Duke Energy is a major utility company based in Charlotte, North Carolina, providing electric and natural gas services to approximately 8.2 million customers across the United States. The company operates regulated utilities in the Carolinas, Indiana, Florida, Ohio, and Kentucky, and has roughly 35,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity. In addition to its core services, Duke Energy manages natural gas distribution for over 1.6 million customers in Ohio and Kentucky. The company also owns and operates diverse power generation assets, including a significant portfolio of renewable energy projects in North America and Latin America. Through its efforts, Duke Energy aims to deliver energy in a sustainable manner while contributing to the economic vitality and resilience of the communities it serves.

VentureSouth is a venture capital firm based in Greenville, South Carolina, specializing in startup and early-stage investments. The firm focuses primarily on manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare sectors, targeting opportunities in the Southeastern United States, particularly the Carolinas and surrounding areas. Since its founding, VentureSouth has developed a network of over 550 investors through various angel investment groups, making it one of the largest organizations of its kind in the country. The firm typically invests between $0.25 million and $2 million for a preferred equity stake of 15% to 35%, aiming for companies that can potentially deliver a 50% annualized rate of return within a 3-5 year timeframe. VentureSouth does not engage in common equity or debt investments, and it rarely invests in convertible debt.

Established in 2006, SC Launch, Inc. is an independent, non-profit corporation affiliated with SCRA, which provides loans and investments to selected South Carolina-based companies participating in the SC Launch program.

Created to facilitate applied research, product development and commercialization programs, and to strengthen South Carolina's Knowledge Economy by creating high wage-earning jobs. SC Launch provides entrepreneurs with key tools for success to help build technology startups, jobs and equity in the future for South Carolina. SC Launch provides access to business, academic and economic development entities through the SC Launch Resource Network. SC Launch is a collaboration among SCRA and South Carolina's university research foundations: Clemson University, the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina.

The Upstate Carolina Angel Network, LLC (UCAN) is a group of accredited investors located in Upstate South Carolina who invest in and support start-up and early-stage, high-growth businesses in the Southeastern United States. It was founded in 2008 and is based in Greenville, South Carolina, United States.

Good Growth Capital is a venture capital firm based in Charleston, South Carolina, specializing in early-stage investments in transformative science and technology companies. The firm focuses on sectors such as life sciences, data sciences, and greentech/hard sciences, aiming to deliver exceptional returns for its investors. Good Growth Capital is known for its ability to source, assess, and invest in innovative businesses that are poised for growth, particularly in software, healthcare technology systems, materials and resources, and energy sectors. The firm emphasizes a strategic approach to identifying opportunities that leverage cutting-edge advancements to drive positive change and economic value.

8VC is a venture capital firm founded in 2012 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, with additional presence in San Francisco. The firm focuses on investing in transformative technologies across various sectors, including healthcare, logistics, IT infrastructure, biology, and government and defense. 8VC aims to partner with founders to drive innovation and create long-term economic and societal value. The firm is dedicated to enabling industry transformation by investing in emerging platforms that have the potential to replace outdated technology infrastructures, thereby fostering greater innovation and global prosperity. As a Registered Investment Adviser, 8VC is committed to its mission of supporting companies that can significantly impact their respective industries.

Autotech Ventures, founded in 2013 and based in Menlo Park, California, is a venture capital firm focused on investing in startups within the ground transportation industry, which is valued at approximately $3 trillion. The firm targets companies operating in deep tech, mobility tech, autonomous systems, electrification, and related sectors. Autotech Ventures offers comprehensive support to its portfolio companies, providing not only capital to implement their business plans but also access to a vast network of industry contacts, including major corporate investors. Additionally, the firm supplies market intelligence on the evolving transportation landscape, aids in recruiting talent, and assists in securing further fundraising from other investors. By bridging the gap between rapidly innovating startups and traditionally slower-moving corporations, Autotech Ventures aims to facilitate the development of a new transportation future.

Munich Re Ventures, LLC is the venture capital arm of Munich Re Group, a prominent global provider of reinsurance and insurance-related risk solutions. Established in 2015 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, with an additional office in Germany, the firm specializes in stage-agnostic investments, particularly favoring Series A and B funding rounds. Munich Re Ventures focuses on supporting innovative startups that are transforming sectors such as artificial intelligence, mobility, cyber technology, digital health, insurtech, and climate technology. The firm seeks both lead and co-investment opportunities in partnership with strong syndicates, without geographic restrictions. With over $1 billion in assets under management, it leverages its connection to Munich Re Group to align investments with strategic interests in the evolving landscape of risk and risk transfer.

Third Prime Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 2016, with headquarters in New York and an additional office in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The firm specializes in seed and early-stage investments, focusing primarily on companies in the consumer, real estate services, and media sectors. Third Prime typically invests between $250,000 and $3 million in private companies, aiming to support innovative startups that have the potential for significant growth. With a strong presence in both New York and Nashville, the firm manages over $500 million in assets, positioning itself as a notable player in the early-stage venture capital landscape.

Weatherford Capital Management, LLC is a family-owned private equity and venture capital firm founded in 2015 and headquartered in Tampa, Florida, with an additional office in Dallas, Texas. The firm specializes in later-stage ventures, buyouts, growth capital, and recapitalization, focusing on a broad range of industries, including fintech, govtech, technology, infrastructure, energy, and specialty finance. Weatherford Capital seeks to make direct equity investments, typically ranging from $10 million to $50 million, with a particular emphasis on companies strategically located in Florida and Texas. The firm leverages its team's extensive investment experience, which encompasses over 65 transactions globally, to partner with family offices and other entities that share its commitment to values such as faith, family, and community.

