Dave Rouse

Strategic business leader with a passion for growing companies through thoughtful, relationship-driven business development. I’ve led revenue growth, built scalable operations, and closed complex capital raises and M&A deals across startups and private equity. My career is rooted in building trust, driving revenue growth, and unlocking operational opportunities. I’m currently seeking an operations role working alongside a CEO, with an eye toward future CEO opportunities.

I’m a growth-focused business leader with deep experience driving top-line revenue, scaling operations, and executing high-impact strategic initiatives across early-stage companies and private equity. With a background rooted in business development and account management, I’ve consistently delivered strong P&L results by opening new markets, deepening client relationships, and expanding revenue through high-value partnerships and enterprise deals.

Throughout my career, I’ve built and led cross-functional teams, implemented operational infrastructure from scratch, and developed systems that enable scalability and long-term efficiency. I’ve been responsible for full sales cycle execution, strategic account expansion, and leading both outbound and inbound growth strategies in high-velocity and customer focused environments.

On the capital side, I’ve raised significant equity from institutional investors, family offices, and HNWIs, while also playing key roles in structuring and executing M&A transactions. My work has included everything from sourcing and diligence to negotiation and onboarding, often serving as the connective tissue between investors, operators, and founders.

I thrive in fast-paced, entrepreneurial environments where business development, operational discipline, and strategic vision intersect. I'm now seeking an operational leadership role where I can work closely with a CEO to scale a company, contribute to strategic growth, and prepare for future CEO opportunities of my own.

Bachelors Degree - Lesley University

Leadership & Management Certificate - Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania