Tim Busch
we are honored to host Tim Busch, Founder & Chairman of Pacific Hospitality Group, Co-Founder of the NAPA Institute as well as founder of The Clergy Hospitality.
Through Pacific Hospitality Group, he has built and stewarded a portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts across the U.S., while simultaneously founding institutions dedicated to Catholic formation, such as giving $15 million to support Catholic University of America business school, which was subsequently renamed the Tim and Steph Busch School of Business.
Brief words from Tim:
“When Tom Monaghan became a billionaire I said, wait a minute if they can go to Daily Mass, then what you find out is that prayer multiplies your time; it doesn’t take from your time. You’re using your time much more wisely, and the Holy Spirit is guiding you away from people, things, and efforts that are going down dead ends. Through prayer you regain time.”
Raj Bhakta
On Thursday, April 9th at 7:00 PM, at our candle-lit seated dinner, we are honored to host Raj Bhakta, Founder of WhistlePig Whiskey and BHAKTA Spirits, and former candidate for the United States Congress.
Born to a Gujarati father from India and an Irish Catholic mother, Raj grew up in Philadelphia shaped by two worlds and spent decades searching for where they led.
He has built and lost companies, run for Congress, stared at empty Vermont farmland waiting for God to speak, and turned a chance discovery of century-old Armagnac in rural France into one of America's most remarkable spirits ventures.
Most recently, he made national headlines for gifting for free the former Green Mountain College campus a $20 million property, seeking someone with a vision for the revival of Western Christian civilization and the Catholic Faith.
Brief words from Raj:
"I lost the race in '06, spent a little time in India, figured it was time to sort of settle down in life and wait for God to talk to me about what I should do next, because I didn't have a clue. Bought a 500-acre farm and sort of stared at the seasons changing, expecting a voice from the heavens to open up and reveal to me what I should do next. That didn't happen. No revelations really come from the Almighty. The economy tanks. I need to figure out a way to make the farm productive." (source)
God works in mysterious ways. He showed up not as a burning bush, but as a bad economy, an empty farm, and a phone call about Canadian rye.
At Fides, Raj will share:
What it means to wait on God and have Him answer in ways you never imagined
How faith became the quiet center of his entrepreneurial life — not a brand, but a backbone
Why he is giving away a $20 million campus in search of a Catholic civilization worth building
What it looks like to take things that are broken and bring them back in business, in culture, and in the Church
Who Should Attend
Young Catholics discerning how faith and entrepreneurship belong together
Founders and operators who have hit bottom and rebuilt
Professionals wrestling with what success is actually for
Evening Schedule
18:45 – Doors Open — Settle in and meet fellow mission-driven Catholics.
19:00 – Cocktail Reception
19:30 – Seated for Dinner — Appetizer and dinner are served.
20:00 – Talk Begins — Raj shares reflections on faith, failure, restoration, and the long game.
20:45 – Q&A — A conversation on providence, culture, and what it means to build with conviction.
21:00 – Networking & Social — Continue the conversation over refreshments.
23:00 – Doors Close
Attire: Business Formal (Suit and tie for men, suit/dress for women)
Can't make it but want to know how the event went? Sign up here for our newsletter!
Can't make it but want to know how the event went? Sign up here for our newsletter!
Event Sponsors:
Run Club
Ending your day with prayer, fresh air, and good company.
Inspired by Rose Kennedy, Ken Langone, Emperor Karl and our several of our past speakers each grounded in daily Mass and adoration as we present to you another run club meetup.
06:45PM— Meet at Pier 46 (West Village)
07:00PM — Run on the Hudson towards Old Saint Patricks Cathedral
Pray the rosary at the same time as we run towards Soho.
07:30PM - Join Ignite Holy Hour
Join the Holy Hour of Ignite for a holy hour of adoration.
08:30PM - Bendiction
Go for drinks at Tom and Jerry's
Why We Do This
The Fides Run Club in addition to our talk series exists to bring together Catholic founders, professionals, students, and friends who want to integrate prayer and health into their daily life just like Emperor Karl, Rose Kennedy, King Baudouin have done.
