Mako Capital Group announced that Vanessa Gabela has joined the firm as Partner and Head of Investor Relations. In this role, Gabela will lead the firm’s capital formation initiatives, oversee relationships with current and prospective investors, support the firm’s institutional growth strategy, and serve on Mako’s Investment Committee.
Founded in 2025, Mako Capital Group is a thesis-driven private equity firm focused on acquiring lower-middle-market companies in healthcare, financial services, and other essential services sectors. The firm partners with founder-led businesses and management teams in fragmented and growing markets where it believes operational expertise can create long-term value.
Gabela brings 25 years of finance experience to the firm, primarily focused on private equity fundraising and investor relations across institutional and private investors in the U.S. and international markets.
Before joining Mako, Gabela served as Managing Director and Head of Investor Relations at WM Partners, a private equity firm focused on the health and wellness industry. During her tenure, she helped build the firm from inception, developing its infrastructure, strategy, and fundraising capabilities while helping raise more than $1 billion across three institutional funds.
Earlier in her career, Gabela worked as Director of Investor Relations at Palladium Equity Partners, where she contributed to raising a fund with more than $1.1 billion in commitments. She also began her career at Monument Group.
Gabela earned a B.A. in International Relations from Wellesley College and an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management. She is also active in mentoring and advancing women in investing through organizations including Women’s Association of Venture and Equity and Private Equity Women’s Investor Network.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are thrilled to welcome Vanessa to Mako as a Partner of the firm. Her experience and know-how in investor relations specifically, but institutional investment firm building more broadly, is invaluable to us. Our goal is to build a world class firm, and we are now one critical step closer to getting there.”
Angel Morales, Co-Founder, Mako Capital Group
“I thrive in entrepreneurial environments and enjoy building lasting institutions that center on long-term growth and impact. What stood out to me about Mako was the people behind it, Angel, Pete and Oscar are seasoned and experienced professionals that bring to the firm a rare combination of investment, operational and leadership expertise developed across decades working in emerging and Fortune 500 companies. We share the same values and vision, and I’m excited to join them as we continue to build a differentiated private equity platform.”
Vanessa Gabela, Partner And Head Of Investor Relations, Mako Capital Group
“Bringing Vanessa on as a Partner is one of the most meaningful decisions we’ve made since founding Mako. Her track record speaks for itself, over $2 billion raised across multiple funds, but what truly drew us to her is how she builds relationships: with care, consistency, and a long-term mindset that mirrors how we think about investing and partnership. We couldn’t be more excited to have her alongside us, and our LPs, current and future, will feel the difference from day one.”
Pete Amaro, Co-Founder, Mako Capital Group
