John Keisler 

Managing Member & CEO

Prior to joining the team, Mr. Keisler spent over 20 years in public service, most recently as the Economic Development Director for the City of Long Beach. With approximately 500,000 residents, the City of Long Beach is the 7th largest city in California and a major engine of economic development for the region and the nation through its university, history of aerospace manufacturing, and its international seaport. Under his leadership, the organization created an innovative Blueprint for Economic Development, and helped to facilitate an historic increase of private sector investment in the city. The Sunstone mission, and John’s personal passion, is to increase equitable economic opportunities for workers, investors, and entrepreneurs in Long Beach and throughout California.  

Mike Stone, CFA 

Managing Member & COO

Prior to joining the team in 2022, he was first vice president at Morgan Stanley, advising high net worth clients on alternative investments including venture capital and impact investments. Prior to that he was vice president at Alliance Bernstein serving institutional and high net worth investors. Prior to joining Bernstein, Stone held account executive and managerial roles from 1996 through 2005, including at Oracle and Siebel, advising Fortune 500, midsize companies, and startups on automation in support of strategic initiatives. He also served on the technology advisory group of U.S. Congressperson Jim Davis. Before that he worked in consulting and engineering roles, including two startups, and published articles on information technology; he began his career as an officer in the Marine Corps working in software development. Mr. Stone has a Master of Science from the University of Southern California and is a CFA charterholder. 

John Shen 

Managing Member

John Shen received his undergraduate degree with a major in commercial law from Peking University in 1992 and a Master of Science degree in Statistics and Decision Sciences from Duke University in 1996. 

Mr. Shen previously served on the City of Long Beach Economic Development Commission, appointed by Mayor Robert Garcia, and currently serves on the City of Irvine Innovation Council, appointed by Mayor Farrah Khan. Mr. Shen’s projects have collectively created approximately 12,000 full-time jobs throughout the U.S. and properly supported over 700 high net worth foreign families in their immigration petitions. He is a recipient of Duke University’s Forever Duke award for outstanding alumni. He was also a Coleman Report’s SBA 504 Lender of the Year for his outstanding leadership and contributions to business lending nationwide. 

Heather Lewis  

Managing Member & Chief Compliance Officer

As the Chief Compliance Officer, Heather brings over 17 years of invaluable experience in ensuring organizations adhere to stringent state and federal securities regulations. Formerly the Chief Compliance Officer at Kairos Investment Management Co., Heather distinguished herself by implementing streamlined compliance protocols that fortified the firm’s strategic market position.  

With a finance degree from DePaul University and a wealth of expertise in Commercial Real Estate (CRE) and finance, Heather is widely respected for her in-depth understanding of legislative nuances and financial investments.  

Heather remains an active member of the National Society of Compliance Professionals, where she passionately mentors newcomers, particularly women, in the realms of compliance and finance. Beyond her professional commitments, Heather remains dedicated to community engagement, generously volunteering her time with her son’s football team.

Jasmine Jiang 

Managing Member

Jasmine Jiang leads the investment activities and serves as a member of the investment committee. With a focus on seed/early-stage venture capital investments, Jasmine specializes in enterprise software, SaaS, and other emerging technologies.  

Known for her hands-on approach, Jasmine works closely with founders, providing strategic guidance and support throughout the growth journey of companies from ideation to IPO. Her 10+ years of extensive experience and expertise in the financial services industry have enabled her to drive successful outcomes for portfolio companies.  

Beyond her role at Sunstone, Jasmine is passionate about fostering inclusivity in the startup landscape. As a minority in the US, she leverages her unique identity to build bridges between global markets and establish meaningful collaborations.   

Jasmine holds a master’s degree from the University of Southern California. She is dedicated to driving economic growth by establishing public-private partnerships and creating opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs. 

Richard Jun 

Chief Strategy Adviser

Richard Jun was the co-founder and managing partner of BAM Ventures, a top performing consumer focused early-stage venture fund based in Los Angeles. Among the firm’s biggest L.A. success stories to date are Honey Science Corp., which sold to PayPal Holdings Inc. for $4 billion, gaming company Scopely which sold for $5 billion to Savy Games and pet company PrettyLitter Inc., which sold to Mars Inc in a high 9 figure transaction. Rich is a former corporate attorney, and prior to establishing BAM Ventures, served as general counsel for fashion subscription service ShoeDazzle. He has led investment in more than 120 companies and has been a co-lead judge for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in multiple years. For the past 4 years, he has been listed on The Los Angeles Business Journal’s LA500 which celebrates the 500 most influential leaders and impactful executives in Los Angeles. Rich graduated from Harvard and received his law degree from Columbia University. 

Luis Cifuentes 

Controller

Luis is an accounting professional with more than 15 years of experience in corporate accounting and financial services. He began his career at a financial services firm in West L.A., servicing high-net-worth individuals. Later, Luis worked at GemCap Lending, a commercial asset-based lender in Malibu, and most recently he worked at TriLinc Global, LLC, an impact investment fund in Manhattan Beach. He is a graduate of California State University, Los Angeles with a B.S. in Business Administration, majoring in Accounting. 

A native of Guatemala, Luis is an avid soccer fan and enjoys spending time with his two boys and his wife. 

Sabrina Li  

Research Analyst II

Sabrina Li holds a Master’s degree in Finance from the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business. With an extensive background in venture capital, consulting, and the technology industry, Sabrina has developed a profound expertise in investment analysis. Her focus areas include Enterprise SaaS, AI, and the consumer sectors. Sabrina is instrumental in managing Sunstone’s diverse portfolio, leveraging her skills to drive impactful investment decisions and deliver strategic insights.  

Clark Hsu  

Investor Relations Associate

Clark Hong-Sheng Hsu holds a Master of International Public Policy and Management from the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy. He currently serves as an Investor Relations Associate and holds a Series 65 security license.

Clark is dedicated to the wealth planning and financial well-being of his investors. Before joining Sunstone, Clark spent over five years in law enforcement.