Run Club
Welcome to Fides Entrepreneurship! (Sign up Here For Our Newsletter)
Ending your day with prayer, fresh air, and good company.
Inspired by Rose Kennedy, Ken Langone, Emperor Karl and our several of our past speakers each grounded in daily Mass and adoration we present to you another run club meetup.
06:45PM— Meet at Pier 46 (West Village)
07:00PM — Run on the Hudson towards Old Saint Patricks Cathedral
Pray the rosary at the same time as we run towards Soho.
07:30PM - Join Ignite Holy Hour
Join the Holy Hour of Ignite for a holy hour of adoration.
08:30PM - Bendiction
Go for drinks at Tom and Jerry's
Why We Do This
The Fides Run Club in addition to our talk series exists to bring together Catholic founders, professionals, students, and friends who want to integrate prayer and health into their daily life just like Emperor Karl, Rose Kennedy, King Baudouin have done.
Catholic Founders Launch Party - San Francisco
Fides Entrepreneurship convenes founders, investors, and institutional leaders to explore the integration of the Catholic faith, capital, and responsibility.
It was founded on a simple conviction:
What is the balance of wealth, and faith?
In cities defined by innovation and valuation, there are few serious spaces where moral responsibility, ambition, and belief are discussed together publicly and without apology.
This inaugural San Francisco gathering marks the beginning of that conversation on the West Coast.
Format
• 5-minute opening address on Fides Entrepreneurship Mission: Meaning ofFaith, Capital, Responsibility.
• Curated introductions
• Wine & conversation
Attendance is intentionally limited.
For
-Founders
-Investors
-Operators
-Builders
-Young Catholic Professionals
If you care about how conviction shapes what you're building, you’ll feel at home in this room.
Attire: Business Casual
Jeremy Tate
we are honored to host Jeremy Tate, Founder & CEO of the Classic Learning Test (CLT) , a standardized exam that has become one of the most important and disruptive Catholic-led alternatives to the College Boards, SAT and ACT.
The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Politico and The New Yorker have reported it as a key competitor for students to the SAT and ACT, with more than 500,000 students taking the exam between 2023 and 2025.
“There was a very sweet Dominican sister creating two new classes. One was an intro to Christian Apologetics, and one was an intro to philosophy, and she was super excited, and I was excited and then registration time came, and basically no students signed up, you know. And I was talking to the students, you know, why didn't you want to take philosophy? And the main response was, you know, Mr. Tate, there are not any AP points. So that was the beginning of this. Like, this is crazy. We can't get our Catholic kids at a Catholic school to take philosophy or Christian apologetics because of the power of the College Board. “
Catholic Entrepreneurs Morning Run/Walk Club
Start your morning with prayer, fresh air, and good company.
A first for us we will gather in Soho for a simple rhythm:
08:00 AM — Mass at St. Anthony of Padua (Soho)
Begin the day grounded in the Eucharist.
08:30–09:00/09:15 — Run/Walk on the Hudson
After Mass, we head to the Hudson River path for a light run or walk.
All paces welcome — some pray the Rosary, others enjoy the view and conversation.
09:00/09:15–10:00 — Coffee Nearby
We finish with coffee at a nearby café for a relaxed time of community and conversation before starting the workday.
Fides Entrepreneurship Christmas Party
We’re hosting a fun and festive Christmas-season fundraiser to help sponsor Catholic high school and university students so they can attend our monthly Fides Entrepreneurship events throughout 2026
Rob Kaczmark
On Thursday, December 4th at 18:45, we’re honored to host Rob Kaczmark, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Spirit Juice Studios, an Emmy Award-winning creative firm dedicated to spreading the Gospel through media.
Rob’s story is one of faith, creativity, and conviction. From his roots in youth ministry and BMX culture (punk rock, tattoos, ect) to building one of the most recognized Catholic media production company in the country, which has worked with Jonathan Roumie, Hallow, Bishop Baron and Mark Wahlberg.
