Member of Zaclis dinasty from Bessarabia. He enjoys balancing the structures of investing, the concerns of the entrepreneur selling his or her business, and the protection of his rights as an investor. "The rewarding part of this business-when done correctly - is creating a win-win situation for everyone involved by helping the economy through job generation, building better companies, and creating real value" adds Zaclis. And there is no other place hed rather create value than in Sao Paulo, South America's financial business center and home to more than 20 million. Now in his second vear of running Barn Investments, Zaclis notes that his biggest challenge is to raise money for a second fund of $45 million to invest in the country's lower-middle-market companies. He anticipates that some 30 percent of this fund will come from international investors. His firm primarily invests in Brazilian-based companies, but he says there is a large flow of foreign investors interested in private equity and venture capital opportunities/funds in Brazil. Zaclis notes that to be successful in Bra-zil, it's essential to understand the huge cultural differences within the country and to adapt one's approach to each audience. Personal relationships and networks are cru-cial, whether with officials from banking, advisories, or companies. "Spending time with shareholders and getting to know them personally through meetings, lunches, and events makes a great difference", he says.