The team

Managing Director

Ed is a Co-Founder and is currently a Managing Director of Clarity Partners. Before joining the Clarity Partners team, Ed was a founder and Managing Director of vSpring Capital. This traditional early-stage venture capital firm had over $400 million of Assets Under Management. Ed was an Intel Executive for more than ten

Managing Director

Ed is a Co-Founder and is currently a Managing Director of Clarity Partners. Before joining the Clarity Partners team, Ed was a founder and Managing Director of vSpring Capital. This traditional early-stage venture capital firm had over $400 million of Assets Under Management. Ed was an Intel Executive for more than ten years, where he last served as Vice President of the Intel Communications Products Group and General Manager of the Intel Utah. Ed holds a BS in computer science from Brigham Young University and an MBA from Westminster College.

Managing Director   

Mr. Payne is a Co-Founder and Managing Director of Clarity Partners. Carson began his career working with Mr. Ekstrom at vSpring Capital 15 years ago. Although Carson is an experienced Venture Capitalist, he is an entrepreneur at heart. Working alongside Mr. Ekstrom, he has stayed intimately involved on the Private Equ

Managing Director   

Mr. Payne is a Co-Founder and Managing Director of Clarity Partners. Carson began his career working with Mr. Ekstrom at vSpring Capital 15 years ago. Although Carson is an experienced Venture Capitalist, he is an entrepreneur at heart. Working alongside Mr. Ekstrom, he has stayed intimately involved on the Private Equity side or working as an executive within the portfolio. Carson holds a B.S. in Business Entrepreneurship from the David Eccles School of Business of the University of Utah. Carson is currently pursuing his MBA at the University of Utah. 

Managing  Director 

Johan is a Co-Founder and Managing Director of Clarity Partners. Johan has over 25 years of experience in global management in Banking & Insurance, Technology, Business Consulting, and M&A. Johan’s vast experience includes working with companies such as ING, PwC, Deloitte, GP KMPG, and as an Executive for ATOS (USD 16.1

Managing  Director 

Johan is a Co-Founder and Managing Director of Clarity Partners. Johan has over 25 years of experience in global management in Banking & Insurance, Technology, Business Consulting, and M&A. Johan’s vast experience includes working with companies such as ING, PwC, Deloitte, GP KMPG, and as an Executive for ATOS (USD 16.1B). Emerging Tech and FSI market SME. Johan holds a Masters Degree in Law from Utrecht University in the Netherlands.  

Managing  Director

Professor Karakawa is a Professional  Executive and Philanthropist who specializes in disaster response management. Professor Yuki-San is Chairman of the Gkobalive Foundation, a Humanitarian Assistance, and Education Organization. Professor Karakawa is Vice President of the Corporation for Emergency Preparedness Respon

Managing  Director

Professor Karakawa is a Professional  Executive and Philanthropist who specializes in disaster response management. Professor Yuki-San is Chairman of the Gkobalive Foundation, a Humanitarian Assistance, and Education Organization. Professor Karakawa is Vice President of the Corporation for Emergency Preparedness Response as well as a Faculty Member for the International and Emergency Crisis Research Center at the Tokyo University for Science. Yuki-San utilizes his skill for Disaster Medicine and Emergency Management. Yuki-San has been the Director of the hospital and was an Ambassador to the U.S. Civil Defense Council. Yuki-san has served as a Consultant for companies such as PWC and Cap Gemini. Professor Karakawa managed and built the new structure of Auditing for Banking Institutions like GDXIII, beTrustTed, Swift, Identrus, and advised the Government on financial services. Professor Karakawa graduated from The Tokyo University of Science in Medical Electronics

Managing Director

Mr. Anderson has 17 years of experience managing venture, and private equity funds with international investments​David's experience dealing with the financial challenges of technology start-up companies provides insights that can be leveraged throughout the Clarity Partners portfolio. During his 11 year tenure with Ern

Managing Director

Mr. Anderson has 17 years of experience managing venture, and private equity funds with international investments​David's experience dealing with the financial challenges of technology start-up companies provides insights that can be leveraged throughout the Clarity Partners portfolio. During his 11 year tenure with Ernst & Young's High Technology practice in Silicon Valley and Salt Lake City, he worked with numerous venture-backed companies, advising them through equity transactions and M&A activities. David has also lived in the start-up world, serving as the chief financial officer to several early-stage technology companies. David graduated with honors from Utah State University, receiving a BS in Accounting.

Chief Legal Counsel

Mark L. Shurtleff is an attorney and founder of the Shurtleff Law Firm (licensed in Utah and California and admitted to federal district and appellate courts.) He is a former elected official serving as Salt Lake County Commissioner and three terms as Utah Attorney General. As AG, he was on the Executive Committee of 

Chief Legal Counsel

Mark L. Shurtleff is an attorney and founder of the Shurtleff Law Firm (licensed in Utah and California and admitted to federal district and appellate courts.) He is a former elected official serving as Salt Lake County Commissioner and three terms as Utah Attorney General. As AG, he was on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Attorneys General and Chairman of the Western Conference of Attorneys General. Mark is also a founder and partner of The Shurtleff Group (federal/state regulatory/compliance consulting); MicromistNow (biotech) and Carbon Offset Brokers (clean energy project development.) He has received numerous awards and recognitions, including Order of the Aztec Eagle from the President and Senate of Mexico. He is the published author of the historical novel “Am I Not a Man, the Dred Scott Story.” Mark holds a B.S. Degree from Brigham Young University, a J.D. from the University of Utah, and has completed all course work for a Masters of Law from the University of San Diego. 

Chief Financial Officer

Mark A. Springer, CPA, MBA, has nearly thirty years of experience as a CPA, CFO, and a financial consultant. Mark started his career in public accounting in 1990 while earning a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting at the University of Utah. He also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Utah State Unive

Chief Financial Officer

Mark A. Springer, CPA, MBA, has nearly thirty years of experience as a CPA, CFO, and a financial consultant. Mark started his career in public accounting in 1990 while earning a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting at the University of Utah. He also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Utah State University. He started his CPA practice in 1996, where he has been serving companies of various sizes from start-ups to companies above $100 Million in revenue. Mark has been Chief Financial Officer of a mineral product mining company, a large commercial construction company, and has extensive experience as an interim CFO for companies of various sizes in various industries including technology, construction, real estate, car dealerships, and medical practices.