During COVID, when churches were closed, Rob and his team livestreamed daily Masses from their in-office chapel, offering hope to thousands. His short films like The Veil Removed to launching a Catholic kids’ channel on YouTube continue to shape how Catholics experience and share their faith.
“A small little video, a livestream Mass or Divine Mercy hits the right person at the right time… Sometimes even just the appearance of someone on camera praying that looks a little different can bring someone in.”
Rob will share:
How his creative journey led to founding Spirit Juice Studios
Why incorporating a chapel into his office and offering mass there changed his company’s culture
How media can be used to plant seeds of faith in unexpected places
How you can transform how people see going to Mass, especially those who you would not expect to go to mass
Fides Entrepreneurship Dinner & Panel W/Msgr Sakano and Zachary Julius
On Thursday, November 13th at 19:00, we’re honored to host a panel on How Catholic Ownership is Reimagining Capital for the Common Good, featuring Msgr. Donald Sakano, President & Chair of Highbridge Community Development Corporation and Zachary Julius, Director of Business Development at Julius Capital.
Msgr. Sakano’s story is one of vision, courage, and faith in action.
Ordained in 1971, he was approached by the City of New York during a time when
“the city was dying of a metastatic disease called real-estate disinvestment.”
In 1986, he accepted the challenge to found the nonprofit and rebuild Highbridge in the Bronx, saying:
“I became a low-income housing developer with integrity. Brick and mortar is a context for people’s well-being — their physical, emotional, and most importantly, spiritual well-being.”
Zachary Julius carries that same conviction into finance and development.
At Julius Capital, he helps dioceses and Catholic institutions use modern financial tools for mission.
“My dad founded the company and saw how the corporate world while living in New York City had incredibly sophisticated ways for moving capital around and generating wealth out of other wealth — and he asked, ‘Why can’t the Church be doing that?’”
Together, they will share:
• The turning points that shaped their faith and entrepreneurial vision
• How to turn land, air rights, and endowments into lasting Catholic mission
• How to deal with enemies of the church
James Fishback
On Tuesday October 21st at 18:45, we’re excited to host James T. Fishback, Founder & CEO of Azoria, an independent investment firm as well as Founder of Incubate Debate, a debate league.
His work has earned recognition across the spectrum from people such as Cathie Wood of ARK Invest.
James is a rare voice, having launched Azoria not only as an independent investment firm, most recently through its 500 Meritocracy Fund, but also as a direct response to his own experience of being ridiculed on at a previous hedge fund on Wall Street for praying before meals.
“We do daily mass for our staff. Some of our staff who aren't even catholic join us. Not only that but by donating 5% of my personal profits from the fund to support new Pro-life pregnancy centers shows how we put our faith first at Azoria"
James will share:
How faith grounds his work in both finance and culture
How to start your own investment firm
How to stand against the status quo amidst what the financial world dictate
How to help others live their faith more fully in business and investing
Cristofer Pereyra
On Thursday, September 25th at 18:45 we’re thrilled to host Cristofer Pereyra, Co-Founder & CEO of Tepeyac Leadership.
"Most of our graduates are serving on boards, non-profit, for profit, faith based, private, all kinds, big and small. When they graduate from the program. That's what we tell them, that's what they know that they're supposed to do, insert themselves into the secular institutions of society so that we can have a voice at all of the tables where decisions are made. That's the big focus of Tepeyac leadership. And so our graduates are doing that.
Just a handful of them have even run for office at the local level, public school districts, things of this sort. And that's exactly the vision.
Cristofer will share what led to the creation of the first Catholic Leadership program, what difference each of its members who attended the program have made since attending as well as dive into the habits and daily disciplines that Tepeyac instills in its participants—practices that don’t just inform leadership, but transform it. He’ll also speak honestly about the cost of real leadership: the willingness to show up when it’s hard, to serve when it’s inconvenient, and to say “yes” to God’s call—even when it stretches you beyond your comfort zone.
Here’s the evening lineup:
18:45 - Doors Open, take a seat and wait for the talk to begin.
19:00 - Talk Begins: Cristofer's story will captivate and inspire.
