S2 E6 - Paul Ratner, Tony Zirnoon and Daniel Donaldson

On this weeks episode of Silicon Valley Impact we speak with Paul Ratner, Vice President of Sales at Marble Bridge Funding Group; Tony Zirnoon, Director of Channel & Strategic Partnerships. ISV, OEMs - Americas, and Ignite portfolio manager for their fund of funds; and Daniel Donaldson, Co-Founder of Eve Vehicles.   Paul Ratner is the Vice President of Sales at Marble Bridge Funding Group, where he helps small business owners navigate liquidity challenges with strategic financing solutions. Specializing in Accounts Receivable lines of credit, Purchase Order, and Contract Financing, Paul is committed to empowering businesses with the financial tools they need to scale and succeed.   With nearly two decades of experience in B2B sales and a background in the sports industry—including leadership roles with the Golden State Warriors and PGA TOUR—Paul brings a deep understanding of relationship-building, problem-solving, and customer-centric strategies. His career has been built on finding creative solutions that drive growth for businesses across industries.   Beyond his work in finance, Paul is an active business coach, advisor, and non-profit board member. As a former Adjunct Professor at the University of San Francisco’s Sport Management Graduate Program, he guided students in overcoming the negative stigma around sales while helping them develop essential skills in public speaking, personal branding, social media, and networking.   Known for his transparent and service-driven approach, Paul excels at building community, fostering meaningful connections, and providing value-first solutions. His passion lies in helping individuals and businesses achieve their highest potential, making him a trusted partner in both professional and personal growth.   Tony is a cybersecurity and IT leader with over 25 years of experience in strategic partnerships, venture investment, and business development. As the Founder of Human Capital Ventures Corp, he has raised over $7M for early-stage startups in cybersecurity, AI, telemedicine, and enterprise SaaS, leading multiple companies to successful exits, including Avid Secure (acquired by Sophos) and SecureCircle (acquired by CrowdStrike). His investment approach prioritizes predictive innovation and diversification, targeting a 20–30% IRR.   Currently heading Strategic Partnerships & Alliances for the Americas at Actian (HCL Software), Tony drives enterprise growth by helping organizations streamline data integration, enhance analytics, and accelerate AI/LLM adoption. His expertise spans GTM strategy, channel development across LATAM and Japan, and strategic collaborations with industry giants such as Microsoft, AWS, Cisco, and Palo Alto Networks.   An active investor and advisor, Tony has supported and scaled security startups like Seclytics, DuploCloud, InstaSecure.ai, and Accuknox. He is also a founding member of the Tortora Brayda Institute and the National AI & Cybersecurity ISAO, reinforcing his commitment to advancing cybersecurity resilience from SMBs to critical infrastructure.   Daniel has eight years of experience in SaaS customer success and govtech sales, he has a proven track record of driving growth and innovation. He began his career implementing enterprise resource planning solutions for the State of Texas, gaining deep expertise in public sector technology. More recently, he played a key role in scaling sales at Gel Blaster, a well-known toy company, growing monthly sales from 500 to 50,000 units. Passionate about leveraging technology to support first responders, Daniel focuses on the market implications of real-time, on-demand data and its potential to transform emergency response.   This and much more on Silicon Valley Impact! New episode drops at 12pm PST every Tuesday. Follow us on and listen to all our episodes on:   🎙️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/68L4RPfMizjxnKBsmcFb1J 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silicon-valley-impact/id1776876823 📺 Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@siliconvalleyimpact   "Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the host and guests on Silicon Valley Impact are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial advice or a solicitation. Listeners are encouraged to consult with a professional before making any financial or business decisions.”