ABOUT US
Experienced Partners for Public Market Growth
HOW WE WORK
Business strategy
Disciplined
Investment Focus
Acquire a dynamic, leading growth company within an established, high-margin vertical, positioned to outperform its peers and become a market leader
Value Creation
Playbook
Drive meaningful upside through targeted capital, improved governance, refined strategy, capital structure optimization, and operational efficiencies
Experienced,
Aligned Partner
Leverage proprietary deal flow, deep industry relationships, and a strong track record transforming small- and mid-cap companies, positioning us as a thoughtful, long-term steward in the public markets
LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE
Meet the team
Our team brings together experienced operators, investors and advisors with deep capital markets expertise.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
JOHN LIPMAN
Chief Executive Officer & Director
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John Lipman, our Chief Executive Officer and Director since November 2025, is Head of Capital Markets at Lucid Capital Markets. Mr. Lipman has more than 20 years of investment banking experience advising growth companies in the healthcare, industrial and technology sectors. Mr. Lipman has completed over 250 equity, convertible and debt offerings and advisory assignments for growth companies. Prior to joining Lucid, Mr. Lipman was a Partner and Managing Director of Investment Banking at Craig-Hallum, Managing Director at Hudson Securities, and Managing Director at Carter Securities, a firm he founded that specialized in raising equity, equity-linked and debt capital for growth companies. Mr. Lipman served as Chief Operating Officer and Director of Roth CH Acquisition I Co. until its merger with PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: PCT) in March 2021, Roth CH Acquisition II Co. until its merger with Reservoir Media, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSVR) in July 2021, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director of Roth CH Acquisition III Co. until its merger with QualTek Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: QTEK) in February 2022 and Roth CH Acquisition IV. Co. until its merger with Tigo Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: TYGO) in May 2023, and Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Roth CH Acquisition V Co. (NASDAQ: ROCL) until its merger with New Era Helium, Inc., n/k/a New Era Energy & Digital, Inc. (Nasdaq: NUAI), in December 2024 and Roth CH Acquisition Co. (NASDAQ: USCT) until its merger with SharonAI, Inc., n/k/a SharonAI Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: SHAZ), in December 2025.
STEVE KAPLAN
Chief Financial Officer
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Steve Kaplan, our Chief Financial Officer since November 2025 and Director since February 2026, joined Lucid Capital Markets in May 2024 where he Co-Heads the Financial Institutions Group, a group focused on financial institutions and blank check companies. From September 2004 through April 2024, Mr. Kaplan was a Managing Director and Head of Capital Markets at Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., a full-service investment bank and member of the NYSE since 1876 where he held a role similar to his role at Lucid. Mr. Kaplan served as Chief Financial Officer of Ignyte Acquisition Corp., a blank check company, from October 2020 until its merger with Peak Bio Co., Ltd., n/k/a Akari Therapeutics, Plc (Nasdaq: AKTX) in November 2022. Prior to 2004, Mr. Kaplan had substantial experience advising companies in the healthcare services industry. From 1999 to 2004, Mr. Kaplan was a Co-Founder and a Partner of River Capital Partners, a healthcare services focused M&A advisory firm. From 1996 to 1999, he was a Vice President in the Healthcare Investment Banking Group of Prudential Securities. From 1993 to 1996 he was an associate at Jefferies & Company, primarily focused on Healthcare M&A. He previously worked at auditing firms Pricewaterhouse and Deloitte & Touche. Over the course of his career, Mr. Kaplan has managed over 500 public offerings including but not limited to IPOs and follow-on offerings as well as advising on numerous merger and acquisition transactions.
