Advisory Services in Capital Raising and Equity Partner Introductions
Business Development Advisory Services
⁠Advisory to access governments, sovereign funds, and exclusive business opportunities
⁠Offices in London, Doha, São Paulo and Geneva

About Us

First Capital Assets is a global company that fosters high-level business and tailor-made opportunities across all continents.

We facilitate connections between investors and projects seeking capital in various sectors, including real estate, infrastructure, defense, mining, technology, pharmaceuticals, and energy.

Our services encompass strategic advisory in capital raising and business development, facilitating access to new markets, investors, governments, sovereign funds, and exclusive business opportunities.

With offices in London, Doha, Geneva, and São Paulo, the company relies on a dynamic team of executives across the US, Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia to engage in global markets.

Partners

Marcelo Knopfelmacher

CEO and Co-Founder

Marcelo Knopfelmacher

CEO and Co-Founder
 
Career
  • Marcelo K is a global businessman, lawyer, and advisor.
 
Education
  • Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Faculdade de Direito da Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Master’s Degree in Law, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP), Brazil.
  • Executive Education in Business and International Relations, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), London, UK.
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA), University of Liverpool Management School, Liverpool, UK.

Felipe Locke Cavalcanti

Co-Founder

Felipe Locke Cavalcanti

Co-Founder

Career

  • Felipe is a seasoned dealmaker, lawyer, and advisor with global experience.
  • He is also a Partner at the law firm Knopfelmacher, Locke Cavalcanti, based in Brazil.

Education

  • Bachelor of Laws (LLB), University of São Paulo Law School (USP), Brazil.
  • LL.M. in Bankruptcy and Corporate Restructuring, Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) School of Law, São Paulo, Brazil.

Luiza Franarin Spier

Executive Director

Luiza Franarin Spier

Career

  • Seasoned executive director and lawyer, acting globally
  • Legal Director at First Capital Assets Ltd.
  • Currently engaged in advising on deals, facilitating the connection between investors and relevant projects seeking capital.

Education

  • Bachelor of Laws – LLB: University of Rio Grande do Sul – URGS, Brazil.
  • Post Graduation: Brazilian Institute of Tax Studies – IBET, São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Master of Business Administration – MBA, University of Liverpool Management School, Liverpool, UK.

Daniel Schnaider

Board Member

Daniel Schnaider

Daniel is a technology executive and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of leadership across AIoT, supply chain, eCommerce, cloud computing, payments, crypto, and cybersecurity. A former CEO of Powerfleet BR (NASDAQ: AIOT), he led one of the industry’s most notable turnarounds—restoring profitability, securing major enterprise contracts with global blue-chip companies such as Toyota, Nestlé, Shell, AB-InBev, América Móvil, Petrobras & Samsung and achieving one of the largest churn reductions in the sector.

He co-founded and exited HSBC mCash Payment Technologies, collaborated with IBM Ventures, and served as Managing Partner of Elbit Systems Brasil (NASDAQ: ESLT) Homeland Security division. Throughout his career, Daniel built a strong track record in M&A, integrations, restructuring, and scaling technology operations across Latam, Europe, and the United States.

He holds degrees in Economics/Management, with executive studies (Software Engineering ), Caltech (AI), MIT (Logistics), and the University of Toronto (Behavioral Economics).

Jan Tam

Business Manager

Jan Tam

Career

  • Business Manager at First Capital Assets Ltd.
  • Currently engaged in advising on deals, facilitating the connection between investors and relevant projects seeking capital.

Education

  • Master of Education – University of Hong Kong.
  • Master of Business Administration – MBA, University of Liverpool, UK.
  • BA International Business Communication – University of Lancashire, UK.

Evan Berger

Senior Advisor

Evan Berger

Evan brings 30+ years of U.S. and international experience as a lawyer, advisor and senior executive to public and private companies in many sectors, including government, technology, real estate, hospitality and consumer products and services. Evan meets the challenges of early-stage projects with business-minded solutions, while ensuring corporate structure and procedures adhere to institutional expectations.

