Jake Wiley

About Jake Wiley

I am an entrepreneur, investor, CPA, and former CFO and podcaster with nearly two decades of experience at the intersection of investing, business building, and innovation. Today, I lead core client relationships for private equity, real estate, and alternative investment funds — a vantage point that gives me direct access to how deals are sourced, diligenced, and scaled, as well as the inefficiencies that persist in the system.I’ve been deeply engaged in building and investing. I founded and scaled a Louisiana-based residential solar finance and installation company that was acquired by Palmetto, where I later led strategic growth initiatives during its transition from R&D into commercialization. I then served as CFO and Chief Compliance Officer for a $100M renewable energy fund, where I built systems to support fundraising, compliance, and portfolio growth.I’ve also been an active real estate investor for 16+ years, raising private funds for strategic acquisitions and long-term holds. To share and expand those insights, I\'ve hosted two podcasts — Wiley on Business and The Limited Partner — which together have given me hundreds of conversations with founders, operators, and capital allocators. These projects sharpened my conviction that there’s a better, more AI-native way to connect capital with opportunity.Currently exploring cross-border opportunities at the intersection of US and Italian markets. B1 certified in Italian (Universita per Stranieri di Siena, 2026), with deep experience in how AI and investment intelligence can bridge information asymmetries between US and European markets. Engaged with the Northern Italy startup and investment ecosystem, including the Milan/Lombardy and Turin/Piedmont corridors, with a focus on fund operations, corporate development, and AI-driven investment platforms.My background combines operator, investor, and connector experience: from launching and exiting a startup, to building fund infrastructure, to advising portfolio companies and investors. This unique mix — being inside the investment ecosystem today, while also having built and exited businesses myself — fuels the next chapter: leveraging AI to unlock hidden value.

Experience

1. Director - Cre

   PwC

   Oct 2019 — Present · US

   Business Development Director | Private Equity & Real Estate FundsI work with emerging and high-growth investment funds and their portfolio companies to accelerate growth. My role is to spot critical gaps in sourcing, diligence, and scaling, then assemble the right builders and strategies to solve them. I focus on helping funds adopt new approaches — from AI-driven intelligence to operational system integrations — while also constructing the growth narratives that unlock capital and opportunity.Key focus areas include:Identifying recurring inefficiencies across sourcing, diligence, and portfolio growth.Bringing technical experts, AI strategists, and operators to the table.Framing and leading AI adoption initiatives for funds.Building investment and operational narratives that accelerate growth.

Education

• University of Georgia - Terry College of Business

  Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Accounting and Finance

  1999 — 2002

• University of Georgia - Terry College of Business

  Masters, Accounting

  2002 — 2003

Skills

• Business Strategy
• Customer Profitability
• Due Diligence
• Management
• Strategy
• Us Gaap
• Microsoft Excel
• Forecasting
• Financial Reporting
• Accounts Receivable
• Strategic Sourcing
• Loan
• New Markets Tax Credits
• Accounting
• Auditing
• Solar Pv
• Mergers
• P&L Analysis
• Leadership
• Investments
• New Business Development
• Solar Finance
• Accounts Payable
• Budgets
• Ad Hoc Reporting
• Finance
• Private Equity
• Personnel Recruiting
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• P&L Forecasting
• Financial Analysis
• Board Relations
• Financial Statements
• Financial Audits
• Non-Profit Board Development
• Renewable Energy Credits
• Acquisitions
• Investment Tax Credit
• Investment Banking
• Payroll