Ms. Horowitz, General Partner at CAP A, is attending the symposium as a special guest speaker. In Stockholm June 17-18, 2014.
http://www.esbri.se/june2014/gswe-speakers.asp
MERGERS & ACQUISTIONS COVERS CAP A'S INVESTMENT IN PERFORMYARD:
CAPITAL A PARTNERS JOINS CIT GAP FUNDS TO INVEST IN PERFORMYARD
Web-based people management software to help maximize revenue growth, employee performance, and HR data management
CHARLESTON, SC: May 20, 2014 – Capital A Partners joins The Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) in an investment in Arlington-based startup, PerformYard. PerformYard provides enterprise software for strategy execution, employee performance and human resources information. PerformYard is CAP A’s second investment in software, following their investment in Swedish-based mobile enterprise software, OpenRatio, in April.
“CAP A is thrilled to follow CIT’s investment lead from earlier this year into PerformYard, a company that is rapidly penetrating underserved small to medium-sized businesses in need of its collaborative HR management platform,” stated David Mendez, General Partner for CAP A. “CAP A’s involvement in our company will be strategic as we navigate the software landscape with our new offering,” added Ben Hastings, CEO at PerformYard. “CAP A’s knowledge and experience in the software space will be a valuable addition to the team as we continue to ramp sales growth and work with larger companies in the enterprise, “ added Hastings.
Contact for PerformYard: Ben Hastings, CEO, bhastings@performyard.com.
WILD PITCH, WILD SUCCESS!
WILD PITCH: ACCELERATORS
Eight innovative startups from national accelerator programs presented their best new ideas to an audience of DIG SOUTH attendees, expert judges and investors. Business pitches covered innovative solutions in health care, social media, toy robotics and other industries. The audience chimed in with strong opinions as the judges whittled down the list of contenders for the $10,000 investment from Capital A Partners. And that $10k quickly became $30k when two investors matched the offer. Congrats go to Dynepic from Charleston's Harbor Accelerator!
WILD PITCH: STUDENTS
Eight student teams competed for the opportunity to secure a $2500 investment from Capital A Partners. Innovative business pitches ranged from a new social and software platforms to apps and consumer products. In the end, the judges chose SouthYeast Labs from Clemson as the winner. More good news: an investor matched the $2500 on the spot for a total of $5,000! And, SouthYeast has 8 more days to reach their crowdfunding goal.
BlowPro Acquired by Beauty Elite Group
blowpro Purchased by New Privately Held Company
- Beauty Elite Group -
Established by Basim Shami, Farouk Systems, Inc. CEO
Houston, Texas – blowpro, the pioneer, innovator and recognized leader of the blow dry category announced today that it has been acquired for an undisclosed sum in private sale by industry leader and CEO of Farouk Systems, Inc. Basim Shami. With the purchase of blowpro, Shami is creating a new stand-alone company coined Beauty Elite Group, independent of Farouk Systems, Inc. (which is known for its world renowned brands Biosilk and CHI). blowpro will be the first of many prestige professional beauty acquisitions, facilitated by Kevin O’Connor, Business Development Ambassador (koconnor@blowpro.com), to comprise this new beauty entity.
Shami has appointed Basel Badran, his nephew and former Director at Beauty Elite Group (bbadran@blowpro.com) as General Manager of blowpro. Badran is a third generation of hair professionals to continue the Farouk Systems, Inc. family tradition in nurturing and growing beauty brands. Badran is excited to grow the strong foundation blowpro founders David Maleh and Stuart Sklar have laid.
“blowpro is a unique brand with a strong identity – it has unlimited potential. I look forward to working with the brand’s exceptional partners to continue to grow and expand the business.”
— Basel Badran, blowpro General Manager
“It’s been an incredible journey creating and building blowpro from scratch. We filled an untapped white space in the industry and the consumer response and passion has been amazing. We are happy that the brand will have a new home with the resources and support to continue to flourish and make its unique mark within the industry.
