Our Team

Steve Tokarz is an experienced C-level entrepreneur, fundraiser and business developer and has been active in early-stage company development for the past 30 years. In his most recent corporate role, Steve served as Sr. VP of Product Development and Engineering working both domestically and internationally for Masco Corporation; a Fortune 200 company with revenues of $7+ billion.

He then transitioned to the start-up world where he developed his own companies, investing & raising $20+ million for start-ups and early-stage companies while establishing relationships with investors from the USA and China.

He is founder of Cantilever Investors; a blend of the best of Venture Capital and Private Equity to invest in and provide support to early-stage companies. Cantilever acts as both investor and, for the select few, operators in the company.

Through his connections with Cantilever, Steve has adopted roles as investor, CEO and board member in several of Cantilever portfolio medical/life science companies including Peptinovo Biopharma.

Steve earned his B.S.E. degree in Engineering Physics and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan and his MBA in Finance and General Administration from Indiana University while working full time and supported by Masco Corporation’s management program.