McGowan Capital Group is a private equity and venture capital firm based in South Dakota, established in 2004. The firm specializes in providing growth capital and focuses on early-stage investments throughout the United States. With a commitment to fostering the development of promising companies, McGowan Capital Group seeks to support innovative ventures that demonstrate potential for significant growth.

Technology Venture Capital in Northern Plains

Bluestem Capital Company, LLC is a private equity and venture capital firm based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, specializing in mezzanine financing, buyouts, and recapitalization. Founded in 1989, the firm focuses on mid-market investments across various sectors, including business services, life sciences, natural resources, manufacturing, and healthcare. Bluestem Capital does not invest in startups or turnaround situations, preferring early to late venture transactions. The firm typically invests between $0.5 million and $3 million in convertible preferred stock and subordinated debentures, seeking to acquire majority stakes in its portfolio companies. It aims to secure a board seat in these companies and generally exits investments through public offerings, management buyouts, or sales to strategic or financial buyers. The firm prioritizes investments in the Midwest, particularly California, and has a commitment from its management team to invest a significant portion of their net worth alongside the firm's capital.

PrairieGold Venture Partners is a venture capital firm based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, that focuses on early-stage investments. The firm concentrates on sectors such as life sciences, green technology, information technology, and alternative energy, primarily targeting opportunities in the Midwest region. PrairieGold typically invests between $0.25 million and $2 million in transactions that range from $0.25 million to $10 million. The firm often seeks a board seat in its portfolio companies to actively support their growth and development.

Bird Dog Equity Partners is a private equity firm based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, that specializes in investments in the Midwest region of the United States. Established in 2010, the firm focuses on both private equity and real estate opportunities. One of its notable initiatives is the Bird Dog Hospitality Fund 3, which is designed to facilitate buyout investments in the hospitality sector. Bird Dog Equity Partners aims to leverage its regional expertise to identify and capitalize on growth opportunities within its targeted markets.

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust is an independent non-profit private foundation based in New York City, established in 1999. Its mission is to improve lives by supporting exceptional non-profits and mission-aligned organizations both in the United States and globally. The foundation focuses on various program areas, including health, education, human services, and selected place-based initiatives. Specific areas of interest include conservation, inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn's Disease, rural healthcare, Type 1 diabetes, and aid for vulnerable children in Sub-Saharan Africa. The foundation's assets are managed by an executive management team dedicated to fulfilling its charitable objectives.

Gardner Standard is a private investment firm that focuses on investing in small middle-market companies.

The Bush Foundation, established in 1953, is a non-profit organization based in the United States that focuses on supporting charitable activities through grants. It invests in innovative ideas and the individuals who drive them, primarily in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The foundation's funding areas include human services, health, education, and arts and humanities. In addition to its grant-making activities, the Bush Foundation maintains a diverse investment portfolio that encompasses various asset classes, including corporate and debt securities, mutual funds, and alternative investments. The foundation's commitment to fostering impactful initiatives underscores its role in enhancing community well-being and promoting educational opportunities in the regions it serves.

Mill City Capital is a private equity firm founded in 2010 and based in Wayzata, Minnesota. The firm specializes in investing in lower middle-market companies with enterprise values between $20 million and $100 million, primarily focusing on those located in the Midwestern United States and western and central Canada. Mill City Capital has developed a strong network of relationships in these regions and targets companies in the industrial and consumer sectors. As a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA), the firm aims to foster growth and create value within its portfolio companies.