19:40 - Q&A: Bring your burning questions and take the conversation deeper.
20:00 - Post Catholic Entrepreneurship networking and social with refreshments
23:00 - Doors Close
Attire: Business casual!
Founder x Funders x Faith Mixer Event (Co-Host)
An NYC Summer Mixer by Christians*inTech × FaithTech x Fides Entrepreneurship Catholic Entrepreneurship Talks (Co-Host)
🍷 Light refreshments | Casual attire | Serious connections
🙌 What’s This All About?
This event is bringing together various faith-based communities that love Jesus and work in tech! Thanks to our friends at FaithTech and fellow co-hosts, we want to help you discover other cool communities and networks.
Are you looking to meet a faith-driven cofounder? Trying to connect with mission-aligned investors? Or maybe you’re just craving good conversation with fellow Christians working across the tech and venture landscape.
Join us for a laid-back summer mixer designed to connect founders, funders, VCs, builders, creatives, and faith-led professionals for one powerful night of intentional networking.
This is not a panel. No long talks. No pitch decks.
Just authentic connections with people who believe there’s more to work, purpose, and tech than the bottom line.
(This event is not associated with Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church; it's just the event location.)
💡 Who’s This For?
Whether you’re:
A startup founder looking to grow
A VC or angel investor looking to support redemptive ventures
A tech professional curious about faith
An entrepreneur in the making
A student or career switcher exploring the intersection of calling and innovation
This is your night to connect, dream, and discover new communities.
💬 Why This Matters
In a city full of ambition, hustle, and noise, we believe there’s a deeper way to build: one rooted in faith, fellowship, and purpose. If you’re searching for alignment in your career or business journey, this night is for you.
Because when the body of Christ gathers in tech, powerful things happen.
Todd Kata
On Thursday, July 10th at 18:45 we’re thrilled to host Todd Kata, Partner & Chief Revenue Officer at Financial Capital Network, as well previously Managing Director at Calypso Capital.
He was also Chief Operating Officer at a European Focused Equity Fund where he had over $1.25Bn Assets under Management.
He is now working on a two ventures, an E-commerce company and multi-Strat Equity Hedge Fund.
“I could have just stayed at Morgan Stanley. Instead I took a jump (being true to myself) to chase something bigger. I did make many mistakes in my personal life as I was admired by many due to my success but without that experience I would have not come to the conclusion that I hold today that faith is one of the most important things one can have.
Todd will share his new project he's working on, how he realized the importance of God later in his life after having much success, why you should still take risks and big jump even if it means it may affect who you are and how to differentiate oneself in the Hedge fund market.
Here’s the evening lineup:
18:45 - Doors Open, take a seat and wait for the talk to begin.
19:00 - Talk Begins: Todd's story will captivate and inspire.
19:40 - Q&A: Bring your burning questions and take the conversation deeper.
20:00 - Post Catholic Entrepreneurship networking
22:00 - Doors Close
Attire: Business casual!
*When faith fuels entrepreneurship, dreams take flight!*
Catholic Founders and Investors Dinners Club W/Sean Fieler
An Exclusive Gathering of Catholic Entrepreneurs and Investors
To Fund, Scale, and Mentor the Next Generation of Catholic Entrepreneurs
🎤 Featured Speaker
Sean Fieler, President of Equinox Partners, a New York-based hedge fund, and Founder of the Chiaroscuro Foundation.
Sean’s mission is to reflect God’s light in a dark world through philanthropic work that many shy away from—including pre-conception pro-life advocacy and restoring the dignity of Catholic funerary practices.
What to Expect:
✅ High-Level Networking – Connect with Catholic leaders across tech, finance, media, and consumer goods.
✅ Faith, Finance & Growth Panels – Hear from Sean on scaling ethical businesses.
✅ Mission-Aligned Community – Build relationships rooted in shared values and a commitment to sanctity in business.
👥 Who Should Attend:
Catholic founders and business owners looking to scale with integrity.
Investors seeking to support faith-aligned, mission-driven startups.
Entrepreneurs in search of mentorship, funding, or values-driven partnerships.
