Mountain State Capital, established in 2018, is a venture capital firm headquartered in Morgantown, West Virginia, with an additional office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company specializes in seed and early-stage investments, focusing on technology companies based in the Greater Appalachia region of the United States. It typically invests between $250,000 and $500,000 in companies, targeting information technology and healthcare sectors. Mountain State Capital operates as a Small Business Investment Company, providing early-stage risk capital to high-growth companies in the region.

The U.S. Department of Energy is a government agency established in 1977, located in Washington, D.C. Its primary mission is to ensure the security and prosperity of the nation by tackling energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges. The Department focuses on promoting transformative scientific and technological solutions to address these issues, thereby supporting the country's energy needs and environmental sustainability.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) leads initiatives in food, agriculture, natural resources, and rural development. It aims to expand markets for agricultural products globally, foster alternative markets domestically, improve rural infrastructure, enhance food safety, promote nutrition education, and manage public lands collaboratively.

WesBanco, Inc. is a bank holding company based in Wheeling, West Virginia, that operates through its subsidiary, WesBanco Bank, Inc. The company offers a range of financial services, including retail and corporate banking, personal and corporate trust, brokerage, mortgage banking, and insurance services. WesBanco serves its clients through community banking and trust and investment services, providing various deposit accounts, loans for residential and commercial real estate, consumer installment loans, and home equity lines of credit. Additionally, the company offers investment products such as mutual funds and annuities, as well as securities brokerage services. WesBanco also operates an insurance agency and a full-service broker/dealer. As of the end of 2019, the bank maintained 236 branches and 227 ATMs across multiple states, including West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Founded in 1870, WesBanco has established a significant presence in the financial services sector.

Natural Resource Partners L.P. is a master limited partnership based in Houston, Texas, that owns, manages, and leases a diverse portfolio of mineral properties across the United States. The company primarily focuses on coal, soda ash, and other natural resources, with significant coal reserves located in regions such as Appalachia, the Illinois Basin, and the Northern Powder River Basin. In addition to coal, its assets include oil and gas royalties in Louisiana, timber in West Virginia, and trona ore mining and soda ash refining operations in Wyoming. Natural Resource Partners does not engage directly in mining but instead leases its properties to experienced operators, generating royalty income from these long-term agreements. The company's operations are organized into two main segments: Coal Royalty and Other, and Soda Ash. Founded in 2002, Natural Resource Partners has established itself as a key player in the natural resources sector.

FirstEnergy Corporation, established in 1996 and headquartered in Akron, Ohio, is a diversified energy company that generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately six million customers across Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. The company operates through regulated distribution and transmission segments, owning and managing a vast network of power plants, transmission lines, and distribution systems. These include coal-fired, nuclear, hydroelectric, natural gas, wind, and solar facilities, as well as 24,486 circuit miles of transmission lines and 269,691 miles of distribution lines, with a total installed transformer capacity of approximately 156,115,196 kilovolt-amperes. In addition to its core operations, FirstEnergy also provides energy-related products and services to retail and wholesale customers, contributing to the strengthening of local communities through its foundation's support of nonprofit organizations.

EQT Corporation is a natural gas production company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a significant focus on the Appalachian region, particularly the Marcellus and Utica shale plays. Founded in 1925, the company has established itself as a leader in the industry, employing advanced horizontal drilling technology to minimize environmental impact. As of year-end 2023, EQT's proven reserves reached 27.6 trillion cubic feet equivalent, with net production totaling 5.79 billion cubic feet equivalent per day, predominantly from natural gas, which constituted 94% of the production. Furthermore, EQT is involved in gathering and transmission operations and serves as the general partner and major equity owner of EQT Midstream Partners. The company is dedicated to safe and responsible energy production to meet the growing demand for clean-burning energy while enhancing the communities where it operates.

Altice USA is a leading broadband communications and video services provider in the United States, serving over 4.9 million residential and business customers across 21 states. It offers innovative products such as high-speed internet, pay television, telephony services, Wi-Fi hotspots, proprietary content, advertising services, international news, and hyper-local news tailored for specific communities.

Core10 is a North American provider of banking and lending products and services. It offers the Accrue platform, designed for community banks and credit unions seeking digital innovation. Core10's US-based development team operates from smaller cities with lower cost of living, maintaining quality while reducing costs.