— Stuart Sklar, Founder and President, blowpro
Under new ownership, blowpro will continue to maintain its DNA as a professional, prestige brand offering the most innovative formulations. The new team will continue to grow, expand and enter related and complimentary categories, as well as unveil additional product launches and establish new partnerships.
blowpro is currently sold in North America and Europe and is distributed via retailers including Macy’s Herald Square, Nordstrom, ULTA and HSN as well as fine salons and its own website blowpro.com in the USA. The brand can also be found at blowpro outposts located in select Nordstrom doors and at Macy’s Herald Square.
About blowpro:
blowpro is devoted to the art of the perfect blowout. Our philosophy stems from the belief that every woman not only looks, but also feels better with a great blowout. The devoted team brings excellence to all our offerings — salon services, quality products and education — and will continue to introduce new ways to help all women get better blow dry results every day, both in salon settings and at home. blowpro products feature exclusive formulas that are free of damaging sulfates, parabens, and sodium-chloride – safe for color treated hair and keratin compliant.
CAPITAL A PARTNERS provided bridge financing to the acquisition in 2013.
Capital A Partners Invests in Mobile Enterprise Technology
CAP A's Investment in OpenRatio AB sets the stage for global expansion
CHARLESTON, SC: April 8, 2014 – Capital A Partners makes it’s second European investment in Stockholm-based mobile enterprise technology company, OpenRatio AB. CAP A’s investment will assist in bringing the technology to the North American market.
“Having Capital A Partners on our team as an investor in Sweden, and as an advisor in the U.S. market is strategic to our strategy to penetrate the B2B mobile enterprise sector”, stated Hannes Dernehl, co-founder of OpenRatio. “The Capital A team’s experience and strategic locations fit perfectly with our growth plans”, added Dernehl. Tanya Marvin-Horowitz, CAP A’s General Partner based between Stockholm and New York City, will serve on OpenRatio’s advisory board, while David Mendez, CAP A’s General Partner based in the United States, will assist in business development efforts in the U.S.
“The B2B mobile enterprise sector is one of dynamic growth opportunities worldwide, and we believe OpenRatio’s technology will quickly become a global leader in this evolving space”, stated Mendez. “We look forward to introducing OpenRatio to the North American market”.
-About OpenRatio-
OpenRatio, founded and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, is a revolutionary enterprise platform that makes information and business processes available and actionable for enterprises across devices, independent of platforms, technology vendors or infrastructure. For more information, go to www.openratio.com.
Contact for OpenRatio Holding AB: Hannes Dernehl, co-founder
hannes@openratio.com
Follow us on Twitter: @openratio
____________
Article on the news in Mergers & Acquisitions:
CAPITAL A PARTNERS TO INVEST “ON THE SPOT” AT DIG SOUTH
CAP A to judge and award the winners of the DIG SOUTH Wild Pitch events with cash investments
CHARLESTON, SC: April 2, 2014 – Capital A Partners has committed to award the winners of DIG SOUTH’s Wild Pitch events with cash investments. $10,000 will be invested in the winner of the Wild Pitch: Accelerators, and $2,500 will be invested in the winner of the Wild Pitch: Students. The Wild Pitch events take place during the DIG SOUTH Interactive Festival and Conference in Charleston on April 10 at 11:00am-1:00pm and 3:00pm-5:00pm respectively.
“CAP A is thrilled not only to provide this early stage financial support to regional entrepreneurs, but also to have this exclusive involvement with DIG SOUTH as the only investor committing investment dollars to entrepreneurs right on the spot!,” stated David Mendez, General Partner of Capital A Partners. Mendez will serve alongside other volunteers as a judge for both pitch events, as well as on the Strategic Startup Positioning panel held on the same day.
“CAP A’s investment to the pitch winners exemplifies their commitment to the startup community, and we are proud to have them as an integral part of DIG SOUTH”, added Stanfield Gray, Founder of the annual conference. The 2nd Annual DIG SOUTH Interactive Festival and Conference is being held on April 9-13 in Charleston.
