Bridge Bank is bulking up its department for technology startups.
The San Francisco bank, which is a division of Western Alliance Bank in Phoenix, announced on Tuesday that it had hired six senior-level employees for three "technology hubs" in the U.S., in Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The goal is to expand the bank's technology banking group both in those regions and nationwide.
Western Alliance, in its first appearance on the list of leading banks with more than $50 billion of assets, landed at No. 1. The Phoenix company and the other top performers in this class have either created niche businesses, made acquisitions or done both.
"Innovative technology startups enter the market on a seemingly daily basis, and … new and existing tech companies seek out Bridge Bank to assist with everything from cash management to growth capital and venture debt to fund their growth and meet their goals," Mike Lederman, senior managing director in Bridge Bank's technology banking group, said in a press release.
The Bridge website states the bank provides financial solutions to companies in a variety of technology sectors and at any growth stage, starting at company inception.
The new hires include Greg Blount, senior vice president in San Francisco, who most recently was director of originations for MUFG's technology banking group; Everardo Gomez, senior vice president in Los Angeles, who spent time at Silicon Valley Bank in his 18 years in banking, finance and risk management; Lila Janakievski, senior vice president in Los Angeles, who most recently was a venture lender with venture debt firm Espresso Capital; Shayna Modarresi, senior vice president in San Francisco, who has nearly 20 years of experience in investment banking and venture investing, most recently as a venture lender with Runway Growth Capital; Jay Wefel, director in Denver, whose 20 years of experience with debt, venture capital and private equity capital include time with Silicon Valley Bank; and Jon Weitzel, director in San Francisco, who has been an equity and debt investor for 20 years.
Bridge Bank's parent company, Western Alliance Bancorp., was
