Arafat Kabir

Arafat Kabir is a Partner at Advantary, where he plays a pivotal role in driving investment strategy and leading due diligence for high-impact ventures. With a unique blend of analytical rigor and cross-sector insight, Arafat brings deep expertise in evaluating emerging technologies, assessing market opportunities, and executing complex transactions.

Prior to joining Advantary, Arafat served as a Senior M&A Analyst at Victory Partners, where he led four-person teams in identifying high-growth investment opportunities and developing scalable frameworks for startups. He implemented automated deal-screening processes that increased pipeline quality by 40% and cultivated strategic relationships with C-suite executives across manufacturing and retail sectors, achieving exceptional client retention through tailored advisory services. Arafat also managed end-to-end transaction processes for family-owned businesses and spearheaded market landscape analyses identifying disruptive business models across sectors.

During his summer internship at Oaklins DeSilva & Phillips, a leading media investment bank in New York, Arafat partnered with C-suite executives to conduct valuations of professional services companies and evaluated potential acquisitions of numerous media and health tech companies in the United States and Canada.

Arafat served as a Research Fellow at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School where he helped spearhead the launch of the Human Capital Development Lab from concept to execution, securing grant funding and building an ecosystem of corporate partners, researchers, and academic institutions.

Arafat began his post-college professional life at Weatherford, one of the world's leading oil and gas service companies, where he played a critical role in implementing innovative technology solutions at Bangladesh's largest natural gas plant, developing frameworks to translate technical innovation into quantifiable business impact for diverse stakeholders.

A prolific thought leader, Arafat has published numerous op-eds and analyses in Forbes, The Washington Post, and Inc. Magazine, demonstrating exceptional C-suite communication skills and ability to distill complex topics into clear, strategic insights.

Arafat holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, where he was recognized as a Dean's Scholar and Paul DeSimone Sustainability Scholar awarded by US Sustainable Investment Forum. He also holds an MS in Political Science from the University of Utah, an MS in Global Politics & Culture from Illinois State University, and a BSc in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from the Islamic University of Technology, Bangladesh.

Arafat is a relentless learner as evidenced by his recent selection into Perplexity AI's inaugural business Fellowship cohort. He aims to position himself as a leading AI thought leader and Advantary's in-house expert.

Expertise:

Investment Strategy, Due Diligence, Financial Modeling & Valuation, Deal Sourcing, Growth Strategy, Cap Table Analysis, Term Sheet Negotiation, Data Analytics, Generative AI

Location:

United States

Roles:

Investment Analyst, M&A Specialist, Due Diligence Partner

Sectors:

Consumer and Retail, Financial Services, Media, Manufacturing, Technology