-About DIG SOUTH-
DIG SOUTH is the Southeast’s interactive festival celebrating innovation and the digital economy. The 5-day festival and 2-day interactive conference includes high-level presenters, innovative startups, the Wild Pitch events, a 2-day tech and creative industry expo, a 1-day Culturama featuring the Digathlon plus HACKCharleston Challenge, national touring bands, Space Walk tours, Halsey microcinema, dine arounds, craft beer gardens and unlimited networking opportunities. For more information, go to www.digsouth.com.
Tickets for the Wild Pitch: Accelerators event are $10, while admission to the Wild Pitch: Students event is free to the general public. Tickets can be purchased at www.digsouth.com.
Capital A Partners Invests in Education
CAPITAL A PARTNERS INVESTS IN EDUCATION VIA THE IRON YARD, A CODE SCHOOL FOR SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING
Cap A’s co-investment in the code school will create jobs and growth in the region
CHARLESTON, SC: February 5, 2014 – Capital A Partners joins The Upstate Carolina Angel Network (UCAN) and several strategic individual investors in the Series A funding of The Iron Yard Academy, a Greenville, SC based code school focused on serving secondary and underserved markets.
“The code school concept is not new, but The Iron Yard Academy is bringing it to more underserved markets,” stated David Mendez, General Partner at Capital A Partners. “The school’s early success in Greenville, and its expansion plans throughout the United States, will not only create jobs, but also provide much needed talent to the entrepreneur ecosystems on those markets.”
“Growing knowledge-based and technology jobs in the region is key to our mission,” noted Peter Barth, founder of The Iron Yard Academy. “The extension into education was natural for The Iron Yard accelerator,” added Barth. The school plans to open two locations in March, including Charleston and Atlanta, with plans for continual expansion without boundaries in the next several years. The three-month intensive program guarantees placement to students into regional employers, and requires no prerequisites for admission. “Finding talent in the field of software development in secondary markets has been an ongoing problem,” added Barth, “not to mention to loss of job growth in the areas we serve, many times to overseas resources or larger metropolitan areas.”
Mendez, who is very involved in academia, believes that the code school concept is complimentary to a university degree and in many cases can provide college graduates with employment opportunities that are otherwise unavailable to them.
-About Capital A Partners-
Launched in 2013, Capital A Partners was the first venture and private equity fund introduced in South Carolina in over a decade. The fund invests in post-revenue early stage ventures as well as small operating companies seeking growth capital. General partners are David Mendez, based in Charleston, and Tanya Marvin-Horowitz, based between New York City and Stockholm. For more information, go to www.capitalapartners.com
Contact for The Iron Yard Academy: Peter Barth, peter@theironyard.com
For more information on The Iron Yard Academy, go to http://www.theironyard.com/academy/
Capital A Partners Goes for a BLOWOUT!
CAPITAL A PARTNERS GOES FOR A BLOWOUT!
Cap A invests in blow dry product innovator BlowPro Products
CHARLESTON, SC: January 16, 2014 – Capital A Partners begins the new year with its first consumer product investment in BlowPro Products. The company that created the blow dry bar concept is poised for substantial growth in the booming new sector in the health and beauty industry.
“BlowPro Products and its founders have impressed us with their vision, focus and leadership. We see tremendous opportunity throughout the health and beauty sector for BlowPro’s innovative and leading line of blow dry products worldwide,” stated David Mendez, General Partner at Capital A Partners. “The company’s focus on product and education in this booming sector and their ability to establish channels through salons, retail, ecommerce and TV commerce will position it for substantial growth.”
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Capital A and their investment in the Blowpro further underscores the validity of this booming industry,” noted David Maleh, co-founder of BlowPro. “Their reach into the consumer market channels and the investment community will compliment our strong network of partners,” added Mr. Maleh.
