Jeff Banker

Work Experience
In addition to being an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) for the Entrepreneurs’ Center, Jeffery (Jeff) Banker is Founder and Managing Director of Catalyst CEO Group. He is an entrepreneurial ecosystem leader including CEO roles at multiple tech start-ups. Often serving as an adviser, mentor, and board member to growing companies, he adds value in corporate leadership, customer discovery, productization & market entry, capitalization/fundraising, and development of strategic partnerships. 

Throughout his career, Jeff has spent thousands of hours in customer discovery and market research for new products and emerging technologies. He is very experienced in new business development including growing sales and building a customer base from scratch, and landing tens of millions of dollars in purchase orders, product sales, and contracts across multiple companies. 

He has vetted over 100 companies in performing due diligence and analysis for venture investors, strategic partners, and economic development entities, including valuation assessments of early-stage firms. Additionally, he has authored/led the creation of business plans that have raised approximately $28 million in investor growth capital for various start-ups. 

Jeff is a Wolverines fan and resides in Toledo, Ohio.