Jacqueline Cegla is a Strategic Business and Investment Advisor with a global perspective shaped by years of experience across the UK, Europe, and Israel. Known for her ability to bridge strategic, operational, and investment perspectives, she works closely with management teams at leading technology companies to develop data-driven, scalable growth strategies, attract aligned investors, and expand internationally.
Her work has earned high praise from industry leaders. Coen van Hees, CEO of Instant Commerce, the last portfolio company where Jacqueline led the deal on behalf of Hearst Ventures, noted: “Jacqueline was instrumental in shaping our fundraising strategy.
She helped us refine our story, connect with high-profile investors who truly fit our stage and culture, and guided the process with remarkable professionalism. She’s both strategic and a real pleasure to work with.”
Similarly, Peter Edgar, former CFO of Huboo, where Jacqueline served as a board member and played a key role in the investment process, shared: “As a board representative, Jacqueline led a strategic business review of our growth and profitability, driving clear, actionable recommendations. Her investor mindset and strong investor network were central to closing a key funding round. What truly distinguishes her is her commitment. She goes beyond the mandate, deeply caring about both the people and the outcomes she drives.”
With her sights now set on the U.S. market, a key hub for innovation and opportunity, Jacqueline continues to empower leaders to scale with vision and impact.
IMAGE: JACQUELINE CEGLA
1. What motivated you to expand your advisory business as a Strategic Business and Investment Advisor to the U.S. market, and how does this role align with your professional vision?
I was motivated to expand my advisory work to the U.S. market, a key hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and global growth. This step builds on years of advising and investing in high-growth technology companies across the UK, Europe, and Israel.
By nature, a venture is often a global business, as most companies operate across multiple markets. However, many investors remain regional and therefore offer limited support beyond their home markets.
Having a strong network in the region where a business is expanding can be a real game-changer, it helps teams establish a local presence quickly and avoid common, costly mistakes. Many of the strongest venture capital firms, particularly at later stages, operate globally precisely because they can help companies expand and tap new markets effectively.
My goal is to help businesses bridge the gap between key global technology hubs, the U.S., the UK, Europe, and Israel and position them for long-term success. My focus remains on connecting strategic, operational, and investment perspectives to help founders scale responsibly and attract investors who share their vision.
Expanding into the U.S. aligns perfectly with my broader mission of fostering sustainable, cross-border business growth and empowering companies to thrive internationally.
2. How do you plan to support U.S. companies in strengthening their business strategies, expanding internationally, and achieving sustainable growth?
As a strategic business advisor, I have deep respect for founders and the companies they’re building. Often, an external perspective helps them think through key decisions and structure their strategic priorities.
I act as a fractional strategic partner, gathering insights across the company, analyzing them, and turning them into actionable recommendations. My work focuses on identifying growth opportunities, mitigating risks, and guiding decisions around new markets, customer segments, and business lines. I also help teams evaluate unit economics, pricing models, and go-to-market strategies to drive sustainable, data-driven growth.
As an investment advisor, I bring an investor’s mindset, helping teams prepare for and attract capital from top-tier institutional and private investors. The key is alignment: identifying investors who understand the market and the business model, and who share the company’s vision and culture.
I work closely with management to clarify their needs and pinpoint the right investor profile. Too often, companies spend time pursuing investors who aren’t the right fit; my role is to guide them toward the right partners and ensure strategic and cultural alignment throughout the process.
In addition, I leverage my UK, European, and Israeli networks to support U.S. companies in international expansion and cross-border fundraising.
3. In what ways will your experience in venture capital and strategic advisory help U.S. companies attract investment and create new jobs?
With a background in venture capital and strategic advisory, I support companies in building proprietary insights from internal performance data and public market intelligence, enabling founders to make data-driven decisions, foster sustainable growth, and anticipate key risks.
I work closely with leadership teams to ensure they have the right people in the right roles from sourcing senior talent to evaluating organizational structures and supporting strategic hires. As companies scale, attracting and developing the right talent becomes essential.
When raising capital, I help shape the investment narrative, identify the correct type of capital and investor profile, and connect companies with aligned investors, saving time during the process.
I also support management teams in building robust business plans and growth models post-investment, ensuring operational implementation and the achievement of key KPIs and milestones. This approach helps companies grow efficiently, attract the right partners, and ultimately contribute to job creation and innovation.
4. How do you approach advising companies on digitalization and AI strategies to ensure they stay competitive in today’s rapidly evolving markets?
I leverage my venture capital network and access to proprietary market data to map the technology landscape from early-stage startups to established players across key sectors.
Founders often lack full access to market information, as they’re perceived as competitors. Through my network and access to specialized databases, I’m able to gather proprietary insights that help them make more informed strategic decisions. The goal is to ensure companies stay agile, competitive, and prepared for the future in an ever-evolving technology landscape that is now accelerating with the rise of AI.
5. What are some key challenges U.S. companies face when pursuing cross-border expansion, and how do you help them overcome these obstacles?
U.S. companies expanding internationally often face challenges in accessing their first customers, navigating cultural differences, and building local teams, especially in sales and operations. They must also adapt to unfamiliar market dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and business practices, all while maintaining strategic focus.
I help companies overcome these barriers by leveraging my international network to connect them with trusted partners from legal and accounting services to early customers and local hires.
I also develop structured market-entry strategies that help companies scale efficiently, establish a strong foundation in new regions, and avoid costly mistakes. My goal is to ensure that expansion is strategic, efficient, and sustainable. Ultimately, it’s about connecting them with the right local partners, a trusted, deep network I’ve built over the years.
6. What is your long-term goal as a Strategic Business and Investment Advisor in the U.S., and how do you envision your work contributing to innovation and economic growth?
My long-term goal is to partner with exceptional management teams to help them achieve their long-term vision. I aim to drive sustainable growth, data-driven decision-making, and operational optimization. By assisting companies to make better use of their data and resources, I enable leadership to focus on innovation, new growth drivers, and market expansion.
Through this work, I hope to contribute to job creation, technological advancement, and stronger transatlantic collaboration between U.S., European, and Israeli businesses, ultimately fostering a more connected, innovative, and resilient global economy.
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