American Electric Power Company, Inc. is a major electric public utility holding company based in Columbus, Ohio, that engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity across 11 states, serving over 5 million customers. The company operates through various segments, including Vertically Integrated Utilities and Transmission and Distribution Utilities. American Electric Power generates electricity from a diverse mix of sources, including coal, natural gas, nuclear, and renewable energy such as wind and solar. It also supplies wholesale electricity to other utilities, rural cooperatives, and municipalities. In addition to its core electric services, the company maintains a substantial infrastructure, including railcars and barges for coal transport, and actively invests in renewable energy initiatives to enhance its energy portfolio and minimize environmental impact. Founded in 1906, American Electric Power emphasizes reliability and sustainability in its operations and community engagement.

Berwind Natural Resources Corporation is a land and resource management company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in 1962, it specializes in the ownership, leasing, development, and sale of mineral resources, primarily focusing on natural gas and coal reserves across Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. As a fifth-generation, family-owned business, Berwind has a rich history and is committed to effectively managing its assets in the natural resources sector. Formerly a subsidiary of The Berwind-White Coal Mining Company, Berwind continues to leverage its legacy in resource management.

Giant Eagle is a regional supermarket chain operating primarily in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, and Indiana. Established in 1931 through the collaboration of five families, Giant Eagle has evolved from its roots in small grocery stores to a prominent player in the grocery industry. The company provides a wide range of products, including bakery items, dairy, deli, frozen foods, meat, produce, and prepared meals, as well as personal care and household goods. With a focus on quality and competitive pricing, Giant Eagle aims to meet the diverse needs of its customers while maintaining a strong presence in the neighborhoods it serves. The first Giant Eagle supermarket opened in 1936, and the chain has continued to expand, adapting to changing consumer preferences over the decades.

Brinker International, Inc. operates casual dining restaurants, primarily under the brands Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy. Chili's is known for its bar and grill offerings, featuring a menu that includes signature items such as slow-smoked baby back ribs, craft burgers, fajitas, and tableside guacamole. Maggiano's specializes in Italian cuisine, offering a diverse menu that includes appetizers, chicken, seafood, veal, prime steaks, and desserts. As of June 2013, Brinker International's system included 1,591 restaurants across 50 states and Washington, D.C., as well as locations in various countries including Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. The company generates the majority of its revenue from the Chili's segment, reflecting its strong presence in the casual dining market.

U.S. Silica Holdings is a prominent producer of high-quality silica products, including unground silica, ground silica, fine ground silica, calcined kaolin clay, and aplite. Established over a century ago, the company traces its origins to the discovery of the Oriskany sandstone deposit in West Virginia by Henry Harrison Hunter, who showcased silica sand at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Over the years, U.S. Silica has expanded its operations through acquisitions and the development of a diverse range of over 200 unique products. The company operates a comprehensive network of production plants and packaging facilities across the United States, facilitating reliable procurement of silica and other industrial minerals. A significant portion of its revenue is generated from its Oil and Gas Proppants segment, supporting hydraulic fracturing operations. U.S. Silica emphasizes collaboration with customers to innovate product applications while maintaining a commitment to health, safety, quality, and environmental integrity. In 2008, the company was acquired by Golden Gate Capital, a private equity firm based in San Francisco.

Founded in 1970, Eastern Vault Company specializes in manufacturing a wide range of precast and prestressed concrete products. Its offerings include prestressed bridge beams, custom-designed products for tunnel sections, and various precast items such as manholes, vaults, and drainage systems. The company serves clients primarily in North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

MVB Bank is a community bank based in West Virginia that provides a full range of financial services to individuals and commercial clients. The bank offers deposit products including checking, NOW, money market, savings, and certificates of deposit, and a broad loan portfolio with commercial and commercial real estate loans, residential real estate loans, home equity lines of credit, construction loans, and consumer loans. It issues debit cards and safe deposit rental facilities and provides mortgage banking and wealth management services. The bank also distributes non-deposit investment products through a broker-dealer network, offers correspondent lending for other community banks, and provides insurance products such as title, individual, commercial, employee benefits, and professional liability with a multi-channel delivery through branches, ATMs, drive-through facilities, and online and telephone banking.

