Suggestions
Sharon Olexy
Entrepreneurial finance, new venture creation, deal execution | Board Director | Advisor
Sharon Olexy is an Operating Partner at Ajax Strategies, a firm focused on solving climate change through investment and innovation.12 With over 20 years of experience in Silicon Valley, she has established herself as a seasoned professional in the tech and investment sectors.3
Professional Background
Sharon has an impressive track record in fundraising, having raised over a billion dollars for various companies in the technology sector, including SaaS, Consumer, and Fintech companies.34 Her expertise spans across different industries, including:
- E-commerce
- EdTech
- FinTech
Current Role
As an Operating Partner at Ajax Strategies, Sharon contributes to the firm's mission of addressing climate change through strategic investments and partnerships.1 Ajax Strategies emphasizes long-term capital, collective expertise, and commercialization of groundbreaking technologies to create widespread impact.1
Additional Roles
In addition to her position at Ajax Strategies, Sharon serves as a Board Member at Kueski, further demonstrating her involvement in the financial technology sector.6
Education
Sharon's educational background includes an M.B.A., which has likely contributed to her success in the business and investment world.6
Location and Network
Based in Menlo Park, California, Sharon is well-connected within the Silicon Valley ecosystem.45 Her LinkedIn profile indicates that she has over 500 connections, suggesting a robust professional network.4
Sharon Olexy's extensive experience in fundraising, her focus on climate-related investments, and her strong Silicon Valley connections make her a valuable asset to Ajax Strategies and the broader tech investment community.
Highlights
Check out Dr. Torsten Slock, Chief Economist at Apollo Global Management. He publishes a report called Daily and Weekly Indicators for the US Economy (great newsletter!). Check out his latest post called “This Is a Soft Landing”:
-
The unemployment rate declined in August, and looking at the establishment survey and the household survey, it is difficult to see strong signs of a slowdown in job creation, see chart 1.
-
Wage growth accelerated to 3.8% in August and wage growth remains sticky well above pre-pandemic levels, see chart 2.
-
Daily data for debit card transactions shows that consumer spending has been accelerating in recent weeks, driven by spending on clothing, food services and drinking places, sporting goods, and motor vehicle and parts dealers, see the following five charts.
-
Weekly data for retail sales went up last week and remains solid, see chart 8.
-
Jobless claims have declined for several weeks, see chart 9.
-
Continuing claims have declined for several weeks, see chart 10.
-
Default rates and weekly bankruptcy filings are trending down, see chart 11.
-
The Fed’s weekly GDP model suggests GDP is 2.4% and the Atlanta Fed GDP Now says GDP this quarter will be 2.1%, see charts 12 and 13.
-
Weekly data for S&P 500 forward profit margins shows that profit margins are near all-time high levels, see chart 14.
-
The stock price of staffing firms is rebounding, which suggests that we could get a rebound in job openings, see chart 15.
The bottom line is that the US economy is not in a recession, and there are no signs of a recession on the horizon.
Sometimes I appreciate a little humor from one of my favorite economists, Dr. Edward Yardeni :) Highly recommend signing up for his weekly "QuickTakes".
