Team
Our team is comprised of industry and finance experts with decades of experience that provide our portfolio companies operational and strategic guidance
Stephen Beck
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
With a distinguished 30-year career, Steve has garnered extensive experience and expertise in various leadership roles within the food and beverage industry. Steve has led a variety of consumer businesses including roles as Chief Executive Officer of Catamount Foods, President of New England Ice Cream, President of Polar Beverages, and VP of Sales at Pepsi. He co-founded Fifth Ocean because he wanted to work with entrepreneurs at a critical stage in their companies’ development to help them scale their businesses. Steve has a history of driving hyper-growth and consistently demonstrated strategic acumen and a drive for innovation. Over his career, he has helped execute and integrate 5 acquisitions. Steve holds a B.A. in Economics from Bucknell University.
Denis McEvoy
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
An experienced private equity investment professional focused on investing in lower-middle market companies. Prior to co-founding Fifth Ocean, Denis was a Principal at a Taglich Private Equity where he worked on all aspects of the investment process with a particular focus on evaluating, financing and executing transactions and managing portfolio investments. He pursued investments in consumer, niche manufacturing, business services and healthcare sectors. Previously, Denis was a member of the equity research team at Susquehanna International Group. He began his career at Goldman Sachs in the Fixed Income and Equity divisions. Denis holds a B.S.B.A. from the University of Florida and is a CFA charterholder.
Paul Foley
Managing Director
A seasoned private equity professional who has invested in numerous small to mid-market companies. Prior to joining Fifth Ocean, Paul was a Managing Director at a middle market private equity firm in New York. His duties encompassed sourcing, executing, and monitoring portfolio investments. Previously, Paul was the Chief Business Officer (advisory) for a biopharma company and the CFO of a software startup. His Wall Street career includes high yield sales at Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley. He currently serves as the Chairman of the New Canaan, Connecticut Police Commission. Paul received B.S.B.A and MBA from Northeastern University.
Eric Schnell
Operating Advisor
With over 25 years of experience in the natural products industry, Eric is the founder of BeyondBrands, a leading strategic consulting agency and brand incubator, as well BeyondVentures, a food and beverage venture portfolio. He has a deep expertise in organic beverages, fair trade, plant-based foods, and dietary supplements, as well as a strong network of consultants, and game-changers in the natural products community. Eric co-founded and led several successful food and beverage brands, including Steaz, Good Catch Foods, RUNA Tea, Fresh Cap and GoodSAM, from startup to exit, while achieving recognition for innovation, sustainability, and social impact. He serves as a board member, executive director, and committee member of several organizations that support and grow the natural products industry, such as Naturally Network, Nutrition Capital Network and BeyondSKU. Eric holds a B.A. from Northeastern University.
Amar Gautam
Operating Advisor
A seasoned entrepreneur and technologist with over 20 years of experience in designing and developing complex software products and systems. Currently, Amar serves as the Global Head of Solutions Engineering at DevRev (valued at $1.1b+), an AI-native platform that delivers conversational search and analytics and agentic workflows. Prior to DevRev, he co-founded and led HyperTrader, an institutional-grade trading software platform that empowers traders with portfolio management, market analytics, and post-trade insights. Under his leadership, HyperTrader was selected for Y Combinator, one of the world’s most prestigious startup accelerators, further validating his vision and leadership. Previously, Amar spent a decade at TP ICAP, the world’s leading inter-dealer broker, where he honed his expertise in APIs and product design. His career reflects a deep understanding of the intersection between technology and commerce, with a focus on system efficiency, performance, and quality. Beyond his professional roles, he is an active early-stage investor, backing startups such as Curacel, TradeX, Ariglad, Feather, and Frigade. Amar holds a degree in Computer Science and Engineering, along with certifications in Economics, Accounting, and Business Analytics.
Jim Mitchell
Operating Advisor
Jim is a senior food and beverage executive and an accomplished leader with extensive global experience building brands, driving business growth, and developing high performing cultures at some of the world best food and beverage companies; Pepsi, Nestle, Sysco and General Mills. He has held senior general management and sales roles such as CEO of family-owned Italian meat company, Rovagnati, and President of PE owned, Uno Foods. He excels at building winning teams that exceed financial results in both retail and foodservice. Jim holds an MBA from The Gabelli school of Business at Fordham University and a BS in marketing from The Carroll School of Business at Boston College.