inventures General Partner

Melissa Chalfant

I am a venture-backed hard tech strategist and product builder with a proven track record in scaling businesses through strategic funding and operational excellence.

With my start in Semiconductor and Irradiation Services for Fortune 100 Defense Contractors, I honed my accounting and marketing skills to specialize in validation, deal-making, growth strategies, and business development. I identify opportunities, close high-value deals, and lead teams to execute with precision. My focus is on driving sustainable growth through strong unit economics and optimizing top to bottom go-to-market strategies for long-term success.

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inventures general PArtner

Trevor Mann

A capital markets operator focused on defense, dual-use, aerospace, energy, deep tech, and digital infrastructure, Trevor works at the intersection of institutional capital, family offices, and government funding. He leads capital strategy, transaction structuring, and cross-border advisory to position post-revenue, Seed to Series A companies for scalable growth in regulated and strategic markets.

He is skilled at integrating venture capital, private equity, non-dilutive funding, and government contracts into cohesive capital stacks, pairing commercial traction with disciplined execution to accelerate growth and close complex transactions.

inventures General PArtner

Mollie Jahner

A strategic operator focused on defense technology and aerospace innovation. She leads strategic positioning and partnership development to accelerate adoption in highly regulated markets.

With over 20 years of experience driving revenue through strategic partnerships and targeted customer acquisition, she is skilled at pairing commercial traction with non-dilutive funding pathways to scale dual-use technologies efficiently and sustainably.

inventures PArtner

Quitman Smith

I’ve spent my career working at the intersection of entrepreneurship, venture capital, and private equity — helping founders build out their sales organizations, craft effective go-to-market strategies, and drive real revenue growth across portfolio companies. Over the years, that hands-on work has given me a deep network of business owners and investors across North America. I'm currently bringing this experience and community to VNTR Capital as Chapter Director for VNTR Texas, where I help connect founders and LPs with opportunities that make sense — not just on paper, but in practice.


I’m a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, and I live in Texas with my wife Gabriela, our two sons, Robert and Quitman, and our overly confident French bulldog, Dash.


Whether you're a founder navigating growth or an LP looking for aligned access and disciplined execution — I’ve been in the room, built the team, and driven the results.

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inventures Partner

Ben Marquart

Ben brings over 20 years of experience driving innovation at the intersection of mobility, defense, and electrification. A hands-on engineer turned venture-builder, he has led programs from clean-sheet concept through production, specializing in advanced powertrain systems, hybrid-electric platforms, and integrated vehicle architectures. Ben’s track record spans startups and established OEMs alike, where he has bridged deep engineering insight with commercial execution to deliver scalable results. He is passionate about mentoring founders and technical teams, helping them translate complex technologies into viable businesses that shape the future of mobility and national security.

inventures Partner

Brent Clayton

Brent is a creative problem solver. His friends call him MacGyver. His background in construction and safety and his love of engineering drive his passion for innovation. He is both a founder and an inventor. The struggles and trials of entrepreneurship are familiar and all too real to him and inform his focus on helping others avoid the pitfalls he has faced along the way. Brent joined the InVentures team to use his experience and passion to inspire, motivate, support, encourage, and guide others on their journey from idea to IP to IPO. 

inventures advisor

Jonathan Lwowski

An AI and machine learning leader with deep expertise in computer vision, robotics, and data-driven systems. Jonathan has a track record of building and scaling high-performing technical teams, developing advanced AI solutions, and bringing innovative products from concept to deployment.

Jonathan holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering, with research focused on autonomous systems, control theory, and sensor fusion. His work spans both academia and industry, with published research in areas such as deep learning, robotics, and distributed systems. 

He is particularly interested in applying AI to solve real-world problems, identifying high-potential technologies, and supporting the next generation of technical founders.

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