Saturn Partners has a seasoned, cohesive investment team with specialized expertise in managing, advising and investing in early-stage companies.

Each of our portfolio companies benefits from the attention and expertise of our entire team, not just one partner. We all share one goal: creating substantial value for investors while helping smart entrepreneurs solve some of the world’s biggest challenges.

  • Jeff McCormick

    Managing Partner

    Jeff founded Saturn in 1994 to finance early-stage growth companies. He spearheads our investigation into new areas of investment and is active in managing our portfolio companies. Working closely with entrepreneurs, he helps forge strategic relationships, build management teams, and develop marketing and distribution strategies to enable significant growth.

    Jeff’s experience as an investment banker, entrepreneur and venture capitalist dates back to the early ’90s. Prior to founding Saturn, he worked as an analyst and investment banker with Bariston Associates, a Boston firm that originates and manages private investments for individual and institutional clients.

    Areas of Focus

    • Healthcare Technology
    • Advanced Materials

    Portfolio Companies

    • BiOWish Technologies
    • Knopp Biosciences
    • Omaze
    • Third Pole Therapeutics

    Education & Certifications

    • Syracuse University, MBA, finance
    • Syracuse University, BS, biology
    • FINRA Licenses: Series 7, 24 and 63
  • Bill Guttman

    Partner

    Dr. Guttman, who joined Saturn in 2006 and is based in Pittsburgh, has built and advised technology companies since the mid ’90s. Besides actively advising and supporting the entrepreneurs we work with, he investigates new investment opportunities.

    Dr. Guttman is special advisor to the provost of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and executive chairman of Carnegie Innovations, the university’s technology commercialization and holding company. During his tenure as CMU’s Distinguished Service Professor of Economics, he served on the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering’s cybersecurity committee, which advises Congress on federal R&D priorities.

    Earlier in his career, Dr. Guttman cofounded CyLab, one of the largest university-based research initiatives focused on dependability and security in software and networked systems. He has also been instrumental in various university tech transfers; most recently, he cofounded the knowledge capture software company Panopto, whose board he chairs.

    Dr. Guttman has founded, cofounded or held other leadership roles in several dozen institutionally backed ventures. He was chief executive at several of these companies, including Printcafe, a 500-person software developer acquired by Electronics for Imaging (NASDAQ: EFII) in 2003 and Axioma, a global leader in risk management and portfolio construction solutions that was
    acquired by Detuche Borse in 2019.. In addition, he has served in advisory capacities for USAID, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the OECD.

    Areas of Focus

    • Financial Technology
    • Enterprise Software Applications and Services

    Portfolio Companies

    • American Made LLC
    • Express KCS
    • Panopto
    • Trunomi
    • YieldStreet

    Education & Certifications

    • Balliol College, Oxford University; master's degree and Ph.D.
    • British Council Scholar
  • Ed Lafferty

    Partner & Chief Financial Officer

    Ed launched his career in private equity in 1997. Since then, he has participated in all stages of company development, from business plan creation and early-stage financing through IPO. He works closely with our portfolio companies’ management teams, developing growth strategies, arranging financing, recruiting key employees and building relationships with strategic partners, customers and advisors. In addition, he oversees Saturn’s finance and administration activities.

    Prior to joining Saturn in 2001, Ed spent four years as fund controller for private equity firm Berkshire Partners. Earlier in his career, he assisted in the formation, development and management of several companies, including Corporate Performance Systems and Millennium Consulting Group.

    Areas of Focus

    • Advanced Materials
    • Financial Technologies
    • E-commerce

    Portfolio Companies

    • Knopp Biosciences
    • Chirpify
    • Trunomi

    Education & Certifications

    • Bentley College, MBA, finance
    • Northeastern University, BS, business administration
    • FINRA Licenses: Series 7, 27 and 63