“Carpe Diem – Seize the Day”
Wilbur F. Inscho, known to colleagues and clients as Wil, is a highly accomplished finance and sales professional whose career has spanned over twenty-five years at the intersection of capital markets, investment banking, and corporate advisory. Throughout his distinguished career, he has leveraged his ability to connect visionary companies with the capital, strategic advice, and institutional relationships they need to thrive. His professional journey reflects not only an exceptional understanding of markets and investment structures but also a steadfast commitment to fiduciary responsibility and executive-level leadership.
Wil’s career began on the buy side, where he developed a profound respect for fiduciary duty and a disciplined approach to investment strategy. At the Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio and later at the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, he managed equity trading for large-cap portfolios under the mentorship of legendary investors Bob McLaughlin and Jim Severance. These formative years instilled in him an enduring sense of integrity, accountability, and rigor, traits that would remain the foundation of his professional identity as he transitioned into more senior roles in institutional trading and investment banking.
Building on this early success, Wil advanced his equity trading path to New York, securing roles in the frenetic environment of NASDAQ trading desks – initially with Prudential Securities and later ABN AMRO. His sharp instincts, strong analytical abilities, and relationship-building skills quickly distinguished him as a trusted advisor to top-tier institutional clients such as T. Rowe Price, Credit Suisse Asset Management, Waddell & Reed and American Express among others. These experiences equipped him with a global perspective, allowing him to anticipate and navigate shifts in financial markets while building long-term partnerships rooted in trust and mutual value.
In 2005, Wil accepted the opportunity to establish and expand offices for Barretto Pacific in Seattle and subsequently Barretto Securities in New York. His leadership was instrumental in launching the firm’s private placement business, where he built hundreds of relationships targeting a new subset of institutional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals interested in earlier-stage companies. Wil’s ability to cultivate strong client relationships and drive origination of equity and debt financings reflected his entrepreneurial spirit and established him as a recognized leader in corporate access, institutional sales and PIPEs (private investment in public equity). His success at Barretto set the stage for his long-standing impact on capital formation for early-stage through middle-market companies.
As his career progressed, Wil deepened his influence through senior leadership positions with respected firms like J. Streicher, a 100-year-old NYSE specialist firm where he and a group of colleagues worked to build a diverse presence in investment banking – a new line of business for the venerable floor trading firm. During this period Wil continued his practice of origination and placement of equity and debt for early-stage companies while exploring new advisory services and executing corporate access programs for public companies, elevating their visibility in the institutional community. He also broadened his expertise by working with a proven leader in asset-based lending to expand liquidity and growth options for issuer clients. Wil’s contributions during this period underscored his talent for innovation, adaptability, and strategic execution.
Wil’s tenure as Managing Director at Azurest Partners, which executed transactions through the broker dealer Crito Capital, further elevated his reputation as a strategic advisor and capital markets leader. At Azurest, he expanded the firm’s institutional relationships while building a corporate access program that strengthened client exposure. He also played an active role in international business development, engaging with clients, investors, and governments across Sub-Saharan Africa. Separately for Crito Capital, Wil continued to drive origination and placement of equity and debt financing, expanding his network of investor relationships into the world of venture capital from seed to late stage and stretching into traditional private equity firms.
In 2021, Wil joined Paulson Investment Company as Managing Director, where he continues to leverage his vast experience to drive business development, capital raising, and institutional engagement. At Paulson, he works closely with C-level executives, advising them on strategic financing options while maintaining an unwavering focus on client success. His leadership in investment banking and alternative investments has been marked by his ability to identify opportunities, connect stakeholders, and deliver results that drive growth and value creation.
Beyond his professional achievements, Wil is a global citizen whose career has afforded him international exposure, particularly in Africa and Australia. This experience enriches his ability to provide clients with certain insight and perspective on the complexities of international markets. He is also a proud member of the Sons of the American Legion and the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, organizations that reflect his appreciation for history, community, and service.
On a personal level, Wil lives life with the same energy and enthusiasm that he brings to his professional endeavors. Spending as much time outdoors as possible, he enjoys water and snow skiing, hunting and fishing or anything involving his two standard poodles. If you find Wil indoors it will likely be on a project of wood joinery or cooking. His personal motto, “Carpe Diem – Seize the Day,” is not only a guiding principle in his life but also a reflection of his professional philosophy: to seize opportunities, create value, and inspire others through action and leadership.
As a board candidate, Wil offers organizations more than two decades of executive-level experience, a broad and deep network of institutional investors, and an unparalleled ability to translate strategic vision into actionable financial pathways. His career trajectory demonstrates his commitment to helping companies succeed at every stage of growth, particularly those in early-stage and middle-market environments across industries such as life sciences, med-tech, mobility tech, industrials, and natural resources.
Character:
Wil exemplifies character through his unwavering commitment to fiduciary responsibility, a principle ingrained by his first mentors working at the state pension funds. He has built lasting relationships based on trust, transparency, and integrity, consistently earning the respect of colleagues, clients, and institutional partners.
Knowledge:
With over twenty-five years of experience spanning buy-side, sell-side, and investment banking leadership, Wil brings wide-ranging knowledge of capital markets and corporate finance. His expertise is drawn from real-world experience in institutional trading, portfolio management, investment banking and corporate advisory, equipping him to address complex financial challenges. He complements technical expertise with an understanding of global markets, ensuring organizations benefit from both strategic depth and international perspective.
Strategic:
Wil’s career is defined by his ability to think strategically, whether building new lines of business, expanding corporate access programs, or guiding companies through pivotal financing decisions. His experience launching private placement practices and engaging global investors demonstrates his talent for aligning capital strategies with organizational objectives. He thrives in early-stage and middle-market environments, where his insight and foresight empower companies to accelerate growth and maximize value.
Communication:
Communication has been a cornerstone of Wil’s success, enabling him to bridge the gap between companies and investors with clarity and credibility. He has consistently enhanced firms’ exposure by articulating compelling narratives to institutional audiences, ensuring that client stories resonate with stakeholders. His approachable leadership style fosters collaboration across executive teams, investors, and advisors, creating alignment and trust that drive long-term partnerships.