We're honored to host this event at the Sovereign Order of Malta in Midtown.
TAN BOOKS
Each guest will receive a complimentary book from TAN, whose mission is to help people become Saints through publishing lives of the Saints, liturgical works, and timeless Catholic theology.
Sign up here!
Pierre Ferragu
On Thursday, June 5th at 06:45 PM we’re thrilled to host Pierre Ferragu Co-Founder & Managing Director of New Street Research and U.S Producer of the Bernadette Musical.
He has previously been interviewed by CNBC, Bloomberg & EWTN for his role as a Wall Street Analyst and launch of the Bernadette Musical outside of France.
"What Bernadette said when she was offered a great opportunity in Paris. When she was asked what do you want to do. She said I'd like to serve the poor and I think it's a very important charism of Lourdes to serve the poor and the sick. Creating this opportunity to put the poor at the central process of the show is very beautiful."
Pierre will discuss how his journey from BCG to Wall Street to Broadway was shaped not just by professional ambition, but by a deepening Catholic faith. He’ll share how virtues like humility, patience, and trust in God’s timing have helped him navigate both the financial markets and reaching the opportunity of producing the Bernadette Musical in the United States. From co-founding a top global research firm to organizing monthly Jesus Runs for the homeless in New York, he’ll also offer insights on how to invest wisely in a fast-changing world—without losing your soul in the process.
Here’s the evening lineup:
18:45 - Doors Open, take a seat and wait for the talk to begin.
19:00 - Talk Begins: Pierre's story will captivate and inspire.
19:40 - Q&A: Bring your burning questions and take the conversation deeper.
20:00 - PostCatholic Entrepreneurship networking
22:30 - Doors Close
Attire: Business casual!
*When faith fuels entrepreneurship, dreams take flight!*
Sign-up here!
Female Founders & Investors Coffee with Marcela
Start off your day with coffee and hearing how Marcela, Founder of Tulips & Sips will tell her story on:
What led here to open up her own coffee shop
What it means to be a female founder and Catholic
Her mission of creating a business that supports a community
This is also a great opportunity for Catholic Female Founders, Investors and professionals to meet.
Complimentary Rugelasch will be offered and one lucky guest will win a flower cup in commemoration to Saint Therese the patron saint of Florists and those who are on a mission.
Sign up Here!
Jacob Ciccarelli
Jacob Ciccarelli Founder of Truthly an AI-powered app providing instant access to shareable Catholic teachings and resources-empowering Catholics to seek, live, and share the truth.
Jacob will share:
✅ His own faith journey—from the secular tech world to founding Truthly
✅ Lessons on launching a mission-driven business
✅ Essential faith based skills for Catholic entrepreneurs
✅ The impact of AI on the Church
✅ Ways Catholics can use AI for good
Sign Up Here!
Massimo Lobuglio
Massimo Lobuglio (also known as Delphinoto) is a Catholic artist and environmentalist who co-founded the Little Cupcake Bakeshop.
He also is the founder of Art for Laudato Si, an art project started during COVID-19 which uses public art, exhibitions, and collaborations inspired by Laudato Si, Pope Francis’s encyclical on integral ecology.
Massimo will discuss his journey of co-founding the Little Cupcake Bakeshop, how it led him to realize the significance of Pope Francis' Laudato Si' in his faith and work, and how it inspired him to use his cupcake shop as a launch for social impact and art to address the hunger and climate crises. He will also share his future outlook on supporting the church's mission through art- and food-related projects.
Sign up here!
Catholic Founders and Investors Dinner Club
An exclusive gathering of Catholic entrepreneurs and investors to fund, scale, and mentor the next generation of faith-driven ventures
Wayne Weddington
Wayne Weddington, Founder of Pennoyer Partners LLC, a Private Equity Firm focusing on middle-market companies.
Wayne will discuss how he successfully launched his own private equity firm, how Jesus can guide us in doing M&A, his recent conversion to the church, and the gifts the Church has given him such as the gift of non-judgmental unfettered honest good and forgiveness.