JOHN DEMARAIS
Chief Operating Officer
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John DeMarais, our Chief Operating Officer since April 2026, joined Lucid Capital Markets in April 2025 and serves as a Director in its investment banking practice, where he is responsible for deal sourcing and execution across capital markets and M&A advisory assignments. Mr. DeMarais has experience supporting a broad range of transactions for both public and private companies across multiple growth sectors. He has also supported the sponsor of six SPAC business combinations and has been involved in over 20 SPAC transactions across the full lifecycle, including capital raising, advisory, structuring and execution. Prior to joining Lucid, Mr. DeMarais was in the investment banking practice at Craig-Hallum Capital Group, where he participated in the sourcing and execution of over 100 lower middle market transactions. Earlier in his career, Mr. DeMarais worked in the Financial Services Assurance practice at Ernst & Young.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DAVID ROSENBERG
Chairman
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David I. Rosenberg, our Chairman of the Board, is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lucid Capital Markets. From December 2011 until joining Lucid, Mr. Rosenberg was Co-President and Chief Executive Officer of Ladenburg Thalmann & Co Inc. Mr. Rosenberg remained with Ladenburg through the successful sale of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Servies for $1.3 billion to Osaic Wealth (f/k/a Advisor Group) a portfolio company of Reverence Capital Partners, a leading financial services-focused private equity firm. Prior to joining Ladenburg Thalmann in 2006, Mr. Rosenberg was Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BroadWall Capital, LLC, an independent provider of equity research, investment banking, institutional sales and trading and wealth management. He joined Ladenburg Thalmann after successfully selling assets of BroadWall Capital in 2006 to Ladenburg Thalmann & Co Inc. Mr. Rosenberg brings over 25 years of investment banking experience focused on growth companies. Since 2006, Mr. Rosenberg has managed over 750 public offerings, including but not limited to IPOs and follow-on offerings, raising in excess of $100 billion for small and mid-cap companies, as well as advising on many merger and acquisition transactions. Mr. Rosenberg also served as Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Ignyte Acquisition Corp. from August 2020 until its merger with Peak Bio Co., Ltd., n/k/a Akari Therapeutics, Plc (Nasdaq: AKTX) in November 2022.
JOHN LIPMAN
Chief Executive Officer & Director
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John Lipman, our Chief Executive Officer and Director since November 2025, is Head of Capital Markets at Lucid Capital Markets. Mr. Lipman has more than 20 years of investment banking experience advising growth companies in the healthcare, industrial and technology sectors. Mr. Lipman has completed over 250 equity, convertible and debt offerings and advisory assignments for growth companies. Prior to joining Lucid, Mr. Lipman was a Partner and Managing Director of Investment Banking at Craig-Hallum, Managing Director at Hudson Securities, and Managing Director at Carter Securities, a firm he founded that specialized in raising equity, equity-linked and debt capital for growth companies. Mr. Lipman served as Chief Operating Officer and Director of Roth CH Acquisition I Co. until its merger with PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: PCT) in March 2021, Roth CH Acquisition II Co. until its merger with Reservoir Media, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSVR) in July 2021, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director of Roth CH Acquisition III Co. until its merger with QualTek Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: QTEK) in February 2022 and Roth CH Acquisition IV. Co. until its merger with Tigo Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: TYGO) in May 2023, and Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Roth CH Acquisition V Co. (NASDAQ: ROCL) until its merger with New Era Helium, Inc., n/k/a New Era Energy & Digital, Inc. (Nasdaq: NUAI), in December 2024 and Roth CH Acquisition Co. (NASDAQ: USCT) until its merger with SharonAI, Inc., n/k/a SharonAI Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: SHAZ), in December 2025.
STEVE KAPLAN
Chief Financial Officer
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Steve Kaplan, our Chief Financial Officer since November 2025 and Director since February 2026, joined Lucid Capital Markets in May 2024 where he Co-Heads the Financial Institutions Group, a group focused on financial institutions and blank check companies. From September 2004 through April 2024, Mr. Kaplan was a Managing Director and Head of Capital Markets at Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., a full-service investment bank and member of the NYSE since 1876 where he held a role similar to his role at Lucid. Mr. Kaplan served as Chief Financial Officer of Ignyte Acquisition Corp., a blank check company, from October 2020 until its merger with Peak Bio Co., Ltd., n/k/a Akari Therapeutics, Plc (Nasdaq: AKTX) in November 2022. Prior to 2004, Mr. Kaplan had substantial experience advising companies in the healthcare services industry. From 1999 to 2004, Mr. Kaplan was a Co-Founder and a Partner of River Capital Partners, a healthcare services focused M&A advisory firm. From 1996 to 1999, he was a Vice President in the Healthcare Investment Banking Group of Prudential Securities. From 1993 to 1996 he was an associate at Jefferies & Company, primarily focused on Healthcare M&A. He previously worked at auditing firms Pricewaterhouse and Deloitte & Touche. Over the course of his career, Mr. Kaplan has managed over 500 public offerings including but not limited to IPOs and follow-on offerings as well as advising on numerous merger and acquisition transactions.