Novitas Capital, established in 1997, is a Pennsylvania-based venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments in technology and life science companies. With offices in Wayne, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, Allendale, NJ, and Morgantown, WV, Novitas has a proven track record of over a decade in generating returns by discovering and investing in promising start-ups with strong intellectual capital and breakthrough concepts. The firm manages approximately $237 million across three venture funds and currently has around 30 active portfolio companies. Novitas' success is driven by its investment philosophy, strong partner relationships, and the significant hands-on experience of its team in guiding companies to growth and value creation.

Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, Dermatologists of Central States is a practice management company serving dermatology clinics across Ohio and neighboring states. For over four decades, DOCS has been dedicated to providing centralized non-clinical resources, enabling clinicians to focus on delivering high-quality dermatological care and enhancing patient experience.

Meritus Ventures is a venture capital firm based in London, Kentucky. It makes equity investments in expansion-stage private companies, with a focus on rural areas of central and southern Appalachia. The firm targets opportunities in information technology, industrials, and technology, media, and telecommunications sectors, and its activity spans across Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Appalachian counties in Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. It may provide operational support to portfolio companies.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is dedicated to promoting job creation, economic growth, and improved living standards for Americans through collaboration with businesses, universities, and communities. The department's responsibilities encompass trade, technology, entrepreneurship, economic development, environmental stewardship, and statistical research. It aims to enhance the international economic position of the United States by facilitating global trade and expanding markets for U.S. goods and services. The department advocates for business policies that foster innovation and competitiveness, enabling companies to thrive domestically and abroad. Additionally, it manages the nation's resources to support environmental and economic health, while also safeguarding public safety and marine life through weather monitoring and resource preservation. Important functions include conducting the decennial census, which underpins American democracy and secures intellectual property rights. The department is led by the Secretary of Commerce and operates with a significant budget and a workforce of nearly 47,000 employees. Established in 1903, the U.S. Department of Commerce is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Tencarva Machinery is a prominent distributor of process equipment and services, catering to industrial and municipal clients across the Southeast United States since 1978. The company specializes in providing a wide range of pumping systems, fluid handling systems, air handling equipment, and liquid process equipment tailored for various industries, including chemical, citrus, paper, textile, and power. In addition to its diverse product offerings, Tencarva also operates repair centers and field service teams capable of servicing most types of rotating process equipment. This comprehensive approach ensures that clients receive reliable and cost-effective solutions that meet their specific application needs.

TT Capital Partners is the private equity arm of TripleTree and an independent investment firm based in Minnesota, with offices in Minneapolis and New York. It concentrates on growth equity investments in healthcare and technology companies, including healthcare services, clinical services and healthcare technology, aiming at innovative, high-growth firms expanding their customer base or entering new markets. The firm typically seeks majority stakes and combines principal investing with advisory capabilities rooted in its merchant banking heritage. TT Capital Partners focuses on opportunities within the healthcare and technology sectors and supports portfolio companies through strategic growth initiatives.

leading global alternative asset manager

Second Avenue Capital Partners is a finance lender specializing in asset-based loans for the retail and consumer products sector, focusing on middle-market companies. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts, the firm offers debt facilities, including revolving lines of credit, bridge financing, and senior or secured debt, to support recapitalizations, growth, and buyouts.

Founded in 1871, Truist is a banking organization headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It offers a wide range of consumer and commercial financial services including retail banking, small business lending, asset management, insurance, mortgage lending, investment brokerage services, wealth management, asset-based lending, commercial mortgage lending, leasing, payment solutions, supply chain financing, and commercial deposit services.

Founded in 1852, Wells Fargo is a diversified financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California. It provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services to individuals, businesses, and institutions worldwide.

Google is a multinational technology company renowned for its search engine, offering services such as Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, and YouTube. It specializes in advertising solutions through Google Ads and mobile operating systems with Android, while actively innovating in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Founded in 1825, KeyBank is a major U.S. bank-based financial services company with approximately $93 billion in assets. It offers a range of retail and commercial banking, investment management, consumer finance, and investment banking products and services to individuals and businesses across the United States.

Apollo is a global investment management firm specializing in private equity, credit-oriented capital markets, and real estate investments.

Founded in 2020, WhiteHawk Capital Partners is a private credit investment manager specializing in asset-based financing solutions for middle market private and public companies across diverse industries. The firm focuses on providing creative and flexible non-traditional capital solutions to support companies' liquidity needs and growth.

Sun Capital Partners is a global private investment firm, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. The firm specializes in leveraged buyouts, equity and debt investments in market-leading companies across a range of industries, including services, consumer, healthcare, industrials, manufacturing and distribution. It emphasizes operational value creation, leveraging in-house operating professionals to support portfolio companies and drive performance improvements. Sun Capital Partners collaborates with founders and management teams to provide tools and resources aimed at accelerating growth, efficiency and long-term success. The firm targets opportunities in North America and Europe, and pursues investments in both business-to-business and business-to-consumer segments. By focusing on broadly scalable businesses with durable competitive advantages, Sun Capital Partners aims to build value through operational enhancements, strategic positioning and disciplined capital allocation.

The Hilb Group is a property and casualty insurance provider and employee benefits broker focused on serving small and medium-sized businesses, primarily along the East Coast of the United States. The company offers a range of risk management and insurance services, including general lines and specialty niches such as cosmetic protection, passenger transportation, restaurants, education, and habitational insurance. By providing tailored insurance solutions, The Hilb Group enables organizations to safeguard their assets, protect their employees, and secure their future.

Invenergy LLC is a privately-held company that develops, owns, and operates sustainable power generation and energy storage facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Invenergy has developed nearly 150 projects, including wind, solar, and natural gas power generation, along with advanced energy storage solutions. The company provides comprehensive services in the development and operation of these facilities and also offers operations and maintenance services. By partnering with a variety of utilities, financial institutions, and commercial and industrial businesses, Invenergy aims to deliver scalable power generation and storage solutions that contribute to a cleaner energy future.

Founded in 1999, OCA Ventures is a Chicago-based venture capital firm focusing on early-stage investments primarily in technology and highly-scalable services businesses. The firm's investment focus areas include digital health, fintech, consumer software, and enterprise software.

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Chicago, Seyen Capital is a venture capital firm focusing on growth-stage investments. It primarily targets information technology and software companies based in major U.S. cities, typically investing between $5 million to $15 million. The firm prefers to partner with management teams and co-investors, often taking a seat on the Board of Directors.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), established in 1999, is a public-private partnership agency based in Lansing, Michigan. It is dedicated to fostering economic growth and job creation across the state. The MEDC achieves this by offering a range of business assistance services and capital programs, including business attraction and acceleration, entrepreneurship support, talent enhancement initiatives, and urban and community development projects. Additionally, it promotes tourism, film, and digital media industries, as well as arts and cultural affairs, through various incentives and grants. The MEDC works with businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities both locally and globally to strengthen Michigan's economy.

Gemspring Capital, established in 2015, is a private equity firm headquartered in Westport, Connecticut, with additional offices in El Segundo, California, and Charlotte, North Carolina. The firm focuses on investing in lower middle-market companies, typically with revenues between $20 million and $500 million, across various sectors including consumer, business services, industrial services, healthcare services, and technology. Gemspring provides flexible capital and partners with management teams to drive growth and realize the full potential of these companies through strategies such as recapitalizations, leveraged buyouts, and growth equity investments.

Battery Ventures is a technology-focused investment firm founded in 1983 and based in Boston, Massachusetts. It engages in venture capital and private equity investments in technology companies, with emphasis on software (including application and infrastructure software), IT infrastructure technologies, consumer internet and mobile services, industrial technologies, and life science tools. The firm seeks to back category-defining businesses with potential for scalable growth, often supporting companies through multiple stages and across select global regions.

PNC Mezzanine Capital is the mezzanine and growth capital arm of The PNC Financial Services Group, headquartered in Pittsburgh. It provides subordinated debt, mezzanine financing and related equity solutions to middle market companies in the United States and Canada, supporting leveraged buyouts, acquisitions, recapitalizations and growth initiatives. The firm typically invests in companies with revenues ranging from roughly $20 million to $100 million and EBITDA from about $3.5 million to $25 million, and structures its transactions with debt and equity instruments, often taking a majority stake. Investment sizes commonly span from about $5 million up to $70 million in equity and up to $40 million in debt, with a preference for combinations including subordinated debt, debt with warrants, or equity in conjunction with mezzanine. Target sectors include niche manufacturing, value-added distribution, commercial and business services, and consumer services.

Founded in 2004, Starboard Capital Partners is a private equity firm specializing in investments in lower middle-market companies across various sectors including healthcare, business services, niche manufacturing, and franchising. The firm typically invests in companies with values ranging from $15 million to $300 million.

Integrity Marketing Group markets and distributes life and health insurance products through a nationwide network of agents and agencies, focusing on the senior market. It designs and distributes a broad portfolio including Medicare supplements, Medicare Advantage, Part D prescription plans, disability income, hospital indemnity, cancer, dental/vision/hearing, final expense, life insurance, annuities, long-term care, and preneed products. It also provides consulting and marketing services such as product development, legacy protection, agent recruitment, and marketing management to carrier partners and agencies.

Optum is a healthcare services and innovation company dedicated to improving health outcomes. It offers a range of services including family medicine, mental health care, and specialized therapies for rare diseases. Optum also provides healthcare financial services and technology solutions to health plan providers.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), established in 1901 and a part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is one of the oldest physical science laboratories in the United States. NIST was created to address the challenges posed by inadequate measurement standards that jeopardized U.S. industrial competitiveness compared to nations like the United Kingdom and Germany. The institute plays a crucial role in developing and promoting measurement standards, which support innovation and enhance the quality and efficiency of various industries. Through its research and services, NIST helps ensure accuracy and reliability in measurements, which is essential for scientific advancement and economic growth.

Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec is a global fund manager that primarily serves public and private pension funds and insurance plans in Québec. Known as depositors, these clients entrust their funds to the Caisse, which strategically invests in financial markets both within Québec and internationally. The objective of these investments is to generate profitable returns, contributing to the financial stability and growth of the depositors' assets.

Founded in 1985, Blackstone is a global investment firm that manages capital on behalf of pension funds and large institutions across alternative asset classes. It offers services to institutional investors, including pension plans and pooled investment vehicles, through its various subsidiaries such as Blackstone Alternative Asset Management.

BlackRock is a global investment management company based in New York City. It serves institutions, intermediaries, foundations, and individual investors, operating as a leading global asset manager that oversees and advises on a wide range of investment portfolios across multiple asset classes, strategies, sectors, and regions. The firm is noted for its emphasis on technology and financial solutions that support the broader financial industry, including risk management, advisory services, and integrated investment platforms. Through its diversified offerings, BlackRock aims to help clients pursue long-term goals across equities, fixed income, alternatives, and multi-asset strategies, while leveraging data and analytics to inform investment decisions and risk controls.

Wasatch Equity Partners is a private equity investment firm based in Logan, Utah, founded in 1988. It targets companies in medical technology, property technology, energy, and enterprise services, pursuing a range of investment strategies including all-equity investments, leveraged buyouts, growth equity, public-to-private transactions, and recapitalizations. The firm also provides debt financing options such as guaranty capital, convertible debt, and mezzanine financing to support transactions.

Founded in 2020, Twenty Five Ventures is a venture capital firm based in San Mateo, California. It focuses on investing in real estate, property technology, and financial infrastructure sectors.

White Star Capital is a global multi-stage technology investment firm and venture platform headquartered in New York, with a presence across North America, Europe and Asia. It backs exceptional entrepreneurs building ambitious, internationally scalable tech companies, helping portfolio founders scale their businesses from Series A onwards through its experience, networks and value-add support. The firm invests across software, information technology and digital assets, operating a core venture program and a dedicated digital asset strategy that backs crypto networks and blockchain-enabled businesses. Its offices span New York, London, Montreal, Toronto, Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong, enabling it to partner with founders to expand internationally.

Waud Capital Partners is a Chicago-based middle-market private equity firm established in 1993 that invests across North America. The firm focuses on control-oriented investments, including growth equity, industry consolidations, buyouts and recapitalizations, with a preference for companies that generate strong cash flow and can be grown organically or with add-on acquisitions. It targets sectors such as healthcare, healthcare technology, software, information technology, and technology-enabled services, as well as business products and services, specialty distribution, and other tech-enabled segments. Waud Capital partners with management teams to build durable value through strategic acquisitions, operational improvements, and revenue growth, leveraging its experience in consolidations and sector expertise to create scalable platforms. The firm pursues active investment strategies and seeks to create market-leading platform companies across North America.