0 yrs
Engineering degree, a year early
Completed a four-year B.S. in Business Engineering at Colorado School of Mines in three years.
Colorado School of Mines · Class of 2026
Business Engineering · Colorado School of Mines
Philip Cattanach Jr.
Pioneering the technical frontier of business.
Aspiring VC/PE analyst with a builder’s mindset—combining analytics, product intuition, and operator experience to source insights, evaluate opportunities, and grow portfolio value.
’26Colorado School of Mines
01About
Engineer by training, investor in the making.
I am a Business Engineering graduate of the Colorado School of Mines, where I finished my degree in three years, with a passion for technology, innovation, and strategic thinking. My education blends analytical rigor with business insight, equipping me to evaluate opportunities, understand market dynamics, and support data-driven decision-making.
I’m deeply interested in how emerging technologies can improve business performance. I thrive on finding opportunities for optimization, and I’m driven to help bring ideas to life and contribute to building something greater than myself.
- University
- Colorado School of Mines
- Degree
- Business Engineering
- Founded
- Exact Fuel
- Experience
- Access Venture Partners
- Working Genius
- Tenacity & Invention
- StrengthsFinder
- Relator, Analytical, Learner, Command, Discipline
Focus areas
- Early-stage software
- Fintech
- Proptech
- AI Automation & Optimization
02By the numbers
Results, not just responsibilities
Measurable outcomes from my internships, studies, and leadership roles.
0M+
Products priced with confidence
Built a pricing confidence system spanning 2M+ products and 700+ vendors, improving pricing accuracy.
Van Meter · Sales Support Intern
0%+
Operational efficiency gain
Integrated multiple software systems to streamline data updates, then presented the ROI to the C-suite.
Van Meter · Sales Support Intern
0%
Delivery error rate uncovered
Python detection system exposed the error rate, supporting a push toward a sub-2% target; briefed the CTO and CFO.
Van Meter · Logistics Intern
0×
Dean’s List
0
Leadership Positions
0
Case Competitions
0
Networking Conferences
03Journey
From engineering student to venture capital
Each step built on the last: learning the fundamentals, starting a company, testing ideas under pressure, operating inside a business, and now evaluating startups as an investor.
- Education2023 – 2026
Bachelor’s in Business Engineering
Colorado School of Mines
- Completed the four-year degree in three years; Dean’s List four times.
- Technical tracks: Business Analytics, AI and Machine Learning.
- Relevant focus: Financial modeling, data analysis, optimization, forecasting, and economic analysis.
- Venture2024
Co-Founder
Exact Fuel
- Built early-stage financial models to analyze unit economics, pricing strategy, and breakeven scenarios under multiple demand curves.
- Conducted bottoms-up market sizing and competitor mapping to inform go-to-market sequencing.
- Translated customer interviews into product requirements; shortened feedback loops to improve retention signals.
- Used Excel and Stripe data to monitor revenue, margins, and cohort patterns; presented insights for roadmap prioritization.
- Competition2025
Tenaska Business Challenge
Colorado School of Mines Team
- Built an investment-style thesis around a real-world energy ops problem; framed risks, sensitivities, and potential value drivers.
- Presented recommendations to industry leaders; integrated feedback from Tenaska executives.
- Collaborated and networked with cross-functional teams and industry mentors.
- Project2025
Portfolio Optimization
Colorado School of Mines
- Applied prescriptive analytics to construct constraint-aware, risk-adjusted allocation strategies (Mean-Variance, Max Sharpe Ratio, Risk Parity).
- Used solvers and linear programming to evaluate trade-offs, scenario tests, and capital allocation constraints.
- Delivered a concise research report translating technical outputs into investor-ready insights.
- Internship2025
Logistics Intern
Van Meter Inc.
- Developed and implemented Python-based systems to detect delivery anomalies; surfaced errors in ~5% of deliveries for targeted fixes.
- Built Power BI dashboards to track delivery anomalies for fast identification and prevention.
- Proposed automation roadmap to reduce manual processes.
- Assisted with AI integration to improve safety and productivity.
- Mentored first-year interns; coached on structuring analyses and pitching to the C-suite.
- Internship2025 – 2026
Venture Capital Intern
Access Venture Partners
- Support the due diligence process for potential investments, including market research, financial analysis, and competitive landscape evaluation.
- Source early-stage deal flow through founder outreach, ecosystem engagement, and platform monitoring.
- Represent Access Venture Partners at industry and networking events, developing and fostering relationships with entrepreneurs, investors, and accelerators.
- Enhance portfolio operations by tracking key performance metrics and contributing to internal strategy discussions, particularly in evaluation of AI and FinTech companies.
Prefer the one-page version?
View résumé (PDF)04Toolkit
What I bring to the table
The key skills I’ve developed through my academic and professional experiences.
Investing & Finance
Evaluating opportunities the way an investor would.
- Financial Modeling
- Due Diligence
- Market Sizing
- Economic Analysis
- Portfolio Optimization
Analytics & Optimization
Turning messy data into clear decisions.
- Python Data Analysis
- Predictive & Prescriptive Analytics
- Integer & Linear Programming
- Forecasting
- Anomaly Detection
Tools
The stack I reach for every day.
- Excel
- Python
- Power BI
- Stripe
Leadership & Communication
Getting people aligned around the right answer.
- Founder Outreach
- Executive Presentations
- Mentoring
- Cross-functional Teams
05Beyond work
Life outside the spreadsheet
Growing up in Minnesota, I developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors—especially through time spent hunting and fishing with my dad, creating memories that continue to shape my values today. A ski trip to Park City sparked a lasting love for alpine skiing, and relocating to Colorado only strengthened that connection to the mountains.
Health and fitness are also central to my routine—I challenge myself daily in the gym and stay curious through podcasts and audiobooks during walks. For me, staying active is about both physical well-being and lifelong learning.
- Alpine Skiing
- Hunting & Fishing
- Fitness
- Learning
Skiing in Japan
Half-marathon ruck
In the field
Fly fishing06Contact
Let’s connect
Whether you’re a founder, an investor, or building something new, I’d love to hear from you. Email is the fastest way to reach me.
Golden, Colorado