JAMES MANNING
Independent Director
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James Manning, an independent director, is a seasoned executive with over two decades of experience across technology, finance, property and infrastructure. Mr. Manning has held leadership roles across multiple industries, combining deep experience in investment management, listed and unlisted assets, and complex infrastructure projects. His career spans funds management, property development, digital infrastructure and private capital. Mr. Manning has served as the Chairman of SharonAI, Inc., an artificial intelligence and high performance computing company, since February 2024 where he is responsible for overseeing the company’s strategic direction, focusing on AI infrastructure development. He has served as a director and Chairman of SharonAI Holdings, Inc. since its merger with Roth CH Acquisition Co. in December 2025. Since 2016, Mr. Manning has also served as Chairman of Defender Asset Management Limited, an Australian boutique funds management business. He has also served as Managing Director at Vertua Limited since 2013 and as Chief Investment Officer of Manning Capital since 2002, each of which is an investment firm.
PAUL MANN
Independent Director
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Paul Mann, an independent director, currently serves as Executive Chairman of ASP Isotopes, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASPI), which he co-founded in September 2021. He served as ASP Isotopes’ Chief Executive Officer from the company’s incorporation until he took a temporary leave of absence from such duties in October 2025 due to health reasons. Mr. Mann also served as ASP Isotopes’ Chief Financial Officer from incorporation until September 2022. Prior to ASP Isotopes, Mr. Mann served as Chief Financial Officer of PolarityTE, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTE), a biotechnology company, from June 2018 until April 2020. Prior to that, he was responsible for Healthcare investments at DSAM Partners LLC, a global hedge fund. Earlier in his career, he was a portfolio manager at Highbridge Capital where he managed investments in healthcare and biotechnology. Prior to Highbridge Capital, from August 2013 to March 2016, he worked at Soros Fund Management where he was responsible for billions of dollars of investments in healthcare and chemicals companies. During his career as a healthcare and chemicals investor, Mr. Mann has helped create and fund numerous early stage and start-up companies. Prior to moving to the buy-side, Mr. Mann spent 11 years as a sell-side analyst at Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank. Mr. Mann started his career as a research scientist at Procter and Gamble and he is named as the inventor of numerous skin creams in the Oil of Olay range of cosmetics. Between 2000 and 2023, he was a nonexecutive, independent director at Abeona Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ABEO), where he was the chair of the audit committee, and he is currently a director at Healthtech Solution Inc. (OTC: HLTT), where he is chairman of the board and serves on the audit committee. He was the co-founder and Chairman of Varian Biopharma, a private biotechnology company focused on precision oncology until its sale in 2023.
ANTHONY DIGIANDOMENICO
Independent Director
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Anthony DiGiandomenico, an independent director, co-founded MDB Capital Group LLC, a venture capital firm and broker-dealer that focuses on financing early-stage, deep technology companies, and currently serves as Head of New Venture Discovery. Mr. DiGiandomenico has served on the board of ClearSign Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: CLIR) since May 2025, Exozymes Inc. (Nasdaq: EXOZ) since April 2019 and ENDRA Life Sciences Inc. (Nasdaq: NDRA) since 2013. He previously served on the board of directors of various public companies including Provention Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRVB), a developer of multiple drug therapies, Cue Biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: CUE), a developer of novel biologic drugs for the selective modulation of the human immune system to treat a broad range of cancers and autoimmune disorders. Mr. DiGiandomenico has participated in all areas of corporate finance including private capital, public offerings, PIPEs, business consulting and strategic planning and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. DiGiandomenico has also worked on a wide range of transactions for growth-oriented companies in the biotechnology, nutritional supplements, manufacturing and entertainment industries. Prior to forming MDB Capital Group LLC, Mr. DiGiandomenico served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Digian Company, a real estate development company.
ERIC HELENEK
Independent Director
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Eric Helenek, an independent director, founded High Trail Capital, a firm that utilizes fundamental research, credit analysis and structuring expertise to tailor creative capital solutions to meet the specific financing objectives of small cap and early-stage public companies across a broad spectrum of sectors, in July 2019. Prior to founding High Trail, Mr. Helenek spent over 20 years working at various middle-market investment banking firms including serving as Managing Director and Head of Alternative Capital Finance at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (from September 2015 to July 2019), as Managing Director in the Equity Capital Markets group at Cowen and Company (from May 2013 to September 2015), as a senior member of the Alternative Capital Finance Group at Lazard Capital Markets (from May 2007 to April 2013) and as Vice President at Piper Jaffray & Co. (from April 2006 to May 2007).
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