James Graf
CEO
James Graf is CEO of Graf Global Corp., his eighth SPAC as CEO, CFO and/or active director since 2011. He also serves as Interim CFO of NKGen Biotech, his last SPAC target. Previous closed transactions include Global Eagle, Videocon d2h, Williams Scotsman, Target Hospitality, Velodyne Lidar, Crown LNG and NKGen.Prior to SPAC life, Jim was an investment banker for two decades, including roles as President of Deutsche Bank’s investment bank in Hong Kong and managing director at Merrill Lynch. He later founded enterprise software company Praedea Solutions and served as a financial consultant to MGM Studios.
Why PIPEs Aren’t Dead, But Very Different Now
In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, James breaks down the evolving role of Private Investments in Public Equity (PIPEs) and why they remain an essential but more challenging, tool for SPAC deals today. James explains how PIP...
How the Investor Base for De-SPACs Is Evolving
In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, James shares how the investor base for de-SPACs has shifted and why sponsors must focus on attracting long-term, fundamental investors. James explains that while redemption risk is always ...
What Makes an Ideal SPAC Target
In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, James outlines what makes the “ideal” SPAC target and why it’s often more about strategic fit and synergies than sector. For James, public-company-ready management is the non-negotiable st...
The Shift in SPAC Deal Fee Structures
In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , James Graf, CEO of Graf Global Corp., shares his perspective on how backend deal costs and promote economics are evolving for SPAC sponsors and founders. With over a decade of experience ...
SPAC Sponsors Face Tougher Roads Ahead — Here’s Why
In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , hosts Michael Blankenship and Joshua Wilson sit down with seasoned SPAC sponsor James Graf to explore one of the most pressing issues facing the market today: why even strong private comp...
What Role Do Retail Investors Play in SPAC Deals Today?
In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , James Graf joins Mike Blankenship to reflect on how retail investor participation in SPACs has shifted since the 2020 boom. James recounts the pre-COVID era, when SPACs often struggled to...
What is a Serial SPAC Sponsor?
What separates one-off SPAC sponsors from those who build lasting platforms? In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Mike Blankenship speaks with James Graff, a veteran sponsor with over 14 years in the spac business, about wha...
SPAC Guest Spotlight: James Graf
In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , co-host Mike Blankenship sits down with James Graff, CEO of Graff Global Corp and a veteran SPAC sponsor who’s been active in the space for over 14 years. James shares how he transitioned...