Working to bring together inventors and investors, Dante Fichera likens himself to a middleman with tax incentives. As managing director of Downtown-based San Diego Ventureplex, it is the goal of this 34-year-old and his team to provide the capital resources and business infrastructure necessary for emerging companies to grow.

The best part about Fichera’s job is working with startup companies. “I’m trying to find that gem,” he says. “It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.” As a sounding board for entrepreneurs, Fichera likes that people with new ideas are trying to impress him. Fichera initially worked with Hamilton Ventures to launch Ventureplex. He later acquired the trademark from Hamilton.

His proudest achievement is being a published author. His book, “The Insider’s Guide to Venture Capital,” began as a 20-page pamphlet that provided entrepreneurs a directory of venture capitalists. Its success grew it into a book, published in 2001, that includes “how-to” chapters written by prominent venture capitalists and startup company service providers. A graduate of San Diego State University, Fichera has a degree in accounting and is a certified public accountant.

Fichera was given the name Dante after the ship that brought his grandfather to the United States from Sicily. He lives in his native town of Imperial Beach with Teri, his wife of three years. An avid surfer and weekend cyclist, Fichera is pushing himself physically and training for the San Diego Marathon.

Of receiving the 40 Under Forty distinction, Fichera is ever the promoter: “This is an opportunity to get my name out there.”

— Maria L. Kirkpatrick