BlowPro Products continues to sell through retail, blow dry bars and traditional salons, TV shopping networks, and direct to consumers and salon partners through ecommerce. Adding to these channels is their upcoming sponsorship of the new Lifetime TV program “Under the Gunn”, which will begin airing tonight.
-About Capital A Partners-
Launched in August 2013, Capital A Partners was the first venture and private equity fund introduced in South Carolina in over a decade. The fund invests in post-revenue early stage ventures as well as small operating companies seeking growth capital. General partners are David Mendez, based in Charleston, and Tanya Marvin-Horowitz, based between New York City and Stockholm. For more information, go to www.capitalapartners.com
Contact for BlowPro Products: David Maleh, davidm@blowpro.com
For more information on BlowPro Products, go to http://www.blowpro.com
Capital A Partners Invests in European Tech Transfer Opportunity
Cap A participates in Sweden-based Svenska Aerogel AB funding through ReCap Fund II
CHARLESTON, SC / STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: December 30, 2013 – Capital A Partners concludes its inaugural year with an investment in Sweden-based Svenska Aerogel AB. Through its participation with ReCap Fund II, Cap A has entered into the Series A co-investment as a strategic move to transfer the Svenska Aerogel technology to North America.
“Becoming involved early in the commercialization of this new manufacturing process for Aerogel is very exciting for Capital A”, mentioned Tanya Marvin-Horowitz, General Partner, Capital A Partners. “Capital A is bringing very strategic capital to the investor team, and their domain expertise and knowledge of technology transfer will be important when Svenska Aerogel establishes market share and an operating presence in North America,” added co-investor Marco Berggren, CEO of Renewable Energy Capital Sweden AB (“ReCap”) and Fund Manager of ReCap Fund II.
The Aerogel material has existed for decades, and used in space exploration and other high tech niche applications. Svenska Aerogel has developed a patented production process that enables the manufacturing of Aerogel at more then 80% less then existing methods. Aerogel has previously not been economically feasible for commercial applications due to its high cost, but with the launch of Svenska Aerogel’s facilities in Gävle, Sweden, the company can offer the Aerogel material into more practical applications.
-About Capital A Partners-
Launched in August 2013, Capital A Partners is the first venture and private equity fund introduced in South Carolina in over a decade. The fund will invest in post-revenue early stage ventures as well as small operating companies seeking growth capital. General partners are David Mendez, based in Charleston, and Tanya Marvin-Horowitz, based between New York City and Stockholm. For more information, go to www.capitalapartners.com
Contact for ReCap: Marco Berggren, CEO, marco.berggren@recap.se
For more information on Svenska Aerogel, go to www.aerogel.se
Source: http://www.aerogel.se
NYC Reception A Huge Success!
The NYC Reception was a Huge Success. Sponsored by Willis & Co., and hosted by Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, with food, drink and gifts provided by World of Beer, BlowPro Inc., Questis and Best Chefs America. Attendees included executives from the following firms:
Accretive - ACG New York - Anchin, Block & Anchin - Arlon Group - Barrett Capital
Berkery, Noyes & Co. - BlowPro - Brookwood Companies - Capital IQ
Compass Equity - Core Capital - DealMarket - Double Cross Vodka
Drinker Biddle & Reath - Ellen Oppenheim Media - Emerging Globe Group
GCA Savvian - Grassi & Co. - Graycliff Partners - Great America Group
GreenWave Smoothies - Intl F.C. Stone - LIncolnshire Management - Live Clips
Loeb & Loeb - Loeb's Foods - LundXO - McGladrey - McGuireWoods
Merrill Corporation - Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone - New Oak Capital
North Capital - Perennial Strategy Group - Pouschine Cook Capital Mgmt
Prospect Street Capital - Riazul Tequila - Riverside Company - Spencer Clarke
T5 Equity Partners - Tatum - Tjong & Hsia LLP - Venable - Violy & Co.
