Paul Jones

Vice President of Corporate Strategy

Paul Jones brings more than four decades of experience operating at the intersection of early-stage entrepreneurship, capital formation, and execution. His career has consistently involved aligning legal structure, financing strategy, and operational reality at stages where companies are often formed before markets, revenue, or governance frameworks are fully defined.

He began his professional career practicing law in Silicon Valley, representing emerging companies and venture investors from seed financings through later-stage rounds and exit transactions. Over time, he transitioned from legal practice to operating roles, co-founding two venture-backed startups and later launching and managing a $26 million early-stage venture capital fund. In 1993, he was recognized by North Carolina’s Council for Entrepreneurial Development for leading one of the earliest companies spun out of Duke University Medical Center through successive venture financings.

Paul later joined a startup founded by Paraclete’s founder, Jeff Norris, initially in connection with a $250,000 angel round, and led corporate development and legal execution through the company’s public offering. Since returning to Wisconsin in 2003, he has focused on advising early-stage companies on governance, financing structure, and transaction timing—areas where early decisions materially shape long-term viability. At Paraclete, Paul serves as an advisor on capital strategy and governance, contributing experience grounded in repeated exposure to company formation, financing cycles, and market exits.