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Key people at Oceanic Partners Inc.
Oceanic Partners Inc. operates as a venture capital firm specializing in private market investments and liquidity solutions. The company provides both primary financing deal flow through direct venture capital participation and comprehensive secondary market services. Its approach is characterized by unconstrained investing across deal sizes, geographies, and market phases, underpinned by deep expertise in private market transactions and a strong focus on generating liquidity for its clients.
The firm was co-founded in 2014 by Tim Sullivan, who serves as CEO, and Jaclyn Strife, the Chief Operating Officer. Sullivan’s extensive background includes leadership roles at Sharespost, Susquehanna Financial Group, Oracle, and IBM, where he managed billions in private equity transactions. Strife brings substantial operational, sales, and marketing leadership from her time at MicroVentures and SharesPost Financial Corporation, contributing to the firm's robust transactional capabilities.
Oceanic Partners serves a diverse clientele, including investors seeking access to promising startups and private enterprises, as well as individuals and institutions requiring specialized secondary liquidity options for their private equity holdings. The company's vision centers on consistently delivering superior investment performance by leveraging its broad private market mastery and providing strategic solutions that address the evolving liquidity needs within the private capital ecosystem.
Key people at Oceanic Partners Inc.
Oceanic Partners Inc is a venture capital and private equity firm focused on investing in high-potential companies with strong founding teams and solid fundamentals. The firm’s mission centers on unlocking liquidity for stakeholders in private markets, particularly as the lifecycle of startups extends and traditional exit timelines shift. Oceanic Partners specializes in both primary venture capital investments and secondary market transactions, offering bespoke liquidity solutions for employees, founders, and institutional investors holding private equity. Their investment philosophy emphasizes flexibility—unconstrained by deal size, geography, or stage—allowing them to participate across the startup ecosystem, from early-stage ventures to mature private enterprises.
The firm’s impact is felt through its expansive deal flow, deep network, and innovative liquidity programs, which help startups and their stakeholders navigate the complexities of private market growth. Oceanic Partners is active in sectors ranging from technology and fintech to real estate and corporate finance, supporting companies at various stages of development and facilitating mergers, acquisitions, and structured liquidity events.
Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Sausalito, California, Oceanic Partners was established by a team with deep roots in the private markets. The firm’s CEO is recognized as a pioneer in the secondary market, having helped shape the landscape for private equity liquidity and co-investment opportunities over the past decade. From its inception, Oceanic Partners set out to bridge the gap between private companies and investors seeking access to high-quality deal flow and liquidity solutions. Over time, the firm evolved from a boutique advisory practice into a nimble, multi-faceted investment platform, expanding its reach across primary and secondary markets, corporate finance, and real estate syndications.
Oceanic Partners is riding the trend of extended private market lifecycles, where startups remain private longer and stakeholders increasingly demand liquidity before traditional IPO or acquisition exits. This shift has created a growing need for sophisticated secondary market solutions, which Oceanic Partners is well-positioned to address. The firm’s ability to facilitate liquidity for employees, founders, and investors helps stabilize private companies, attract talent, and support long-term growth. As the boundaries between public and private markets blur, Oceanic Partners is influencing how value is unlocked and distributed in the modern startup ecosystem.
Oceanic Partners is poised to play an even greater role as the private equity and venture capital landscape continues to evolve. With the rise of direct listings, SPACs, and alternative exit strategies, the demand for flexible, innovative liquidity solutions will only grow. The firm’s expertise in secondary markets, combined with its broad service offerings and deep network, positions it to shape the future of private market investing. As more companies seek to balance growth with stakeholder liquidity, Oceanic Partners will remain a key enabler of value creation and ecosystem stability—bridging the gap between ambition and opportunity in the world of venture capital.
| Date | Company | Round | Lead Investor(s) | Co-Investor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 22, 2017 | EverQuote | $13.0M Series B | — | Link Ventures, Oceanic Partners, Savano Capital Partners, Second Alpha, Stratim Capital, T Capital Partners |
| Oct 20, 2016 | EverQuote | $23.0M Series B | Thomas Smith | Oceanic Partners, Zachary Abrams, T Capital Partners |