Shawn Carpenter is the Founder and Chairman of the Board at Three Tree Ventures, an early-stage technology startup investment fund that backs exceptional entrepreneurs that are applying technology to market segments with high caps that have had a historically incorrect, ineffective and/or insufficient level of technology application. Three Tree Ventures prefers to invest in startups as early as possible, exclusively invests in product companies, and prefers to invest in organizations with one or more U.S. military veteran founder(s). Shawn is also an LP and Advisor to CrossCut Ventures (https://www.crosscut.vc) located in Los Angeles, CA (6+ years). Mr. Carpenter is a globally respected cyber security expert with a broad range of successful early-stage investments, including Compass, GroupSense, White Ops (acquired by Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking), Dark Cubed, uSTADIUM, PeerNova, MILLIE, Rumi Spice, Awake Security (acquired by Arista Networks), Privateer Holdings (acquired by TILRAY), ThreatGRID (acquired by Cisco Systems), RideScout (acquired by Daimler AG), InAuth (acquired by American Express) and Efflux Systems (acquired by NETSCOUT Systems). Mr. Carpenter is known for his acumen for advising early stage innovators. He has successfully helped raise capital, navigate rough waters, acquire key talent and customers, and help develop short and long-term strategies for portfolio companies and startups that he advises. He is currently an Advisor to CrossCut Ventures, Trinity Cyber, TruSTAR Technology, GroupSense, uSTADIUM, MILLIE, Blackwatch Digital, and Netswitch Technology Management. He has held key positions at startups where he was an early employee — Principal Forensics Analyst at NetWitness Corporation (acquired by EMC/RSA), Chief Technical Analyst at iSIGHT Partners (acquired by FireEye), Chief Strategy Officer at Invotas (aquired by FireEye), and Senior Vice President of Cyber at Cybraics. One of his greatest passions is being the Technical Advisor for a non-profit 501(c)3 founded by his wife, Dr. Jennifer Jacobs, and a close friend, Jessica Stern — Connect Our Kids (https://www.connectourkids.org). The non-profit is applying modern technologies like artificial intelligence and data science to the foster care system in the United States to improve placement outcomes -- finding forever families for thousands of children in the system. His experience and successful entrepreneurial background are coupled with deep technical skills honed while pioneering cyber security protocols for the federal government and working at NetWitness and iSIGHT Partners over the past two decades. Shawn is also a veteran of the U.S. Navy, and qualified as a nuclear operator and chemist during his six years of service in the U.S. Navy's Nuclear Propulsion Program (NNPS Class 9203). Shawn also worked as a senior cyber security analyst for almost six years as a Member of the Technical Staff (MTS) at Sandia National Laboratories. He discovered one of the first documented penetrations of U.S. Government networks. After joining NetWitness as one of the first employees, he helped architect, implement and stand up the Justice Security Operations Center (JSOC) — at the time the largest deployment of NetWitness gear for a federal client. Mr. Carpenter also worked as a Principal Senior Analyst at the U.S. Department of State's Cyber Threat Analysis Team (CTAD) from 2004-2007. He was a key member of the 2005 CTAD team that was awarded the prestigious Frank B. Rowlett Trophy For Organizational Achievement by the National Security Agency (https://apps.nsa.gov/iaarchive/programs/rowlett-awards/recipients.cfm). Mr. Carpenter has been tinkering with computers since his mother bought him his first computer, a TRS-80 Model I, in late 1978 at the age of 10 . He has been curious about almost everything since he was born, and enjoys playing slide guitar, harmonica, banjo and trumpet, metal detecting with his kids, building forts high in tall trees, lucid dreaming, experimenting with brain/machine interfaces, building robotics projects with his kids, and hacking all of the things. Mr. Carpenter has a particular affection for blues and jazz, and is an investor and Minor Partner in a John Coltrane biography — "Chasing Trane" (https://www.coltranefilm.com). His investments span everything from being the first money in at Rumi Spice (https://www.rumispice.com), a sustainable saffron growing enterprise founded by three West Point graduates, to PeerNova, a blockchain startup founded by his CS251 instructor from University of Nebraska. Five years after investing in Rumi Spice, it is now the largest private employer of Afghan women in the world, with over 2000 women employees. In May 2017, Mark Cuban became an investor in the saffron startup. In September of 2018, Rumi Spice's saffron became available nationwide in all Whole Food Markets. Shawn is a native of Sioux Falls, SD, and credits his Mother, high school marching band instructor, David Haugen, South Dakota roots, and industry mentors and friends like Aaron Walters, Amit Yoran, Dug Song, Gary Golomb, Chris Lukas, Sean Catlett, Richard Stiennon, Paul Garrett, Fraser Verrusio, and many others for his scrappiness and successes.

