALD VOLK
Partner
Don Volk managed Kenexa’s finances from 1996 through 2013, and played a major role in the growth and development of the company through his systematic approach to financial stewardship. In addition, he provided Kenexa’s customers the security of knowing that an experienced Chief Financial Officer oversees the company’s assets. Don has been a Certified Public Accountant for more than 30 years and, prior to joining Kenexa, was a partner in the accounting firm of Brinker, Simpson, Nicastro & Volk.
Don holds a Master of Science degree in Taxation from Villanova University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Villanova University. You are most likely to find Don reading financial statements (for fun), spending time with his family, or on the golf course.
SHAHZIL (SHAZ) AMIN
Partner
Shaz, is the founder multiple companies two if which on two different ends of the spectrum. The first is Performance Agency, a performance-based online advertising company which he started right out of high school. The second is Plugged Inc., which is a premium headphone brand inspired by verge culture that he started during his senior year in college. In April 2014, Blue Track Media was acquired by Karlani Capital, where Shaz now takes on the role of Managing Partner.
In his free time he loves watching and competitively playing basketball and various other sports. He's a huge Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Cowboys fan, so don't dare to talk trash about his teams. He's also a sucker for midnight movie premieres and Buffalo Wild Wings. He values sincere, hard-working people with big hearts and is always happy to help out where he can. Although he's now a Managing Partner with Karlani, he still considers himself an entrepreneur and will never lose that hustler mentality. He urges people he doesn't know to reach out to him anytime, whether via email or in person, and introduce themselves and their ideas. Shaz graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Finance, however he prefers to be known as a graduate of the School of Hard Knocks.
KEVIN DUTCHER
Partner
Kevin Dutcher is currently a Managing Partner at Karlani Capital and cofounder of a stealth-stage startup. Before joining Karlani Capital, Kevin was part of the Smarter Workforce organization at IBM leading product and research teams applying behavioral and performance data to improve workplace outcomes by leveraging AI and the Watson product. He also served as a board member on IBM's Global IP Review Board evaluating all internal research and ideas in order to determine value and validity of the intellectual property. Kevin held technical leadership positions for over 15 years for numerous software startups in search, e-learning, and data analytics sectors. Kevin received a BS in Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.