Forge Appoints First CRO to Accelerate Customer Portfolio Expansion and Revenue Growth

Forge Global, Inc. (“Forge”), a marketplace for pre-IPO securities that provides a range of trading services and products to investors, financial institutions, and private innovation companies, has today announced that former head of technology capital markets for the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Jose Cobos, has been appointed as its first chief revenue officer. Joining at a pivotal time of momentum, Cobos will play a critical role in growing revenue across Forge’s expanding product and partner portfolio that serves stakeholders in the private market ecosystem including private companies, venture capitalists, hedge funds and wealth managers.

“Forge witnessed major growth and marketplace adoption this year as more investors, financial institutions, and private companies took advantage of our expanding capital innovation product suite and service portfolio,” said CEO of Forge, Kelly Rodriques. “Heading into 2020, as demand for private securities intensifies and as companies stay private longer, Jose’s unique experience working with late-stage growth private companies and their venture capital investors will help us better meet the needs of stakeholders.”

A former U.S. Navy SEAL, Cobos joins Forge with more than 15 years of experience in finance and technology. Prior to Forge, he worked at the NYSE as head of technology capital markets where he advised and managed relationships with Tech IPO prospects as well as the venture capital, private equity, investment banking, and legal communities. Before working for the NYSE, Cobos led the internet investment banking practices at Cowen and Piper Jaffray.

“As companies stay private longer, early investors increasingly look to Forge’s technology, data, and global relationships to gain new access to capital in the private markets,” said Jose Cobos. “I look forward to joining the Forge team during this critical time of industry transformation, and bringing my own expertise creating new opportunities within and between the finance and technology sectors to accelerate even more growth for the company. I am also thrilled to be able to help deliver on its mission of enabling more secure and transparent access to the private markets in order to build an even stronger economy.”

This year, Forge expanded its customer and product portfolio as marketplace demand grew within the investor community, private market, and financial services sector. The company launched Capital Systems for private innovation companies, an industry-first equity product with leading European provider of banking and financial services, BNP Paribas, and acquired a custody services provider that gives Forge the ability to help people hold and move their investments into and out of private securities easily. Cobos will play a critical role in helping drive more momentum for Forge within the venture capital community, as well as the private market economy. This comes off the back of successful partnerships with companies like Slack and Spotify ahead of their public debuts this year.

About Forge

Forge Global Inc. is a premier trading, settlement, and custody partner for a wide range of investors in the private markets. Established in 2014 as Equidate Inc., the company empowers investors and shareholders by enabling liquidity in the private markets and has completed more than $2.6B in transaction volume since inception. Forge was founded by Y Combinator alumni and backed by top investors including Tim Draper, Peter Thiel, FT Partners, and Munich Re. Forge's platform allows employees and investors in privately held innovation firms to liquidate a portion of their shares and provides private and institutional investors access to top companies before their IPOs.

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