Caerus Investment Partners is a micro venture capital firm that partners with entrepreneurs to provide seed capital for early-stage companies in the US. They primarily invest in businesses positioned for rapid growth and market leadership with a focus on digital media, internet, payment processing and software as a service companies. However, their goal is to partner with exceptional management teams and they recognize great ideas can come from anyone across all industries. Caerus seeks out entrepreneurs who have the vision and drive to turn unique ideas into industry leading businesses. Their peer-to-peer investment style places their focus on investing in people and ideas. They invest in smaller, niche businesses that fall outside the investment parameters of traditional venture capital firms due to the stage of the company or lack of previous experience by the management team. They are flexible as to the form, size and structure of their investments. Their mission is to partner with entrepreneurs and provide the foundation to build better companies. They believe adding value is more than just investing money and they are dedicated to working as a partner with their portfolio companies to achieve success. This is what they do everyday and it is what they have been doing for the last 10 years for Fortune 500, middle market and start-up companies.

Longhouse Partners LLC is a private equity firm based in Detroit, Michigan, that specializes in investments in the lower middle market. The firm targets sectors such as Business Services, Consumer Products and Services, Niche Manufacturing, and Multi-site Healthcare Services. Within Business Services, it emphasizes Business Process Outsourcing, Engineering and Technical Services, and Marketing Services. In the Consumer Products and Services sector, it focuses on Food and Beverage, Apparel and Accessories, and Education. Longhouse Partners typically looks to invest in companies located in the U.S. or Canada, with a preference for the Midwest, and seeks businesses with revenues exceeding $10 million and EBITDA ranging from $2 million to $10 million.

Stone Arch Capital, LLC is a private equity firm based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, specializing in investments in lower middle market companies primarily located in the Midwest. Founded in 2003, the firm focuses on buyouts, industry consolidations, growth capital, and recapitalizations, typically investing between $10 and $25 million in companies with annual revenues ranging from $15 million to $150 million and EBITDA of $3.5 million to $30 million. Stone Arch Capital seeks to establish partnerships with management teams in the manufacturing and service sectors, aiming for sustainable operating margins of at least 10 percent. The firm generally targets businesses with enterprise values between $15 million and $100 million and prefers to take control, either through minority or majority stakes, while avoiding hostile transactions. Although its primary focus is within the Midwest, Stone Arch Capital may consider investments outside the region under specific circumstances.

RAIN Source Capital works with interested angel investors to establish a RAIN fund in their area. RAIN Source provides each RAIN fund with legal templates, investment tools, management expertise, and financing experience. RAIN fund members are accredited angel investors, typically defined as individuals with annual income exceeding $200,000 and/or having a net worth of more than $1 million.

Granite Equity Partners is a private equity firm specializing in financing buyouts, middle market, mature, recapitalizations, and growth transactions. It also includes sale or purchase of a business, generational transfers, or business expansions. It typically invests in telecommunication services, distributors, media, and services. The firm prefers to invest in companies located within drive time of the office. The firm typically invests in United States with a focus on Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota. It targets companies generating revenues between $5 million and $75 million and an EBITDA between $1 million and $5 million. The firm seeks co-ownership in its portfolio companies. It seeks to co-invest and prefers a seat on the board of its portfolio companies. The firm prefer to have majority stake. Granite Equity Partners was founded in May 2002 and is based in St. Cloud, Minnesota with an additional office in Northfield, Minnesota.

Great North Labs is an early-stage venture fund focused on investing in technology startups in the upper Midwest. The firm aims to foster grassroots economic development by investing in exponential and disruptive technologies. Great North Labs provides both capital and strategic support to entrepreneurs, enhancing their chances for success while nurturing the local ecosystem to develop the next generation of transformative tech. The fund invests in companies from Seed to Series B stages, prioritizing those that leverage breakthrough technologies to innovate industries still reliant on analog processes. With a team composed of successful founders, Great North Labs emphasizes the importance of execution in its investment strategy, seeking high-potential startups regardless of their geographic location.