Willis Group - World of Beer
Mergers & Acquisitions News: Great Write-up on our very own Tanya Marvin-Horowitz
Press Release: Tanya Marvin-Horowitz Joins Capital A Partners as General Partner
TANYA MARVIN-HOROWITZ JOINS CAPITAL A PARTNERS AS GENERAL PARTNER
Experienced Private Equity and Investment Banking Executive Joins Firm and Forms Capital A Advisors
CHARLESTON, SC / NEW YORK, NY, September 24, 2013 – Capital A Partners expands its general partnership with the addition of General Partner, Tanya Marvin-Horowitz. Ms. Horowitz, who has established the New York City office for Capital A, joins the fund bringing a wealth of financial services expertise.
Ms. Horowitz has spent the majority of her 18-year career in North America, with 12 of those years dedicated to the unique needs of the lower and middle markets. Additionally, she has a strong global M&A background having worked on over 30 cross-border transactions in South America, Western and Eastern Europe, Japan, South Korea, and India. She has transacted deals with an aggregate enterprise value of over $1.5 billion, including M&A, growth equity, and debt re-capitalization assignments.
“Tanya brings a depth of experience and professionalism to the Capital A team, particularly in the private equity and lower middle market M&A sectors,” noted David Mendez, General Partner. “I’ve known Tanya professionally for many years as a business colleague and am thrilled to finally work side by side with her.”
In addition to serving as General Partner for Capital A Partners, Ms. Horowitz has also formed Capital A Advisors, which will work in parallel with the fund, as a consultant to growing companies in the area of strategy and business development.
-About Capital A Partners-
Launched in August 2013, Capital A Partners is the first venture and private equity fund introduced in South Carolina in over a decade. The fund will invest in post-revenue early stage ventures as well as small operating companies seeking growth capital. General partners David Mendez, based in Charleston, and Tanya Marvin-Horowitz, based in New York City, will consider investments on the East Coast in most sectors. For more information, go to www.capitalapartners.com
-About Capital A Advisors-
Based in New York, NY, Capital A Advisors will consult with growing companies in the areas of business development and strategy.
Contact for Capital A Partners: David Mendez, General Partner, dmendez@capitalapartners.com
Contact for Capital A Advisors: Tanya Marvin-Horowitz, Managing Director, thorowitz@capaadvisors.com
Press Release: Capital A Partners Announces Debt Financing for QUESTIS and BOOYANGO
New Venture Capital and Private Equity Investor
Executes on Creative Financing Programs for Early Stage Businesses
CHARLESTON, SC, September 19, 2013 – Capital A Partners has expanded its portfolio and financing programs to include debt financing for two early stage businesses. The fund, recently formed out of Charleston, SC, is executing on its plan to provide early stage equity and debt financing to post-revenue businesses. Providing debt financing to Questis and Booyango exemplify the firm’s plans to provide creative financing solutions to help early stage companies accelerate.
“Both Questis’ and Booyango’s experienced and innovative management team, ground-breaking services, and capital efficiency enable Capital A to provide a unique approach to financing,” stated David Mendez, General Partner. “Our participation at this stage in both companies’ development and growth is enabled by our creative debt financing programs, as well as the companies’ ability to service short term debt, which is critical for our consideration.”
-About Capital A Partners-
Launched in August 2013, Capital A Partners is the first venture and private equity fund introduced in South Carolina in over a decade. The fund will invest in post-revenue early stage ventures as well as small operating companies seeking growth capital. General partners David Mendez, based in Charleston, and Tanya Marvin-Horowitz, based in New York City, will consider investments on the East Coast in most sectors. For more information, go to www.capitalapartners.com
-About Questis-
Charleston, SC-based Questis applies innovative technology, a proven investment method and passionate service to provide low, low cost Registered Investment Advisory services. The Charleston-based business has been in operation for years, and is launching its new Questis Portfolio technology to provide a hybrid of personal service and automation to investment advisory clients. For more information, go to www.questisportfolio.com
-About Booyango-
Grand Rapids, MI-based Booyango is a disruptive and innovative online recruiting platform that will change the way job seekers and employers find each other. Their solution provides confidentiality methods that will bring employers closer to potential candidates who otherwise are not accessible through more publicly accessible platforms. For more information, go to www.booyango.com
Contact for Capital A Partners: David Mendez, General Partner, info@capitalapartners.com
Follow us on Twitter: @capapartners
Tanya Marvin-Horowitz, General Partner, appointed VP-International for ACG-NY
ACG New York Appoints Four New Board Members
-- Re-Elects Martin L. Okner, President; Stephen V. Prostor, Chairman--
NEW YORK, N.Y., Sept. 19, 2013-- ACG New York Inc., the leading association in New York for middle-market dealmaking professionals, announced today the appointment of four new board members and creation of a new vice president-international position.
