Bio
sterra ai is a Chicago-based investment and operations firm led by Stan Chia and Riva Bakal, who, along with their partners are experienced executives with a shared history of scaling complex organizations like Grubhub (NYSE: GRUB) and Vivid Seats (NASDAQ: SEAT). We partner with founders in the Greater Chicago and Midwest region to acquire and operate essential businesses, offering a thoughtful transition driven by hands-on leadership rather than financial engineering. As long-term owner-operators, we preserve legacy and culture while pragmatically applying AI and advanced analytics to modernize systems and optimize decision-making without disrupting daily operations. Our approach combines the discipline of public company leadership with a local focus, ensuring sustainable, enduring growth for employees and customers alike.
