About

Prior to starting Persee Ventures, we built self-driving cars, created trading algorithms, and ran technology teams. As we grew in our professional experiences, we found ourselves applying common technology processes and data techniques across different problems.

Through it all, we learned our role is simple -- we support companies building better widgets. We are full-stack developers, data architects, data scientists, and financial engineers working side-by-side with teams to build the next generation of financial technology solutions.


Our Core Beliefs

We love solving hard problems

Whether it's automating stock selection or recommending vacation destinations, we enjoy working with teams to find solutions to their toughest problems.

We hate inefficiency

If it can be automated, we will do it. We're thrilled when we shave hours and sometimes days off of clients' workflows using our systems.

Your success is our success

We're fully vested in the success of each one of our clients. Having launched new products at startups and large institutions, we understand building for the future while keeping existing customers and investors happy.


Academic Partners & Institutions


Our Team

Shima Rayej, Co-founder and Managing Partner

Shima Rayej is co-founder and managing partner at Persee Ventures leading product design and financial analytics. She is the founder and chief investment officer at Safe Rate, a consumer lending marketplace for sustainable mortgages. Shima previously worked on Deutsche Bank's Structured Product Group desk focusing on residential mortgage-backed and small-commercial securitization and as a venture capital associate at OCA Ventures focusing on early stage fintech and SaaS deals. From 2004 - 2010, Shima was a robotics engineer developing autonomous driving and obstacle avoidance technology for the DoD. She received her BS in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Dylan Hall, Co-founder and Managing Partner

Dylan Hall is co-founder and managing partner at Persee Ventures leading system design and data analytics. He is a lecturer at the University of Chicago, teaching Entrepreneurship in Technology in the Masters Program for Computer Science. Dylan is also founder and chief executive officer of Safe Rate. Previously, Dylan served as data scientist and systems architect at Powerlytics and McMaster-Carr. He was also the chief technology officer at Classkick, a YCombinator / Imagine K12 - backed education technology startup creating real-time classroom technology to connect students with teachers. From 2008 to 2010, Dylan was a math teacher in West Garfield Park, Chicago as part of Teach for America. He received his BS in Computer Science from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Nathan Hall, Lead Developer

Nathan is a full-stack developer, founder and chief executive officer of CurtnCall, a real-time video broadcast system for performers. He specializes in real-time communication and video technology with a focus on multi-user systems. Nathan has built technology solutions for financial institutions including QwickRate and the Rock Creek Group, along with early stage companies Mapomatix and CartoFront. From 2008 to 2011, Nathan performed improv in Chicago, training at iO and the Second City Conservatory program. He began his career in web development after completing the bloc.io online web development bootcamp. Nathan received his BA in English from the University of Illinois-Springfield.

Aziz Lalljee, Venture Partner

Aziz Lalljee brings an entrepreneurial mindset, fintech background, and a range of operating, investing and consulting experience to Persee clients. He was the co-founder of Finom, an SEC-registered marketing platform for independent wealth managers, bringing personalization and data-driven transparency to advisor selection for high net worth individuals and small institutions. Aziz was also an entrepreneur in residence at Zinc social venture incubator, a managing director at Venture DNA, and a senior consultant at Navigant Consulting. Aziz has a BA from University of Pennsylvania where he was a Joseph Wharton Scholar and an MBA with honors from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.