Meet Zeeshan Bhatti

Q & A

Q1: What is your background and what are you doing now?

A1: “I started my professional journey in Merrill Lynch's Global Wealth and Investment Management Division. Throughout my tenure, I obtained various licenses such as the Series 7 & 66, while also actively managing a book of client assets. Thereafter I joined Louisville Forward's office of economic development where I served as the business services economic development manager and worked to to grow the Louisville economy. I then landed at McGuire Sponsel, a specialty tax consulting firm, and worked as credits and incentives consultant, putting together state and local tax incentive deals for growing middle-market companies throughout the Midwest. I currently serve as an associate and the head of platform at Keyhorse Capital."

​

Q2: What inspired you to become an investor?

A2: "I've worked my entire adult life to create material value for communities throughout my city and one of the supreme forms of human empowerment is the provision of capital and support to entrepreneurs who are working to build novel solutions. Ideally, each entrepreneur that we invest in is able to build and scale their businesses and thereby create, for themselves, their colleagues and their loved ones, a life full of opportunity."

Q3: What has been the most rewarding part of investing in startups?

A3: "As the Platform Lead at Keyhorse Capital, a key aspect of my role involves orchestrating a structured onboarding process for every company we invest in, pinpointing areas for improvement, and offering tailored support. I provide assistance to portfolio companies across a spectrum of needs, including talent acquisition, securing tax credits, facilitating round syndication, making strategic introductions, managing media placements, conducting valuations, overseeing tech infrastructure development, implementing vendor benefits, and advising on different aspects of their business models. All in all, being able to closely work with our companies and materially support their growth post-investment is undoubtedly the most rewarding part of my job." 

Q4: What community resources do you like to recommend to new investors or to the founders you invest in?

A4: 

• The resources that I like to share with founders include:

  • Kentucky Small Business Credit Initiative 

  • SBA Grants

  • Awesome Inc Fellowship

  • UK Entrepreneurs Bootcamp Online Accelerator

  • Amplify

  • UofL - LaunchIt Bootcamp

  • Kentucky Science and Engineering Foundation

  • Vogt Awards

  • GE's First Build

  • SOAR

  • Sprocket

  • CREATE

  • Blue North

  • Launch Blue

  • Code Louisville

Q5: If you could share one piece of advice to another person considering becoming an investor, what would it be?

A5: “Give everyone a fair shot. Do not come to quick conclusions about a person or their business idea. Be patient, sincere, and curious when meeting with an entrepreneur seeking capital. You may not always be able to invest, but you can always offer precise direction, alternative resources, and feedback that can push the entrepreneur closer to their goals."