ForgeUp Operations Team

Jake Sheafer has been building and scaling businesses for over 20 years, with a sharp eye for opportunity and a talent for turning ideas into reality. As an angel investor and go-to-market strategist, he’s helped numerous tech startups find their path and thrive. Early on, Jake transformed traditional media by leading a team that brought legacy print publications into the digital era with custom software. That drive for innovation pushed him into the food delivery space, where he launched a service that expanded across multiple states before its sale to GrubHub.

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Now, as CEO of Delta Systems in Scottsdale, Arizona, Jake leads a dynamic team of engineers across 27 states, delivering cutting-edge software solutions—from UI/UX and full-stack development to next-gen tech. Under his leadership, Delta earned spots on the Inc. 5000 list in 2022 and 2023 as one of America’s fastest-growing companies and was recognized as a top firm by Clutch in 2023. With over 30 business units acquired and a keen sense for market strategy, Jake is dedicated to helping companies grow smart and fast. His passion for mentoring entrepreneurs fuels his mission to turn bold ideas into lasting successes.

Jeff Knight has a background as a start-up lawyer turned serial entrepreneur. He has raised venture for his own companies and helped, as a consultant, countless start ups over the last ten years raise venture funding. Jeff advises tech start ups on go-to-market strategy, standing up a sales org, effective use of partnerships and alliances, as well as other more granular topics like recruitment, pricing, and structuring your fundraise. Jeff is inspired by the passion of today's start-up founders and is an effective partner from ideation to IPO/exit.

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In the venture studio, Jeff's service categories will include: Developing and Evaluating GTM Strategy, Scoping initial build/MVP with effective benchmarking tied to specific fundraising goals, Establishing effective and realistic fundraise round structure and process, Standing up a sales org and establishing effective top of funnel, Assisting to develop pricing strategy and effective use of people, Assisting with other strategic projects tied to fundraise readiness

Oren Litwin is a seasoned attorney, political scientist, and author with a multifaceted career spanning law, finance, academia, and publishing. As the in-house counsel for Livble, Oren provides strategic legal guidance to support the company's innovative mission. His legal practice specializes in regulatory compliance and outside-counsel services for startups, helping entrepreneurs navigate complex financial and securities regulations to bring transformative ideas to market.Oren's Value Proposition:

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Securities Law & Regulatory Compliance

Oren's role with Forge Up Ventures is to oversee securities-law and general legal compliance for the studio. He ensures that all portfolio companies and the fund itself operate within the complex regulatory framework governing venture capital and startup investments.

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Startup Legal Advisory

Oren is available to advise startups on niche regulatory compliance issues, depending on their industry. His expertise helps entrepreneurs navigate the intricate legal landscape while focusing on building their innovative solutions.

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Strategic Legal Guidance

With his multifaceted background in law, finance, and academia, Oren provides comprehensive legal strategy that aligns with business objectives and growth plans, ensuring startups have the proper legal foundation for scaling.

Amanda is a multifaceted professional whose career reflects a strong commitment to excellence, adaptability, and continuous growth. A proud college graduate, she has successfully forged a dynamic path as an entrepreneur, studio manager, and executive assistant, demonstrating a rare blend of creative vision and operational expertise.

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With a keen eye for detail and an innate ability to manage complex logistics, Amanda has excelled in leadership and support roles across a variety of industries. As a studio manager, she ensures seamless day-to-day operations while fostering a productive and collaborative work environment. Her work as an executive assistant highlights her strategic mindset, organizational precision, and discretion in high-level administrative functions.

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In addition to her professional achievements, Amanda is a devoted wife and the proud mother of two teenage daughters. She draws inspiration from her family life, which fuels her passion for personal development and lifelong learning. Her journey is guided by resilience, a commitment to excellence, and a desire to leave a meaningful impact in both her personal and professional spheres. Always evolving, Amanda embraces each new challenge as an opportunity to learn and lead with purpose.

Bringing a blend of growth strategies from GTM, customer experience, and marketing expertise. With a proven track record of scaling growth to $90M ARR and closing over $1B in contracts, I've helped shape and scale early stage ventures from EdTech, Mortgage Tech, Payments and Blockchain. I've led over 1000 partnerships, reviewed over 800 project pitch decks and evaluated more than $50M in grant and fundraising requests giving me a sharp lens on what drives traction, conviction, and capital in early stage ecosystems.