Team

We are a team of seasoned CEOs who have successfully led innovative companies in a variety of industries including Biotech, Fintech, Manufacturing and Online / Digital Technologies and Aerospace.

Our Team

Our team of multifaceted partners, staff and advisors brings deep operational experience and leverages our robust network in the global tech community to position our portfolio companies for accelerated growth.

Nathaniel Harding

Managing Partner

A born and bred Oklahoman, Nathaniel is an innovator and market maker who has founded, scaled and sold companies. He is a successful investor in energy, biotech and ag tech. Nathaniel was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and a Most Admired CEO in Oklahoma by the Journal Record.

David Woods

Partner

David is a natural leader, having held CEO positions at Ditch Witch and EXIM Group. He currently is the CEO of Magellan Executive Partners, is passionate about helping CEOs and owners grow their organizations, their leaders, and their teams. David is a frequent keynote speaker on growth strategy.

Mike Moradi

Venture Partner

Mike is an entrepreneur having founded, led, and grown several biopharma and nanotech startups. He has been a managing, general or venture partner for several local, coastal and international venture capital funds. Mike was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and is a TED member.

Susan Moring

Principal

A startup enthusiast, Susan has spent the bulk of her career supporting entrepreneurs and contributing to the growth of Oklahoma’s startup ecosystem. Susan launched a social entrepreneurship fellowship program in Oklahoma City and grew the state’s first coding bootcamp. Susan is a steering committee member for Creative Oklahoma’s Entrepreneur Mentor Program (IKEMP), and she works nationally with Techstars.

Blake Bixler

Entrepreneur In Residence

Originally from Oklahoma, Blake is an entrepreneur with experience in agriculture, energy and venture capital. Blake’s expertise spans a company’s complete life cycle, from building the initial operations, leading teams, and driving growth, through navigating the acquisition process.

J.D. Baker

Platform Manager

J.D. Baker joins Cortado Ventures after serving nearly 4 years with the Oklahoma City Mayor’s Office where he managed several projects supporting economic development, and diversity & inclusion. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Black Chamber of Commerce, Midtown Association and as a Civic Leader for the United States Air and Space Forces Chiefs of Staff.

Mansi Patel

Analyst

Mansi was raised by entrepreneurs in the hospitality and real estate industries. She has expanded on the learned knowledge of her upbringing and focuses her expertise on fintech, hospitality and healthcare. She is a native Oklahoman and University of Oklahoma MBA graduate.

Taylor Brooks

Director of Administration

From Oklahoma, Taylor has always had a passion for startups. She has 7+ years’ experience in healthcare and energy. Taylor is a powerful force in the workplace and uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed.

Hailey Moxley

Accountant

A lifelong Oklahoma resident, Hailey joined the Cortado team in 2022 with a broad-based accounting experience in Business Administration, Financial Planning, and Real Estate. She is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma.

Allison Lawrence

Investor Relations

Allison is an experienced fundraiser, program manager, strategist and consultant. Through her work with for-profit, non-profit, and public initiatives, she aligns people and resources to achieve individualized success. Allison is a graduate of University of Oklahoma’s Masters of Public Administration and Berkeley’s Venture Capital University.