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Book Strategy Review

We’re not grant writers. We’re funding strategists.

Government funding isn’t just a check—it’s time, proof, and credibility for your next raise. Our team blends program expertise, finance, and commercialization to build non‑dilutive portfolios that move valuation.

Meet the founders

We've spent our careers working alongside the most innovative founders. Now we're dedicated to helping them access the capital they need to change the world.

Justin Knorr

Justin is a finance- and strategy-oriented operator who has led teams at venture-backed startups and scaled organizations, including executive roles at Dropbox, Gusto, Asana, and Guru. Before startups, he built a strong foundation in finance and consulting, which he now applies to help founders sharpen business models, GTM, and capital planning.

Justin is also a Limited Partner in two venture funds, supporting early-stage companies and serving as an active advisor to founders. As co-founder of Cada, he helped shape a founder-friendly approach to non-dilutive funding after years of seeing great teams trade too much equity too early.

Nalin Vahil

Nalin is a founder and startup executive who has led growth and operations across fast-scaling, venture-backed companies, including leadership roles at Box, Asana, and Zapier. He previously founded Brick Road Music and advises multiple early-stage founders on product strategy, GTM, and building resilient operating systems.

Nalin co-founded Cada to give entrepreneurs a smarter path to capital—drawing on the lessons he and Justin learned while helping companies navigate funding rounds and, in some cases, IPO journeys. Together, they've translated that experience into a practical, founder-first model for accessing non-dilutive funding.

Our Team

We've assembled a world-class team of grant professionals who've secured over $1 billion in non-dilutive funding.

Your dedicated funding partners

Our team is your dedicated partner in identifying and securing grant opportunities. Well-versed across a range of industries and always up-to-date on the latest funding resources, we make sure you have every possible chance to access the support your projects deserve. From initial research to matching your business with the ideal grants, our team is committed to helping you unlock your full funding potential, so you never miss an opportunity.

Kristy Ogamba

Kristy is a strategy and partnerships leader focused on scaling funding pipelines and improving win rates, with 18+ years of experience and a record of $1B+ secured in federal and institutional funding. She has managed program portfolios up to $150M and built enterprise knowledge and analytics systems that strengthen capture, forecasting, and stakeholder engagement. Kristy specializes in cross-functional planning, portfolio growth strategy, and operating model design.

M.S. in Foreign Service (International Development) from Georgetown University

B.S. in Psychology from the University of Florida

Dr. Ana Mesquita

Dr. Ana Mesquita has 13 years of experience managing projects in genetics, biochemistry, and cancer biology. She holds a Ph.D. from the Autonomous University of Madrid and a Master’s in Biochemistry from the University of Porto. Dr. Mesquita has worked at prestigious institutions like Baylor College of Medicine and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She has received several awards, including the Future of Science award and two Dennis Shields awards. Additionally, she has been a mentor and lecturer at various universities and is actively involved in professional organizations such as the Genetics Society of America.

Personally won a $71M from NIH

Awardee of two Dennis Shields Awards

Awardee of Future of Science Award

Ph.D. from Autonomous University of Madrid

M.A. in Biochemistry from the University of Porto

Dianna Gillespie, PMP

Dianna is a proposal and portfolio specialist with 15+ years of experience delivering end-to-end capture, technical narrative development, budgets, and compliance for climate, water, and infrastructure initiatives. She has supported awards totaling $250M+ and is known for improving win rates through rigorous planning, cross-functional facilitation, and on-time, audit-ready submissions.

M.Sc. in Environmental Science & Policy from Johns Hopkins University

B.Sc. in Environmental Policy Analysis & Planning from UC Davis

PMP-certified project manager

We Use a Network of Skilled Writers

We leverage a broad network of expert grant writers to ensure your company is matched with the ideal professional for your specific needs. Our matching process pairs you with writers experienced in your industry, giving your application the best possible chance of success. With Cada, you benefit from specialized expertise and a personalized approach tailored to help your business secure funding.

AI & authorship

All applications are human‑authored. We use AI tools internally for research, outlines, and checks. We maintain authorship records and follow agency policy. See Our AI & Authorship Policy.