About us
Sturgeon Capital is a privately owned investment boutique specialising in investment opportunities in Central Asia and the Caucasus region.
The investment team comprises of an experienced group of professionals based between London and Tashkent. Sturgeon’s Founder and Chairman, Clemente Cappello, has over 15 years experience investing in Central Asia & the Caucasus region, building up an unparalleled local network in the process. Sturgeon is the only investment manager offering a dedicated Uzbek Private Equity Fund.
Sturgeon has been structured to allow everyone in our team to focus on investment returns and the servicing of our clients’ interests. We do not intend to launch additional strategies outside of our core regional competency, believing that such diversification is the enemy of performance. Similarly, the firm remains disciplined in managing asset flows and the capacity of the Fund.
The principals of the firm have invested most of their liquid financial assets in the Fund alongside LPs, ensuring a significant alignment of interests.
Investment PhilosophyOur team
Clemente Cappello
Founder & Chairman
Clemente is Founder and Chairman of Sturgeon Capital. He has a 15-year continuous track record of investing in the New Silk Road region and has developed an intimate knowledge of the investment universe. Clemente was an early investor in Georgia, identifying the economic potential of the reforms, particularly in the financial sector.
Kiyan Zandiyeh
Chief Investment Officer
Kiyan Zandiyeh is CIO and Portfolio Manager. He has over 10 years of portfolio management experience, 5 years of which have been dedicated to the Central Asia region, with a focus on early-stage businesses. Kiyan successfully led seed round investments in 3 companies, working with management to develop the companies such that each today are the leading companies in their respective verticals.
Alijon Ravshanov
Managing Director (Tashkent)
Alijon has over 18 years of experience in investment management, with a proven record of success in private equity investments in Uzbekistan. He has developed one of the most extensive networks in the country supporting deal flow and due diligence.
Rustam Mursalimov
Managing Director
Rustam has over 10 years of experience investing in Global Emerging Markets, consistently achieving strong performance.
Alex Branton
Investment Director & Head of Business Development
Alex has over 8 years of investment industry experience across developed and emerging markets. Prior to Sturgeon he worked at Columbus Point and Cambridge Associates.
Lanna Grigoryan
Head of Operations
Head of Operations at Sturgeon, Lanna joined the firm in February 2013, having previously worked at the IFC (part of the World Bank Group) in Washington DC.
Robin Butler
Investment Director
Before joining Sturgeon, Robin worked as an M&A Analyst at Arjan Capital Ltd, a Central Asia and Middle East focused M&A and corporate advisory boutique.
An Unparralled Local Network
For over 15 years Sturgeon has developed an unmatched local network which includes senior investment team representation on the ground. Sturgeon has also developed strategic partnerships and acquired stakes in leading research houses across the New Silk Road region. The depth of our local presence is crucial for sourcing investments; conducting fundamental research; assessing business sentiment; mapping stakeholder interests; and monitoring political changes.
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