Rafael Sonder

Rafael Sonder Email and Phone Number

Chief Financial Officer @ DRONE NERDS
Miami, FL, US
Rafael Sonder's Location
Miami, Florida, United States, United States
Rafael Sonder's Contact Details

Rafael Sonder personal email

n/a
About Rafael Sonder

My mission as a seasoned Private Equity executive is taking portfolio companies to new heights, creating value through smart strategies for investments, operations, and performance. I’m not only an advisor and executive leader – I’m also an investor, deal maker, passionate about generating growth.► MY STORYI’m a Private Equity Operating Partner now the Global CFO for WatchBox, the global e-commerce leader in the luxury watch market—a US$ 50b+ annual market size. Through my career, I’ve also driven results for various portfolio companies as a PE Investment Officer. My career in private equity-owned portfolio companies includes numerous M&A transactions, complex deals, strategic exits, operational improvements, and expansions into new international markets. In addition, I’m seasoned in building relationships with investors, boards, banks, and other stakeholders to move the needle and achieve growth goals.► KEY TALENTS• Corporate Development• Mergers & Acquisitions (M&As)• Due Diligence• Divestitures• IPOs• Negotiation• Fundraising• Operational Leadership• Business Planning• Financial Modeling • Strategy• Investor Relations► INTERNATIONAL PROFILE• Multicultural – Lived in the U.S., Latin America, and Asia• Multilingual – Fluent in English, Portuguese, Spanish and German• Work authorization for U.S., Europe, and Brazil• Authorized and licensed by Brazil’s SEC for asset management activities in Brazil► SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS• Generated $1B+ in funds raised across my career.• Produced 70% IRR in steering a divestment through a $250M IPO named ‘IPO of the Year.’• Exceeding the target EBITDA by 24% in integrating Portfolio Company’s largest-ever acquisition.• Directed expansion in Asia, Europe, and Africa. • Pioneered a new avenue for raising capital in the infrastructure sector through the first-ever Master Limited Partnership (MLP) structure in Brazil.• Evolved Asia subsidiary into its top revenue contribution driver, top profit growth, hub for international operations, and benchmark for company expansion.• Improved team performance while leading the headquarters through a major organizational restructuring.

Rafael Sonder's Current Company Details
DRONE NERDS

Drone Nerds

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Chief Financial Officer
Miami, FL, US
Rafael Sonder Work Experience Details
  • Drone Nerds
    Chief Financial Officer
    Drone Nerds
    Miami, Fl, Us
  • Drone Nerds
    Chief Financial Officer
    Drone Nerds Jun 2024 - Present
    Miami, Florida, Us
    Drone Nerds provides comprehensive drone solutions for enterprise, private, and recreational needs. We partner with customers to understand their business and find UAV solutions that best fit their operations across industry verticals, including public safety, government, agriculture, construction, energy, inspection, and more.
  • Watchbox  |  The 1916 Company
    Deal: Watchbox | Role: Cfo & Value Creation │ Investors: Cmia Cap., Radcliff, Spruce House
    Watchbox | The 1916 Company Jun 2017 - Jun 2024
    Bala Cynwyd, Pa, Us
    The 1916 Company (Watchbox) is a private equity backed high growth e-commerce and luxury retailer.I was hired as the VP of Strategy and promoted to the Global CFO role within 8 months. I work with executives and the board to identify and capitalize on market opportunities. Generating revenue and profit growth, I lead expansion through investments, including planning, forecasting, acquisition due diligence, equity and debt fundraising, cross-border M&A initiatives, investor relations, and banking operations. ► Unlocking growth potential, I’ve enabled a high double-digit e-commerce CAGR for 5 straight years through fundraising, M&A activities in new markets, and operational restructuring.► I played a key role in evolving WatchBox into the first global company in its segment, opening 4 offices around the world. Foreign operations now deliver a large portion of revenue and have the group’s highest growth rates. Strategies included M&A, a joint venture, expansion of credit facilities, new banking relationships and rounds of equity funding.► I am leading the finance team that is recognized internally as a high performing in operational efficiency and quick problem-solving approach towards new business challenges.► To avoid adverse impacts from a dissolution of a partnership, I negotiated the sale of a non-core subsidiary back to the partner and avoided potential losses.► I gained board buy-in and supported the operational transformation of subsidiary into the group’s top revenue driver, highest profit growth business unit, hub for international operations, and model for company expansion.► Boosting morale and performance, I navigated through a major organizational restructuring and partnered with key leaders to build trust and manage change.
  • Tarpon
    Deal: Brf | Role: Asia Cfo And Value Creation Officer For Tarpon | Investor: Tarpon
    Tarpon Feb 2016 - Feb 2017
    São Paulo, Sp, Br
    As the CFO and Director of Corporate Development for Asia region, I partnered with shareholders and the global executive team, driving short- and long-term strategies and planning for M&As and entry into the new Asian markets for BRF, one of the world’s largest food companies. I collaborated to identify opportunities, shortlist potential targets, influence board approval, and negotiate transactions.► Exceeding the target EBITDA by 24%, I directed the integration of the company’s largest-ever acquisition, steering a 20-member team and a synergies map for each area.► To enter the company into the Malaysian market, I drove expansion in Southeast Asia through a strategic acquisition.
  • Barn Investimentos
    Partner
    Barn Investimentos Nov 2014 - Jan 2016
    Sao Paulo , Sp , Br
    ► For this boutique venture capital GP, I sourced and executed VC and private equity transactions, led fundraising efforts, and generated new business opportunities.► Sourced and managed M&A mandate in the agriculture sector, Barn’s core competence, leading to exit alternative for owners of the company
  • Tarpon
    Deal: Serena Renewables | Role: Md And Value Creation For Tarpon | Investor: Tarpon
    Tarpon May 2013 - Nov 2014
    São Paulo, Sp, Br
    Appointed by the board to create and lead the asset management division for Omega Energia, I spearheaded investor outreach, relations, deal structuring, and negotiation. ► To fund the expansion of clean energy power plants, I owned the outreach strategy to 40+ investors, negotiated with 3 targets, and brokered a large global infrastructure PE funding deal.► Significant capital generation by pioneering the first-ever Master Limited Partnership (MLP) structure for the infrastructure sector in Brazil, enabling divestment from power plants without losing operational control of assets.
  • Tarpon
    Value Creation And Investment Officer
    Tarpon Aug 2004 - Apr 2013
    São Paulo, Sp, Br
    For over 10+ years with Tarpon and its portfolio companies, wearing multiple hats and serving as a member of the Management Committee, I headed investment operations, performance improvement strategies, acquisitions, and divestments. I also contributed in capital raising and delivered investor presentations. I sat on company boards and committees leading value enhancing initiatives across Tarpon’s portfolio companies.► I executed the divestment from Arezzo, taking it public through an IPO (awarded the IPO of the Year in 2011). Arezzo is Brazil’s largest and top-performing retail fashion company.► I led the bankers and legal teams through Tarpon’s $250M IPO anchored by the world’s largest institutional investors.► I generated sector-leading returns through the divestment from Direcional, a $100M IPO, and follow-on offers. Direcional achieved steady double-digit revenue and EBITDA growth.► To optimize strategic project governance for Direcional, I established an ROI-based project approval methodology and partnered with the CEO, COO, and CFO on implementing new approval process.► I secured an offer from a global healthcare company with 25%+ IRR to purchase Cremer S.A., a publicly traded healthcare company and led value creation as a member of its board and committees for finance, strategy, and marketing.► I managed investment due diligence, led the approval of an investment in one of Brazil’s leading real estate companies, and executed the exit from the deal.► I designed and implemented a business plan and raised a $250M IPO for BrasilAgro.► Paving the way to reach $4B AUM, I directed Tarpon’s finance and operations team into the benchmark in the Brazilian industry and attracted capital from the world’s largest endowments, foundations, and pension plans through a cutting-edge portfolio management and compliance system.
  • Patria Investimentos
    Private Equity Investment Associate
    Patria Investimentos Aug 2002 - Aug 2004
    São Paulo, São Paulo, Br
    As a member of the private equity team, I led investments in the consumer segment and was part of the generalist team of business analysts.
  • Abn Amro Bank N.V.
    Investment Banking
    Abn Amro Bank N.V. Aug 2001 - May 2002
    Amsterdam, Nl
    My investment banking work focused on Latin America, in the sectors of telecom, media and technology, insurance and financial institutions.
  • Goldman Sachs
    Investment Banking Summer Analyst
    Goldman Sachs May 2000 - Aug 2000
    New York, New York, Us
    I was part of the investment banking division, focusing on Latin American deals

Rafael Sonder Skills

Private Equity Valuation Equities Capital Markets Investment Strategies Financial Modeling Emerging Markets Hedge Funds Corporate Finance Investments Venture Capital Finance Investment Banking Asset Management Investor Relations Due Diligence

Rafael Sonder Education Details

  • Insead
    Insead
    Negotiations
  • The Wharton School
    The Wharton School
    Finance
  • Tufts University
    Tufts University
    Electrical Engineering

Frequently Asked Questions about Rafael Sonder

What company does Rafael Sonder work for?

Rafael Sonder works for Drone Nerds

What is Rafael Sonder's role at the current company?

Rafael Sonder's current role is Chief Financial Officer.

What is Rafael Sonder's email address?

Rafael Sonder's email address is ra****@****box.com

What schools did Rafael Sonder attend?

Rafael Sonder attended Insead, The Wharton School, Tufts University.

What skills is Rafael Sonder known for?

Rafael Sonder has skills like Private Equity, Valuation, Equities, Capital Markets, Investment Strategies, Financial Modeling, Emerging Markets, Hedge Funds, Corporate Finance, Investments, Venture Capital, Finance.

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