The new board members are David Acharya, partner, Ascend Global Investments; David Hellier, partner, Bertram Capital; Michael D. Schwamm, partner, Duane Morris; and Jonathan Flaks, leadership coach, Jonathan Flaks Coaching Associates, Inc.
The board appointed Tanya Marvin-Horowitz to fill the new position of vice president-international.
The board appointments are for three-year terms and are effective as of Sept. 1, 2013. Mr. Flaks, who is based in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., is the organization's vice president for Westchester programming. He and Ms. Marvin-Horowitz are members of ACG New York's operating committee.
ACG New York also reappointed its chairman, president, secretary and treasurer to an additional one-year term. They are, respectively, Stephen V. Prostor, a director, senior credit officer and head of loan syndications at Citi Private Bank; Martin Okner, managing director, SHM Corporate Navigators; Michael Kliegman, partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP; and Maureen McCarthy, principal, Law Offices of M.W. McCarthy.
ACG® New York, Inc. (www.acgnyc.org), the founding chapter of The Association for Corporate Growth, is the leading membership organization in New York that facilitates relationship building and focused education for middle market deal-making professionals.
Each year over 8,000 professionals participate in ACG New York' s 70+ networking and educational events in New York City and Westchester and on Long Island, including healthcare, manufacturing & logistics, and retail conferences. ACG Deal-Source® and ACG Capital Connection® events put buyers together with funding sources in scheduled private meetings and bring M&A specialists together for open networking.
The organization’s annual Champions Awards recognize the year’s outstanding middle market firms and deals, while its Education Cup competition honors the best graduate business school team from the New York City area for M&A counseling prowess. These and other programs have spurred ACG New York’s rapid growth in recent years, with membership now exceeding 1,000.
Press Release: Capital A Partners launches its first venture capital fund in South Carolina
Capital A Partners launches its first venture capital fund in South Carolina
New venture capital and private equity investor announces its new portfolio investment, Best Chefs America
August 21, 2013
(Press Release) CHARLESTON, SC – Capital A Partners launched its first venture capital and private equity fund, focused on providing growth capital to early stage high growth ventures and small operating companies.
“The South Carolina entrepreneurial ecosystem is experiencing continuous growth and innovation”, commented David Mendez, General Partner of Capital A. “Providing this level of institutional capital to emerging companies in this underserved market is of tremendous demand and a significant opportunity for our investors” he added.
Capital A is launching with its investment in Charleston-based Best Chefs America. Riding the wave of enthusiasm surround all things culinary, Best Chefs America started up in May 2012. Their team recently conducted more than 5,000 one-on-one interviews with chefs all over the U.S. to find out who the chefs think are the Best Chefs in America. The results are published in their inaugural edition which came out in March this year.
“We are excited about this first investment in Best Chefs America. The early momentum of the business, the proven business model, and the capital efficiency of their operation represents the type of investments Capital A will be making”, added Mr. Mendez.
Although initially focused and based in the southeast, the fund will also diversify its portfolio with investments in other geographies. For more information visit www.capitalapartners.com.
Contact for Capital A Partners: David Mendez, General Partner, info@capitalapartners.com
Contact for Best Chefs America: Bill Blalock, Chief Executive Officer, info@bestchefsamerica.com
Follow us on Twitter: @thebestchefs