Prisma Health is the largest not-for-profit health organization in South Carolina, serving more than 1.2 million patients annually. Prisma Health 32,000 team members are dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of you and your family.

Azalea Capital is a private equity firm located in Greenville, South Carolina, founded in 1995. The firm focuses on investing equity capital in lower middle-market companies within the Southeastern United States, specifically targeting businesses with annual revenues ranging from $10 million to $100 million. Azalea Capital specializes in facilitating management buyouts, business recapitalizations, acquisitions, and growth capital investments. Its investment portfolio spans various sectors, including manufacturing, aerospace, energy, industrial services, distribution, business services, consumer products, and healthcare.

The Nexus Group is a private equity firm managing several funds with offices in Massachusetts and South Carolina and affiliates in San Francisco, London, Munich, Geneva and Tokyo. The Group specializes in making private equity investments and in providing strategic assistance to medical technology and life science companies globally.

Gold Ridge is a private equity and investment firm with offices in Connecticut and Charleston, South Carolina. They are focused on investments in micro cap companies with positive cash flow, valuations typically less than $10 million, and primarily located on the East Coast. They provide funding for acquisitions, growth capital and ownership changes. They partner with managers and owners who have significant resources committed to their businesses. Their investments are primarily in the form of convertible securities or debt with warrants.

Capital A Partners is a venture capital and private equity firm that specializes in providing growth capital, acceleration equity, and debt funding to early-stage post-revenue ventures and small profitable operating companies. Founded in August 2013 and headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, with additional offices in New York, Silicon Valley, Stockholm, and Berlin, the firm focuses on sectors such as technology, consumer products, healthcare, materials technologies, and cleantech. Capital A Partners primarily targets investments in the southeastern and East Coast regions of the United States, as well as in Latin America and Nordic-based companies.

leading global alternative asset manager

Synovus Financial Corp., based in Columbus, Georgia, is a financial services company with approximately $29 billion in assets. It operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, Synovus Bank, which offers a comprehensive range of commercial and retail banking services. These services include business banking, personal banking, mortgage services, and wealth management. Synovus Bank provides specialized offerings such as treasury management, asset-based lending, and international banking, along with financial planning and investment advisory services. The company serves customers through 28 locally-branded divisions, 253 branches, and 335 ATMs across Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. Founded in 1888 and originally known as Columbus Bank and Trust Company, Synovus Bank has been recognized for its reputation in the banking sector.

Soteria Battery Innovation Group is a technology development and licensing company based in Greenville, South Carolina, focused on enhancing the safety of lithium-ion batteries. Founded in 2017, Soteria has developed a unique technology that functions as an internal fuse within batteries, effectively preventing ignition events and significantly reducing fire risks. This innovation is designed to promote the use of inherently safe batteries across various applications, including drones, low-speed electric vehicles, power tools, e-bikes, and electric vehicles. By ensuring that these advanced materials are accessible to battery manufacturers through local production and a diverse supply chain, Soteria aims to provide users with lithium-ion battery-powered devices that they can utilize with confidence in their safety.

SixAxis, LLC is a manufacturer of safety products focused on enhancing worker safety and productivity across various industries. The company produces mobile work platforms, loading platforms, and gangways designed for truck, railcar, and industrial safety applications, marketed under its ErectaStep, RollaStep, and YellowGate brands. Additionally, SixAxis develops sales resource planning software under the Atlatl Software brand. By specializing in innovative designs for stairs, fall protection, and bulk loading solutions, SixAxis aims to mitigate workplace injuries while promoting operational efficiency. The company is headquartered in Andrews, South Carolina, and was co-founded by Rob Honeycutt and Fred Harmon.

RedSail Technologies, LLC is a provider of healthcare and governmental software solutions, specializing in the pharmaceutical and public sectors throughout North America. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the company offers a range of products, including QS/1, a retail pharmacy management system, and PUBLIQ Software, which focuses on property tax management, billing, and accounting for state and local governments, judicial offices, and municipal utilities. RedSail Technologies is dedicated to enhancing the operational efficiency of independent and institutional pharmacies, thereby improving the overall health conditions of the communities they serve.

Epika is a network of mobile and in-shop preventative maintenance service centers focused on commercial fleets across the country. Our company was built by partnering with and investing in the best-of-the-best in every market we serve. Our brands include LubeZone, ProFleet, All Star Truck Service, and Deaton Fleet Solutions. We currently have 11 quick service preventative maintenance locations in California, Texas, Oklahoma and Georgia; five full-service repair and maintenance facilities and 15 branch locations operating nearly 50 mobile service units in Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Mississippi.

Ameris Bank is a commercial bank headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, established in 1971. It offers a comprehensive range of financial services, including commercial and business banking, mortgage and refinancing options, treasury support, and various investment and savings products. Serving small to middle-market companies, Ameris Bank also caters to individual customers across several sectors, such as healthcare, retail, energy, and transportation. With nearly $7 billion in assets, the bank has demonstrated consistent growth over two decades and has maintained profitability for over 16 consecutive quarters, effectively navigating recent economic challenges. Ameris Bank operates full-service banking and mortgage locations in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Hudson Automotive Group is a family-owned and operated motor vehicle dealership company based in Madisonville, Kentucky. Established in 1955, it operates multiple locations across Kentucky, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee, including cities such as Cleveland, Kingsport, Morristown, