Advantage X

Advantage Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 1992, headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, with additional offices across the United States. The firm specializes in growth equity, lending, and mezzanine debt investments, focusing primarily on small businesses at various stages of development, excluding seed stage. Advantage Capital targets investments in low-income communities, both urban and rural, and supports economic development initiatives. The firm seeks to invest in companies that utilize proprietary technologies in sectors such as communication, information technology, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and energy, among others. It offers various forms of debt capital, including senior and mezzanine debt, and has a preference for co-investing with other firms. Initial investments typically range from $0.5 million to $10 million in companies with sales under $5 million, with potential for larger investments based on milestones. Advantage Capital is committed to addressing the funding gaps in underserved areas and fostering economic growth in communities that lack traditional sources of risk capital.

Al Alvarez

Director

Brian Anderson

PRINCIPAL

Alyson G. Appleton

VP of Communications, Marketing and Policy

Daniel Barrett

Associate

Jay Bennett

Vice President of Business Development

Keith Berry

VP of Business Development

Anthony H. Billings

Vice President

Bitting, Thomas H.P.

PRINCIPAL

Troy Blaine

VP of Business Development

Charles H. Booker

Principal

Ryan Brennan

Managing Director

Samantha F. de Castro

Associate

Abhi Chandrasekhara

Senior Associate

Craig Cole

Vice President of Business Development

Chloe Coniaris

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

Adam Constantinides

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

Jeffrey W. Craver

Principal

Anaëlle Croteau

ASSOCIATE

Jeremy R. Degenhart

Principal

Maurice Doyle

Managing Director

Ryan Dressler

Principal

Louis T. Dubuque

Managing Director

Eric Dunham

VP of Business Development

Michele Fleher

Business development officer

Beth Fore

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

Keith Freeman

Managing Director

Jeffrey Gentsch

Venture Partner

Gregory P. Gish

Senior Vice President

Jonathan I. Goldstein

Managing Director

Daniel J. Gould

SVP

Matthew L. Hart

VP

Joseph Henderson

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

Leah Hendricks

Vice-President

George N. Hettich

VP

Stephanie Hiatt

SVP

Richard T. Hummell

Principal

Reid Hutchins

Managing Director

Geoffrey Jacques

ASSOCIATE

Mark Lange

VP of Business Development

Josh Liggett

Partner

Franchesca B. Lorio

Principal/Controller

Philip E. Marshall

Principal

Larry Martin

VP of Business Development

Natalia Matallana

Senior Associate

D. Tyler Mayoras

Venture Partner

Anthony Metzner

SVP

Arjun Mohan

ASSOCIATE

Sandra M. Moore

Managing Director/Chief Impact Officer

Justin T. Motika

VP

Scott Murphy

Managing Director & Chief Investment Officer

James O'Rourke

MD

Justin N. Obletz

Chief Financial Officer

Paul Olsen

VP

Anne Ott

SVP

Tim Perusek

Principal

Aaron Pohlmann

Senior Associate

Sarah Rajan

Senior Associate

Jim Rieker

VP OF SYNDICATION

Rachel Robards

ASSOCIATE

Josh Rogers

SVP

Joshua Rogers

Vice-President

Gabe Rosen

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

Valentino Rovere

Vice President

Philip Ruppel

Vice President

Kelcee Sachtleben

Senior Associate

Brynn N. Sanders

VP

Cara M. Schiffman

Vice-President of Regulatory Affairs

Greg Schwarztrauber

SVP

Talmadge Singer

Managing Director

Craig Smidt

SVP

Ruth Kelso Sorrell

Principal

Angel Stuckman

VP of Business Development

Adam M. Suberi

Director of Financial Planning and Analysis

Matthew Switzer

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

Thomas Titus

Vice President

W. Anthony Toups

Principal

Alexandra A. Twyman

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

Ramya Varma

Vice President

Brittany Walker

Assistant VP

Benjamin Warning

Senior Associate

Carl Weatherley-White

MD

Thomas Willsey

Senior Vice President, Treasurer

Kyle Wood

Associate

Sarah Wynn

Associate

Mui, Fong Wa C.

VP

J.P. Lynch

Senior Analyst

Past deals in Arkansas

Delta Peanut

Debt Financing in 2021
Delta Peanut operates as a farmer-owned company serving peanut farmers in the Missouri Bootheel, Arkansas, and Northeast Louisiana. Sixty farmers from the area came together to vertically integrate their peanut production. The company is driven by a goal is to produce and process the highest quality peanuts in the world while emphasizing stewardship and sustainability.

Twin Rivers Foods

Debt Financing in 2020
Twin Rivers Foods operates as a slaughterhouse and meat processing plant. The company provides poultry slaughtering and processing. Twin Rivers Foods conducts business and packages meats.

First Orion

Venture Round in 2020
First Orion, operating under the brand PrivacyStar, is a call protection and data provider based in Little Rock, Arkansas, with additional offices in Bellevue, Washington; London, United Kingdom; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Founded in 2007, the company specializes in software solutions designed to protect consumers and businesses from unwanted phone calls. Its flagship product, PrivacyStar, offers call management features such as real-time scam blocking, call and text identification, robocall detection, and directory assistance, catering to mobile devices including Android and iPhone. First Orion empowers users by identifying callers and blocking unwanted communications, while also enabling them to file complaints with regulatory agencies, contributing to the blocking of over 200 million numbers and the submission of more than 300,000 complaints monthly. The company's services are utilized by mobile carriers, businesses, and consumers, enhancing their telecommunications experience through advanced technology and data solutions.

Fig Tree Steel

Debt Financing in 2019
Fig Tree Steel is a steel fabrication company that offers structural and miscellaneous steel fabrication services. The company's products are used for stairs, rails, ladders, bollards, gates, steel joists, and decking, enabling general contractors and clients to get parts and tools for various engineering services. It was founded in 1989 in Springdale, Arkansas.

Nanomech

Debt Financing in 2019
NanoMech, was founded in 2002 and creates advanced engineering materials through patent and patent-pending nano-inspired and nano-manufactured product development. NanoMech is a pioneer in applying breakthrough nano-engineered innovations to robust areas of national interest including machining and manufacturing, lubrication and energy, and strategic military applications. NanoMech brings ideas from innovation to implementation, commercializing nanomanufactured products at record speed in the market. NanoMech is a member of President Obama’s Materials Genome Initiative, a public / private collaboration with the aim of doubling the speed and reducing the cost of discovering, developing, and deploying new advanced materials. NanoMech is also a member of the U.S. Manufacturing Competitiveness Initiative (USMCI) and the U.S. Technology Leadership and Strategy Initiative, (www.Compete.org) both based in Washington, DC.

Caddo River Forest Products

Venture Round in 2017
Caddo River Forest Products is an integrated forest products company nestled in the beautiful Ouachita Mountains alongside the Caddo River in Glenwood, Arkansas. With plans to rehabilitate the 100 million board foot sawmill and operate its own timber dealership, the company will produce Southern yellow pine lumber (and related by-products) and market pulpwood for local pulp and paper mills. As a result Caddo River Forest Products will create jobs which will become integral to the West Arkansas forestry industry.

Excel Boats

Debt Financing in 2015
Excel Boats is an aluminum boat manufacturer of tough line boats for outdoor recreational enthusiasts. It offers different kinds of stuff for boats, hunting, fishing and offers a service tips page to learn about maintenance and running advice of the boat. It was headquartered in Mountain View, Arkansas.

Strong Suit

Convertible Note in 2015
Strong Suit is a manufacturer of finely tailored clothing designed to empower men to discover their strong suit. Its clothing includes a range of tailored suits, shirts, and sport coats that enable millennial customers to purchase apparel at a reasonable price. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Strong Suit

Venture Round in 2015
Strong Suit is a manufacturer of finely tailored clothing designed to empower men to discover their strong suit. Its clothing includes a range of tailored suits, shirts, and sport coats that enable millennial customers to purchase apparel at a reasonable price. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Arkansas Glass Container Corporation manufactures and supplies glass containers for packaging candles, and jams and jellies. The company was founded in 1956 and is based in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Conway Machine

Debt Financing in 2015
Conway Machine, Inc. manufactures fabricated replacement parts for die cutters and printers. The company was founded in 1972 and is based in Conway, Arkansas.
Fabrication Specialties of Arkansas, Inc. is a metal fabricator and contract manufacturing company based in Van Buren, Arkansas. Founded in 1998, the company provides a wide range of services including sheet metal fabrication, heavy industrial work, demolition, plasma cutting, machining, welding, forming, tube bending, powder coating, and assembly. Its projects cater to various sectors such as heavy steel, oil field, sheet metal, and the poultry and food service industries. Fabrication Specialties of Arkansas specializes in producing both individual parts and fully assembled products to meet the diverse needs of its clients.
Fabrication Specialties of Arkansas, Inc. is a metal fabricator and contract manufacturing company based in Van Buren, Arkansas. Founded in 1998, the company provides a wide range of services including sheet metal fabrication, heavy industrial work, demolition, plasma cutting, machining, welding, forming, tube bending, powder coating, and assembly. Its projects cater to various sectors such as heavy steel, oil field, sheet metal, and the poultry and food service industries. Fabrication Specialties of Arkansas specializes in producing both individual parts and fully assembled products to meet the diverse needs of its clients.

Strong Suit

Series A in 2015
Strong Suit is a manufacturer of finely tailored clothing designed to empower men to discover their strong suit. Its clothing includes a range of tailored suits, shirts, and sport coats that enable millennial customers to purchase apparel at a reasonable price. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Fig Tree Steel

Debt Financing in 2015
Fig Tree Steel is a steel fabrication company that offers structural and miscellaneous steel fabrication services. The company's products are used for stairs, rails, ladders, bollards, gates, steel joists, and decking, enabling general contractors and clients to get parts and tools for various engineering services. It was founded in 1989 in Springdale, Arkansas.

Excel Boats

Debt Financing in 2014
Excel Boats is an aluminum boat manufacturer of tough line boats for outdoor recreational enthusiasts. It offers different kinds of stuff for boats, hunting, fishing and offers a service tips page to learn about maintenance and running advice of the boat. It was headquartered in Mountain View, Arkansas.

Nanomech

Series B in 2014
NanoMech, was founded in 2002 and creates advanced engineering materials through patent and patent-pending nano-inspired and nano-manufactured product development. NanoMech is a pioneer in applying breakthrough nano-engineered innovations to robust areas of national interest including machining and manufacturing, lubrication and energy, and strategic military applications. NanoMech brings ideas from innovation to implementation, commercializing nanomanufactured products at record speed in the market. NanoMech is a member of President Obama’s Materials Genome Initiative, a public / private collaboration with the aim of doubling the speed and reducing the cost of discovering, developing, and deploying new advanced materials. NanoMech is also a member of the U.S. Manufacturing Competitiveness Initiative (USMCI) and the U.S. Technology Leadership and Strategy Initiative, (www.Compete.org) both based in Washington, DC.

Fig Tree Steel

Debt Financing in 2014
Fig Tree Steel is a steel fabrication company that offers structural and miscellaneous steel fabrication services. The company's products are used for stairs, rails, ladders, bollards, gates, steel joists, and decking, enabling general contractors and clients to get parts and tools for various engineering services. It was founded in 1989 in Springdale, Arkansas.

Fig Tree Steel

Venture Round in 2014
Fig Tree Steel is a steel fabrication company that offers structural and miscellaneous steel fabrication services. The company's products are used for stairs, rails, ladders, bollards, gates, steel joists, and decking, enabling general contractors and clients to get parts and tools for various engineering services. It was founded in 1989 in Springdale, Arkansas.

PrivacyStar

Debt Financing in 2014
PrivacyStar focuses on enhancing privacy and protection for phone users globally. The service enables users to block unwanted callers such as telemarketers and debt collectors, while also providing Caller ID functionality that identifies incoming calls. Additionally, PrivacyStar allows users to look up caller information after receiving a call and file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission regarding Do Not Call violations and debt collection issues. Users can block entire groups of numbers, including specific area codes, and benefit from insights based on data from over 600,000 users regarding frequently blocked numbers. The platform also features a Do Not Disturb option that sends customized text messages to callers when users are unavailable. PrivacyStar is accessible on Android and Blackberry smartphones and is expanding to VOIP platforms.

Conway Machine

Debt Financing in 2014
Conway Machine, Inc. manufactures fabricated replacement parts for die cutters and printers. The company was founded in 1972 and is based in Conway, Arkansas.