Identifying high-net-worth individuals in need of financial guidance is central to growth in the wealth management industry.
While advisors and sales teams use many signals to guide outreach, one of the strongest and most time-sensitive is often overlooked, the sale of a private business. A liquidity event instantly transforms business owners into high-net-worth individuals, creating a narrow window where the need for financial planning is at its peak.
We track more than 2,000 private company transactions each month in Dakota Marketplace and map those deals directly to key executives. This allows firms to gain a clear, actionable view into who has recently gone through a buyout and is likely navigating newfound liquidity, all in one place where you can view and act on every transaction.
Book a demo of Dakota Marketplace to source key executives and CEOs!
Top 10 CEOs in Houston
1. Stephen Altemus – Intuitive Machines, Inc
Recent Transaction: Growth Equity | 2/25/2026 | $175M
Intuitive Machines announced a $175 million strategic equity investment, following its recent acquisition of Lanteris Space Systems, to accelerate expansion of its satellite communications and in-space data processing capabilities. The capital will support growth of its Near Space Network Services platform, advance space-based data infrastructure from low Earth orbit to deep space, and position the company to secure higher-margin government and commercial contracts.
Stephen J. Altemus is the Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Houston-based Intuitive Machines, where he has led the company to secure multiple NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) contracts and become a key player in lunar commercialization. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, including Deputy Director and Director of Engineering, overseeing major human spaceflight and aerospace system initiatives.
View the full profile in Dakota Marketplace.
2. Bret Boudousquie – Stratus Medical, LLC
Recent Transaction: Series B Venture | 2/4/2026 | $10M
Stratus Medical, a Magnolia, Texas–based medical device company focused on radiofrequency ablation for chronic pain, raised $10 million in Series B financing led by Wasatch Health Partners to complete development of its RF Generator and neurovasis™ BVNA technology and fund a clinical study. The capital will support product development, patent expansion, and clinical validation as the company advances next-generation treatments for vertebrogenic low back pain.
Bret Boudousquie is the CEO and co-founder of Stratus Medical, where he leads the development of innovative radiofrequency technologies, including the Nimbus RF Multitined Expandable Electrode for chronic pain treatment. Previously, he served as President of RadiaDyne, guiding its growth into a medical device and patient monitoring company prior to its acquisition by AngioDynamics, and began his career in medical technology and corporate finance.
View the full profile in Dakota Marketplace.
3. Kam Ghaffarian – Axiom Space
Recent Transaction: Growth Equity | 2/12/2026 | $350M
Axiom Space raised $350 million in equity and debt financing, co-led by Type One Ventures and Qatar Investment Authority, to accelerate development of Axiom Station—the commercial successor to the ISS—and advance production of its next-generation NASA spacesuits. The funding reinforces strong institutional backing as the company expands its leadership in commercial human spaceflight and orbital infrastructure.
Kam Ghaffarian is an Iranian-born American entrepreneur and engineer who co-founded Axiom Space in 2016 to commercialize space exploration and develop the world’s first private space station. Previously, he founded Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies (SGT), which became a major NASA engineering contractor before its acquisition by KBR, and he has also launched ventures including Intuitive Machines and X-energy, underscoring his broad impact across aerospace and advanced energy innovation.
View the full profile in Dakota Marketplace.
4. Cindy D. Taff – Sage Geosystems
Recent Transaction: Series B Venture | 1/21/2026 | $97M
Ormat Technologies announced a $25 million equity investment in Sage Geosystems as part of a $97+ million Series B round co-led with Carbon Direct Capital to advance next-generation geothermal and energy storage technologies. The investment strengthens Ormat’s Enhanced Geothermal Systems strategy and supports piloting Sage’s Pressure Geothermal technology, with plans to accelerate commercialization and future project development.
Cindy D. Taff is the CEO of Houston-based Sage Geosystems, where she leads the development of innovative geothermal energy and energy storage technologies aimed at delivering scalable, sustainable power solutions. A former Shell executive with more than 35 years in oil and gas, she was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders in Business in 2024.
View the full profile in Dakota Marketplace.
5. Tim Latimer – Fervo Energy
Recent Transaction: Series E Growth Equity | 12/10/2025 | $462M
Fervo Energy closed an oversubscribed $462 million Series E round led by B Capital to accelerate development of Cape Station, a 500 MW enhanced geothermal project in Utah set to begin delivering power in 2026. The funding, backed by a broad group of institutional and strategic investors, positions Fervo to scale firm, 24/7 carbon-free energy as U.S. power demand surges.
Tim Latimer is the Co-Founder and CEO of Fervo Energy, where he is leading the development of large-scale enhanced geothermal projects, including a 500 MW facility in Southwest Utah aimed at delivering 24/7 carbon-free power. A former drilling engineer at BHP Billiton, he left the oil and gas industry to focus on climate solutions and has since been recognized by MIT Technology Review and TIME for his impact in clean energy innovation.
View the full profile in Dakota Marketplace.
6. Damon Diamantaras – TGS Insurance Agency, Inc.
Recent Transaction: Strategic Acquisition | 12/17/2025 | Undisclosed
Confie acquired Houston-based TGS Insurance Agency in December 2025 to expand its InsureOne national personal lines platform, adding over 130 employees and strengthening its presence in high-growth markets like Texas and Florida. The deal builds on TGS’s strong direct-to-consumer growth model, with founder and CEO Damon Diamantaras continuing to lead operations under the InsureOne brand.
Damon Diamantaras is the CEO of Houston-based TGS Insurance Agency, where he has led the firm through sustained rapid growth, earning recognition on the Aggie 100 list for five consecutive years. Previously a General Partner at GoDISH.com, he holds a BBA in Marketing from Texas A&M University.
View the full profile in Dakota Marketplace.
7. Alan Dunlea – Symmetry Energy Solutions
Recent Transaction: Buyout / Private Equity | 1/9/2026 | Undisclosed
Energy Capital Partners (ECP) completed the sale of Symmetry Energy Solutions to NextEra Energy Resources in January 2026, following a previously announced definitive agreement expected to close in Q1 2026. The acquisition expands NextEra’s natural gas supply and logistics capabilities, strengthening its platform to meet growing U.S. energy infrastructure demand driven in part by AI and large-load customers.
Alan Dunlea serves as Chief Executive Officer of Symmetry Energy Solutions, a Houston-based natural gas supply and asset management platform. As of October 2025, he continues to lead the company, overseeing its operations across commercial, industrial, and residential energy markets nationwide.
View the full profile in Dakota Marketplace.
8. Gray Hall – Raptor Technologies
Recent Transaction: Buyout / Private Equity | 11/28/2025 | $1.8B
Thoma Bravo announced the sale of Raptor Technologies, a leading provider of K-12 school safety software, to Warburg Pincus, with JMI Equity reinvesting as part of the transaction. The deal, expected to close in January 2026, marks the next phase of growth for Raptor following significant expansion and six strategic acquisitions under Thoma Bravo’s ownership.
Gray Hall is the CEO of Raptor Technologies, where he leads a leading provider of integrated school safety technology solutions. A seasoned SaaS executive, he previously scaled Alert Logic from under $10 million to more than $125 million in revenue and co-founded VeriCenter, growing it to over $80 million in recurring revenue.
View the full profile in Dakota Marketplace.
9. Art Canales – Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing
Recent Transaction: Credit Direct Lending | 12/2/2025 | $20M
Main Street Capital announced a $20 million follow-on first lien, senior secured term debt investment in Chamberlin Holding LLC to support its strategic acquisition of a commercial roofing contractor in the Southeastern U.S. The investment expands Houston-based Chamberlin’s geographic footprint beyond its Southwest stronghold, building on Main Street’s original 2018 investment in the company.
Art Canales is the President and CEO of Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing, where he leads the company’s strategic direction and oversees operations across its commercial roofing and waterproofing services. With decades of construction industry experience—including 15 years running his own building products business—he is also active in industry leadership through multiple board roles.
View the full profile in Dakota Marketplace.
10. Shrivastava Anshumali – ThirdAI
Recent Transaction: Venture Seed | 2/11/2026 | $3M
ThirdAI, an India–US–based deeptech startup, raised $3 million in seed funding co-led by Endiya Partners and Capria Ventures to expand product development and scale its engineering and go-to-market teams. Founded in 2024, the company builds a causal AI platform that automates root cause analysis for semiconductor manufacturers, helping reduce downtime and improve production yield.
Anshumali Shrivastava is a computer scientist, Rice University professor, and co-founder of ThirdAI Corp., where he focuses on democratizing artificial intelligence by enabling scalable AI on commodity hardware like CPUs. A Cornell Ph.D. graduate, his expertise spans large-scale machine learning and sustainable deep learning, and he has received multiple honors recognizing his research and academic leadership.
View the full profile in Dakota Marketplace.
Where Liquidity Events Become Prospecting Signals
Finding prospects may not be the challenge, it’s knowing when to reach them.
Private company transactions are one of the clearest signals of imminent need. They turn operating executives into newly liquid decision-makers almost overnight. Firms that align outreach to these moments gain a real advantage in timing, relevance, and conversion.
Dakota Marketplace delivers that edge.
Our combination of real-time private company transaction data and “likely to transact” signals allows RIAs and advisors to engage in timely, highly relevant outreach to individuals with newly acquired, or soon-to-be-acquired, wealth.
You’ll see all private company transactions in one place, updated continuously, so your team can prioritize outreach, engage with confidence, and convert at the right moment.
Book a demo of Dakota Marketplace to source key executives and CEOs!
