About Us

Next Sparc was formed by Len Pagon following the successful sale of his firm, Brulant to Rosetta in 2008. With its experienced leadership, Next Sparc is focused on actively participating in the daily operations of its portfolio companies, and is actively evaluating majority acquisition opportunities with growth stage companies based in North America.

Our team includes an extensive network of industry leading professionals from interactive marketing, private equity and successful entrepreneurial organizations. As we evaluate new companies to invest in, the people and the culture they have built is just as important to us as the idea and business that they have created. Read about some of our core values.

Emerging companies have a plethora of options when seeking investment capital including angel investors, private equity, and venture capital. The advantages to working with Next Sparc, include:

Personal attention and active participation in strategic operational management
Becoming part of a unified entity focused on driving rapid but controlled growth – increase success opportunities through diversified ownership and leveraging new leadership
Access to personal equity resulting in efficient decisions on key financial, operational and management decisions

Next Sparc has a proven formula for achieving successful growth, and it includes more than experienced financial and operational acumen. We are adamant on creating a fun atmosphere in our companies. Throughout our careers we have witnessed the positive effects of professional environments that promote teamwork, collaboration and most of all, a break from the daily grind.

The Team

Len Pagon Jr.

Len Pagon is Chairman and CEO of Next Sparc, LLC, which invests in emerging Internet-based, software and services-based companies and helps them achieve significant growth. During the last eight years, Next Sparc has successfully completed many investments.

In addition, Len currently serves as an Operating Advisor and a General Partner to Resilience Capital Partners, a leading private-equity firm that specializes in investing in middle-market companies in a broad range of industries.

Len was the former Vice Chairman of Rosetta and the former Chairman, CEO and founder of Brulant, Inc. Under Len’s leadership, Brulant became the third largest, privately-held interactive agency in the country in 2008. In the six years prior to its sale to Rosetta, Brulant was able to grow from $4 million to approximately $80 million in revenue, generating an EBITDA over $18 million. In July 2008, he sold Brulant to Rosetta, which was backed by private-equity firm Lindsay Goldberg. After becoming the largest, independent interactive agency with revenue exceeding $250 million, Rosetta was acquired by Publicis in July 2011 for $575 million. Brulant provided end-to-end services to their clients to help them build, operate and optimize their on-line channel. Brulant uniquely fused the creative design and internet marketing capabilities of an interactive agency with deep technology expertise and “Big 5” management consulting firm knowledge and approach. Brulant was a three-time Inc. 500 winner, eight-time Weatherhead 100 winner and a five-time NorthCoast 99 winner for best places to work.

During Len’s tenure as CEO of Brulant, the agency made several successful acquisitions and spinouts. He also led Brulant’s successful negotiated merger with Rosetta. At Rosetta, Len was responsible for strategic growth and expansion and oversaw mergers and acquisitions. Len is currently on the boards of Flight Options (the second largest fractional jet company in North America), COMS Interactive (a rapidly growing SaaS company focused on long-term healthcare), KINETiQ DIGITAL (a provider of digital strategy and analytics) and Streamlink (a SAAS solution providing both grant and board management products). He is also actively involved in the real estate market investing in both office and residential properties with strategic partners largely within Ohio.

Len is an active executive committee member and past Chapter Chair for the Cleveland Chapter of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). He has received various awards and earned significant recognition as a foremost entrepreneur and high-growth business leader. Len was named the 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young and to the Crain’s Cleveland Business annual “Who’s Who in Technology” and “40 under 40” lists.

Len and his wife, Kata, and their three sons reside in Novelty, Ohio. Len enjoys any competitive or outdoor activities including traveling, golf, soccer, fishing, hiking, skiing, cycling and running.

Miles Molyneaux

Miles is CFO of Next Sparc, before which he spent his formative years as a Director with PwC in the Transaction Services group. He also acts as CFO of several portfolio companies.

Miles Molyneaux is currently the CFO of Next Sparc, a family office, which invests in emerging internet-based, software and services-based companies and helps them achieve significant growth. In that role, he also serves as CFO of KINETiQ DIGITAL, responsible for accounting, administration and human resources.

Prior to joining KINETiQ DIGITAL, Miles was VP of Finance at Hilite International, a global Tier 1 automotive supplier based in Marktheidenfeld, Germany. Miles spent the most formative years of his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in the Transaction Services group, where he ultimately achieved the level of Director, providing both buy-side and sell-side diligence and consulting services to corporate and private equity clients in the US, South America, Europe and Asia. Miles has also worked at a regional turnaround consulting firm, as well as a federal bank in West Palm Beach.

Miles holds a BS in Accounting and MBA in Finance from Case Western Reserve University. He is a Certified Public Accountant (Ohio – inactive), Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor and Certified Turnaround Professional. Miles enjoys boating, baseball and spending time with his three daughters.

Nathan Carmon

Nathan Carmon is a General Partner with Next Sparc. Nathan started his career with Procter & Gamble establishing Oracle as the global database standard and developing IBM Cognos Powerplay into a commercial product with Cognos. Following Procter & Gamble, Nathan served as Vice President and the Cleveland Office Leader of Ernst & Young LLC and later Cap Gemini Ernst & Young. While with E&Y/CGE&Y, he was responsible for business development and client service delivery to Fortune 500 clients. During his tenure, he delivered positive operational and financial results to his clients through major transformation projects, leveraging technology for companies such as Ford Motor Company, GE, Lucent Technologies, Land O’Lakes, Neiman Marcus, Alcatel, Eaton, Dana and The Coleman Companies.

In 2004, Nathan Joined Brulant as Partner and Senior Vice President. As Partner, Nathan led the Financial Services (FS) Vertical, growing the Vertical at a 58% CAGR and increasing FS revenue from 18% to 30% of agency revenue. Nathan stayed with the merged Brulant/Rosetta organization through 2011, where he closed the agency’s first two AOR agreements, led pursuits leading to 80% of new FS revenue and delivered 190% revenue growth.

Upon leaving Rosetta in 2011, Nathan joined forces with Len and Next Sparc, developing new investment opportunities, optimizing existing investments and coaching and developing portfolio company for positive operational and business results.

Nathan holds a BSCS and MBA from The University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. He holds a commercial pilot’s license, a flight instructor certificate, and is a long distance cycling age group world record holder. He enjoys riding his bike and spending time with his life partner Tammy and his daughter, and vacationing in Michigan.

Andrew McKenna

Andrew Mckenna is an Associate at Next Sparc, where he is responsible for evaluating investment opportunities and working with portfolio companies. Prior to joining Next Sparc, Andrew worked on the investment team at Graham Holdings, the investment vehicle of the Graham family. At Graham Holdings, Andrew focused on sourcing investment opportunities, investment analysis, transaction execution, and financial reporting. Andrew graduated from Georgetown University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Additionally, Andrew is an Eagle Scout. Andrew lives in the Tremont neighborhood in Cleveland, and enjoys spending his free time with his dog, trying new restaurants, and exploring the outdoors.