PGIM Private Capital is a private equity firm based in Chicago that specializes in middle market investments across various sectors, including utilities, energy, technology, and transportation. The firm focuses on private placements, refinancing, mezzanine financing, management buyouts, and growth capital financings, typically investing between $5 million and $100 million in companies with revenues ranging from $20 million to $500 million. PGIM Private Capital prefers to take a lead role in investments and often seeks majority stakes in portfolio companies. The firm also provides a range of financing options, including senior debt, subordinated debt, and structured finance, while offering leverage leases and equipment finance globally. Its investment strategy is concentrated in Western Europe, Australia, and North America, particularly in the Midwest regions of the United States. The firm aims to hold investments for five to 25 years and actively seeks board membership in its portfolio companies.

Mason Wells is a Wisconsin-based private equity firm founded in 1998 that specializes in mid-market investments within the biotechnology, medical devices, and life sciences sectors. The firm also invests in consumer packaged goods, engineered products and services, outsourced business services, and packaging materials. With a revenue range between $25 million and $300 million, Mason Wells aims to support founders, family owners, and managers during ownership transitions, helping businesses realize their potential while maintaining their legacy and culture. Its portfolio includes companies such as A and R Logistics, AWT Labels and Packaging, CE Power Solutions, Eddy Packing, and Aquion.

Google is a multinational corporation specializing in Internet-related services and products. Its extensive product portfolio includes Google Search, which provides access to online information; Google Ads, an auction-based advertising program; AdSense, which allows websites to display ads; and YouTube, a platform for video content. Google also offers Android, an open-source mobile operating system, alongside hardware products like Chromebooks and Chromecast. The company provides cloud-based services such as Google Drive, Google Cloud Storage, and Google App Engine, as well as tools for real-time analytics. Additionally, Google AI focuses on advancing artificial intelligence and integrating it into various products. The philanthropic arm, Google.org, supports initiatives that leverage technology for social good, while the Google Foundation invests in innovative technologies to address global challenges. Founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in Mountain View, California, Google has become the world's leading search engine and a key player in the digital landscape.

Five Elms Capital is a private equity growth firm based in Kansas City, Missouri, established in 2007. The firm specializes in investing in bootstrapped business-to-business (B2B) software and technology companies in the United States. Its latest fund, Five Elms V, targets growth capital investments and typically invests between $5 million and $75 million in each company. The firm focuses on sectors such as real estate technology, information technology, software, software as a service, and other technology-related industries. As a registered investment adviser, Five Elms Capital emphasizes investing in established companies that have demonstrated potential for growth.

Platinum Equity Advisors, LLC is a private equity firm founded in 1995 and headquartered in Beverly Hills, California, with additional offices in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, the United Kingdom, and Singapore. The firm specializes in mergers and acquisitions, focusing on corporate divestitures, public-to-private transactions, leveraged buyouts, and investments in family-owned businesses. Platinum Equity targets a wide range of industries, including information technology, software, telecommunications, logistics, metals, manufacturing, hospitality, and distribution. It typically invests in companies with enterprise values ranging from $100 million to $10 billion, often taking majority stakes, though minority investments are also considered. The firm has a global investment approach, emphasizing opportunities in North America and Western Europe.

500 Global, formerly known as 500 Startups, is a venture capital firm and incubator based in Mountain View, California, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in seed investments, primarily focusing on early-stage technology and financial services startups across various sectors, including biotech, e-commerce, fintech, and digital healthcare. 500 Global operates a four-month accelerator program, where it typically invests between $0.05 million and $1 million for a 5 to 10 percent equity stake in companies with at least $100,000 in monthly revenue. The firm targets a global market, with particular emphasis on regions such as the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Since its inception, it has invested in over 2,200 startups and supports the growth of innovation ecosystems through educational programs and partnerships. 500 Global also prioritizes investments in companies led by minority founders, reflecting its commitment to diverse entrepreneurial leadership.

founded in 2016, Off The Grid Ventures was a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California. The firm seeks to invest in foreign founders and women-led companies operating in information technology, SaaS and fintech sectors.

DB1 Ventures’ vision is to be a strategic partner of choice for early- to growth-stage companies which are core or adjacent to Deutsche Börse Group’s strategy, generate attractive investment returns and add strategic value to its growth plans.

Norwest Mezzanine Partners, founded in 2000 and based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, specializes in mezzanine investments, providing junior capital to support private equity sponsors in the growth of middle market companies across various sectors. The firm targets investments in business services, consumer products, distribution, healthcare, energy, and industrials within the United States. By partnering with private equity firms, Norwest Mezzanine Partners aims to create value in their portfolio companies, offering flexible financial solutions and reliable support to help these businesses achieve industry leadership. The firm operates independently but maintains an affiliation with Norwest Equity Partners, which has a long history in middle market equity investment.

GE Equity, a division of General Electric, focuses on maximizing returns on the company's investment capital through strategic equity investments. Established with a blend of extensive equity investing experience and the operational expertise of GE, the division primarily seeks minority ownership stakes in established companies that exhibit high growth potential. GE Equity emphasizes various investment strategies, including growth capital, buy-out co-investments, secondary direct purchases, recapitalizations, and limited partner investments. The division leverages GE's global reach and industry knowledge to identify and capitalize on promising investment opportunities across diverse sectors.

Marshall Wace LLP is an employee-owned hedge fund manager established in 1997 and headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with additional offices in New York and Hong Kong. The firm specializes in global long/short equity investment strategies, managing hedge funds and equity mutual funds for its clients. Marshall Wace employs both quantitative and fundamental analysis to identify investment opportunities across public equity markets and alternative investments worldwide. It offers a diverse range of products, allowing investors to choose funds that combine different sources of alpha and beta. The firm is recognized for its strong performance, having been awarded Management Firm of the Year by the EuroHedge Awards in 2011. Marshall Wace's investment approach integrates traditional stock-specific research with its proprietary systematic alpha capture strategy, known as MW TOPS, to deliver persistent, risk-adjusted returns.

RA Capital Management, L.P. is a Boston-based venture capital firm focused on growth capital and early-stage investments in the healthcare and life sciences sectors. Established in 2001, the firm specializes in funding companies involved in drug development, medical devices, diagnostics, and biotechnology. It engages in a range of investment stages, from seed funding to later rounds and public offerings, often preferring to co-invest and take board positions. RA Capital targets companies that are innovating in areas such as prevention, cost-effective diagnostics, genetic testing, and personalized medicine. The firm is staffed by professionals with backgrounds in biology, chemistry, and medicine, providing them with a deep understanding of the scientific and regulatory landscape. This expertise allows RA Capital to identify promising technologies and offer strategic guidance, including potential partnerships and insights into public market demands.

The JDRF T1D Fund (www.t1dfund.org) is a venture philanthropy fund exclusively devoted to finding and funding the best early-stage T1D commercial opportunities to accelerate the delivery of treatments, preventions, and cures to patients. It was created to solve a critical funding gap in the T1D drug and device development pipeline. Through partnerships with private capital, including venture capital, pharma and foundations, the T1D Fund anticipates that it will be able to attract substantially more private investment to the T1D field than occurs today. The T1D Fund will initially focus on artificial pancreas systems, metabolic control, beta cell replacement, prevention, and beta cell restoration therapies, with an exclusive priority on the best commercial opportunities. The T1D Fund will reinvest any realized gains into new investments to further its mission.

RTW Investments, LP is an employee-owned hedge fund manager based in New York, established in 2009. The firm specializes in a sector-oriented investment strategy, focusing primarily on the life sciences, big data, and digital health sectors in the United States and Europe. RTW Investments manages pooled investment vehicles and also offers separate client-focused equity and fixed income portfolios, including equity mutual funds. The firm emphasizes fundamental research and conducts in-house analyses to inform its investment decisions, aiming to capitalize on opportunities in both public equity and fixed income markets globally.

Deerfield is an investment management firm established in 1994 that specializes in advancing healthcare through investment, information, and philanthropy. With over $8 billion in funds, Deerfield invests broadly in both public and private healthcare sectors, targeting a diverse range of companies from early-stage drug research to established healthcare services and medical device firms. The firm typically maintains equity or debt interests in more than 100 companies. It employs the Deerfield Institute, which conducts extensive research to provide objective market intelligence, engaging with thousands of professionals annually to address complex healthcare challenges. Additionally, a portion of the firm's profits is allocated to the Deerfield Foundation to support various philanthropic initiatives.

Bay City Capital LLC, founded in 1997 and based in California, is a private equity firm that specializes in managing investment funds within the life sciences sector. The firm has overseen six venture funds, which collectively represent $1.5 billion in capital invested across more than 70 companies. Among these funds, five focus on general life sciences, while one is dedicated to the nutrition and agribusiness sectors. Bay City Capital aims to support innovative companies that contribute to advancements in healthcare and related fields.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, founded in 1781 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading research-based pharmaceutical company. It operates primarily in the pharmaceutical sector, focusing on five core therapeutic areas: oncology, gastroenterology, neuroscience, rare diseases, and plasma-derived therapies, which contribute to over 80% of its revenue. Takeda's diverse product portfolio includes established medications for conditions such as prostate cancer, peptic ulcers, hypertension, and diabetes. Additionally, Takeda Ventures, Inc., the company's venture capital arm, invests in therapeutic innovations across various stages of development, primarily in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The firm prioritizes investments in drug and biotherapeutic technologies, with a particular interest in cardiometabolic, central nervous system, chronic inflammatory, and oncology domains, while avoiding sectors like diagnostics and anti-infective products. In fiscal 2023, Takeda reported revenue of approximately JPY 4.3 trillion, with a significant portion generated from its operations in the US, Japan, and Europe.

ClearSky is a venture capital firm founded in 2012 and headquartered in Palm Beach, Florida, with additional offices in New York, Boston, and San Francisco. The firm specializes in growth capital and growth equity investments, focusing on the cybersecurity sector as well as innovative companies in clean technology, energy, and business services. ClearSky operates through two main lines of funds: ClearSky Power and Technology, which targets enterprises providing technology and services in the power sector, and ClearSky Security, which invests in companies delivering transformative solutions for cybersecurity, industrial security, and critical infrastructure security.

Fort Point Capital is a Boston-based private equity firm founded in 2010 that focuses on investing in mid-market companies across various sectors, including business services, healthcare, consumer products, and software. The firm partners with experienced operators and management teams to enhance the growth potential of its portfolio companies. Fort Point Capital aims to create sustainable value through active participation in the development of these businesses, while the management teams handle day-to-day operations.

Frontier Growth, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a private equity and venture capital firm established in 1999 that specializes in growth equity investments in software and technology-enabled business services companies. The firm typically targets businesses with revenues between $5 million and $30 million and a growth rate exceeding 20 percent, seeking equity investments ranging from $5 million to $50 million. Frontier Growth focuses on both B2B software and technology services, investing in areas such as software as a service, managed services, human resources technology, and cybersecurity, among others. The firm aims to partner with management teams to provide the necessary capital to accelerate growth, support product development, and facilitate geographic expansion or acquisitions. Frontier Growth is flexible in its investment approach, often taking on roles as minority or majority shareholders and preferring to be the lead institutional investor. The firm primarily operates across the United States and Canada, with a notable focus on the North Texas and North Carolina regions.

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (BBVA), established in 1857 and headquartered in Madrid, Spain, is an international financial group that offers a wide range of banking and financial services. It provides retail and wholesale banking, asset management, private banking, and insurance services. The bank's offerings include current and savings accounts, term deposits, various loan products, credit cards, and corporate and investment banking services. BBVA operates in multiple regions, including Spain, Mexico, South America, the United States, Turkey, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, catering to individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, institutional investors, and corporations. The merger of Banco Bilbao and Argentaria in 1999 strengthened its market position, allowing for enhanced value creation and diversified risk management. BBVA is also involved in managing pension funds and foreclosed real estate assets, reflecting its comprehensive approach to financial services.

Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services firm that offers a wide range of banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer finance products to individuals, businesses, and institutions both in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three primary segments: Community Banking, Wholesale Banking, and Wealth and Investment Management. The Community Banking segment provides services such as checking and savings accounts, credit cards, and various types of loans. Wholesale Banking offers commercial and corporate banking services, including capital markets and cash management solutions. Wealth and Investment Management focuses on personalized financial planning and investment services. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo is one of the largest banks in the U.S., with a significant presence through retail branches and ATMs. The company continues to evolve by incorporating innovative financial solutions and expanding its global footprint in financial services.

TD Securities is a Canadian investment firm that provides a comprehensive suite of advisory and capital market services to clients worldwide. Established in 1855 and based in Ontario, the firm specializes in investment banking, which includes mergers and acquisitions, industry expertise, and credit origination. Additionally, TD Securities offers equity and commodity research, along with capital market products such as derivatives. Its global transaction banking services encompass trade finance, cash management, and correspondent banking. The firm's diverse offerings enable it to serve a wide range of clients in various sectors.

Scotiabank, founded in 1832 and headquartered in Toronto, Canada, is a leading financial institution that provides a comprehensive range of banking products and services. The bank serves approximately 21 million customers across more than 55 countries, offering personal, commercial, corporate, and investment banking solutions. Its services include wealth management, corporate lending, equity underwriting, and advisory services for mergers and acquisitions. Additionally, Scotiabank has a private equity arm that focuses on middle-market investments, specializing in sectors such as healthcare, technology, and consumer products. The firm typically invests between $5 million and $25 million in companies, seeking both minority and majority ownership. With a commitment to understanding customer needs and managing risk, Scotiabank has established itself as a global financial services leader, supported by a workforce of over 86,000 employees dedicated to helping clients thrive.

JPMorgan Chase is a prominent financial holding company headquartered in New York, offering a wide range of financial services globally. The firm operates through various segments, with its Investment Bank division providing essential investment banking products and services. These include advising clients on corporate strategy and structure, facilitating capital raising in both equity and debt markets, and offering risk management solutions. Additionally, JPMorgan Chase engages in market-making activities for cash securities and derivative instruments, along with prime brokerage services and research. Established in 1799, the company has a long history in the financial sector and continues to serve a diverse clientele with comprehensive banking and financial solutions.

Mizuho Bank, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a commercial bank that provides a wide range of corporate and investment banking services to major corporations, financial institutions, and public sector entities. Its offerings include various types of deposits, loans, and financial products such as acceptance and negotiation of import/export bills, remittance services, and foreign exchange contracts. The bank is also involved in investment banking activities, including custodial services, syndication, and real estate and acquisition finance. As a subsidiary of Mizuho Financial Group, Mizuho Bank aims to meet the financial needs of both domestic and international clients through comprehensive banking solutions.

Castle Creek Capital LLC is a California-based private equity firm founded in 1996 that focuses on the community banking sector in the United States. The firm specializes in growth capital, turnarounds, recapitalizations, and buyouts, primarily targeting banks and financial intermediaries with assets ranging from $100 million to $10 billion. Castle Creek Capital is particularly interested in markets that are under-banked and demonstrate favorable demographics, including strong population and economic growth. The firm typically seeks to make control investments, often taking board seats and, when necessary, temporarily assuming senior executive roles within its portfolio companies.

Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, founded in 1972 by Eugene Kleiner and Tom Perkins, is a prominent venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California. The firm specializes in early-stage investments, focusing on sectors such as software, technology, media, telecommunications, digital consumer, enterprise, green technology, and life sciences. Kleiner Perkins has supported over 600 ventures, including notable companies like AOL, Amazon, Google, and Genentech, contributing to the employment of more than 250,000 individuals across its portfolio. The firm has also facilitated the public offerings of over 150 of its portfolio companies. In addition to traditional venture capital, Kleiner Perkins has launched specific initiatives, including funds targeting green technology and social applications, collaborating with strategic partners to foster innovation in various sectors.

Warburg Pincus is a prominent private equity and venture capital firm based in New York, established in 1966. The firm specializes in investing across all stages of a company's lifecycle, from startups to mature businesses, and engages in various investment strategies including growth equity, management buyouts, and special situations. With over $45 billion in assets under management, Warburg Pincus maintains a diverse portfolio of more than 165 companies globally. The firm targets investments in sectors such as energy, financial services, healthcare, consumer products, technology, and real estate, with a focus on acquiring undervalued and middle-market companies. It typically invests between $20 million and $1 billion and seeks to partner with management teams to build sustainable value. Warburg Pincus has raised 17 private equity funds and has invested over $68 billion across more than 825 companies in over 40 countries, reflecting its extensive experience and global reach. The firm's operations are supported by offices in various major cities worldwide.

Lineage Capital is a Boston-based private equity firm established in 2003, specializing in investments in owner-managed businesses across the United States. The firm employs a unique partnership investment model that allows business owners to achieve significant liquidity while maintaining control over their companies and a meaningful stake in their operations. Lineage Capital primarily focuses on high-quality, lower middle market businesses with an EBITDA of over $4 million, spanning various sectors including consumer, industrial, service, and distribution. The firm seeks to partner with companies that are looking for a value-added collaborator to support their growth and long-term success.

Abacus Finance Group, LLC is a New York-based private specialty finance company focused exclusively on providing cash flow-based, senior secured debt solutions to private equity-sponsored, lower-middle market companies nationwide.

Aquiline Co-Invest II is a co-investment fund managed by Aquiline Capital Partners, a private equity firm based in New York that focuses on the financial services sector. The firm specializes in investing in risk-bearing and service-oriented enterprises across various industries, including insurance, banking, finance, securities, asset management, and financial technology. Aquiline Capital Partners was founded in 2005 and has a global investment approach, seeking opportunities primarily in North America and Europe. Through Aquiline Co-Invest II, the firm aims to collaborate with other investors to capitalize on attractive investment opportunities within the financial services landscape.

Techstars Central LLC, founded in 2006 and based in Boulder, Colorado, operates as a startup accelerator and venture capital firm focused on supporting early-stage technology-oriented companies. It specializes in a mentorship-driven accelerator program, selecting ten startups each summer to participate in a three-month incubation period, offering funding of $120,000 in exchange for equity. Techstars invests primarily in sectors such as fintech, artificial intelligence, blockchain, augmented reality, and IoT, while avoiding investments in medical devices, healthcare technology, and local service-oriented businesses. In addition to its primary accelerator, Techstars has various specialized programs, including those focused on music, retail, mobility, and social impact, with global reach extending to regions such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The firm prefers taking minority stakes, typically between six and ten percent, without seeking board representation or investor rights. Techstars has built a robust network of entrepreneurs, mentors, and corporate partners to foster innovation and growth within its portfolio, which includes over 1,000 companies with a significant collective market capitalization.

OurCrowd Ltd. is a venture capital firm founded in 2013 and based in Jerusalem, Israel, with additional offices in the United Kingdom, Asia, the United States, and Australia. It specializes in early-stage investments across various sectors, including healthcare, transportation technology, energy, and advanced technology companies. OurCrowd operates as a global venture investing platform that allows accredited investors to access curated investment opportunities in emerging companies. The firm actively vets and selects startups, invests capital, and facilitates co-investment within its extensive network, providing resources such as mentorship and industry connections to enhance the growth of its portfolio companies. With a focus on sectors like cybersecurity, fintech, and digital health, OurCrowd aims to address urgent technological needs, especially in response to global health challenges. It has established itself as a leading venture investor in Israel, emphasizing a collaborative approach to building value for startups throughout their development.