Education

  • Juris Doctor (J.D.), Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York NY, USA
  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), International Relations, the School of International Service (SIS) at the American University, Washington DC, USA

Humberto J. de Farias

Senior Advisor

Humberto Junqueira de Farias

Career

  • Humberto is a former Board Member of some largest public companies as JBS (brazilian multinational company and one of the global leaders in the food industry), CSBrasil (Simpar´s infrastructure company), Eldorado Brasil Celulose, Loga – Logística Ambiental S.A. and Essencis Soluções Ambientais S.A. (environmental).

  • Humberto is also a former CEO of large companies in different sectors of the economy, as Ambar Energia (J&F), Renuka do Brasil (significant player in the Brazilian sugar and ethanol industry), Intercement (cement industry), Cavo Serviços e Meio Ambiente (infrastructure and environment),

  • He also served in many Class Entities’ Councils as SELUR (Environmental in the Sao Paulo State), AFCP (Association of Portland Cement Manufacturers – Argentina), SNIC (National Union of the Cement Industry) and ÚNICA (Union of the Sugarcane and Bioenergy Industry).

  • He has large and diversified experience in companies in Brazil and abroad, with mandates in growth, M&A, internationalization, turnaround, crisis management, innovation, and technology.

Education

  • Bachelor of Engineering and Business Administration from Universidade Mackenzie, São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Post Graduation: Industrial Administration from Fundação Vanzolini, São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Post Graduation: Strategy and Leadership from Fundação Getúlio Vargas, São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Specialization in Management at IMD – Switzerland.

James P. Stanton

Senior Advisor

James P. Stanton

Career

  • James is an experienced Deal Maker, Lawyer and Advisor acting in the USA, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

 

Education

  • LLM from University of Texas at Austin School of Law – Austin, TX
  • J.D. Business Law Concentration from Albany Law School – Albany, NY
  • B.A. Political Science and Economics from College of the Holy Cross – Worcester, MA

Evan Berger

Senior Advisor

Evan Berger

Evan brings 30+ years of U.S. and international experience as a lawyer, advisor and senior executive to public and private companies in many sectors, including government, technology, real estate, hospitality and consumer products and services. Evan meets the challenges of early-stage projects with business-minded solutions, while ensuring corporate structure and procedures adhere to institutional expectations.

Education

  • Juris Doctor (J.D.), Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York NY, USA
  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), International Relations, the School of International Service (SIS) at the American University, Washington DC, USA

Humberto J. de Farias

Senior Advisor

Humberto Junqueira de Farias

Career

  • Humberto is a former Board Member of some largest public companies as JBS (brazilian multinational company and one of the global leaders in the food industry), CSBrasil (Simpar´s infrastructure company), Eldorado Brasil Celulose, Loga – Logística Ambiental S.A. and Essencis Soluções Ambientais S.A. (environmental).

  • Humberto is also a former CEO of large companies in different sectors of the economy, as Ambar Energia (J&F), Renuka do Brasil (significant player in the Brazilian sugar and ethanol industry), Intercement (cement industry), Cavo Serviços e Meio Ambiente (infrastructure and environment),

  • He also served in many Class Entities’ Councils as SELUR (Environmental in the Sao Paulo State), AFCP (Association of Portland Cement Manufacturers – Argentina), SNIC (National Union of the Cement Industry) and ÚNICA (Union of the Sugarcane and Bioenergy Industry).

  • He has large and diversified experience in companies in Brazil and abroad, with mandates in growth, M&A, internationalization, turnaround, crisis management, innovation, and technology.

Education

  • Bachelor of Engineering and Business Administration from Universidade Mackenzie, São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Post Graduation: Industrial Administration from Fundação Vanzolini, São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Post Graduation: Strategy and Leadership from Fundação Getúlio Vargas, São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Specialization in Management at IMD – Switzerland.

Tarek Farahat

Senior Advisor

Tarek Farahat

International executive with extensive experience leading major corporations.
Former President of Procter & Gamble Latin America, and also served as Global Marketing President and Chairman of the Board at JBS.
Specialist in strategic management, innovation, and multicultural development. Advisor and investor focused on governance, reputation, and ethical leadership.

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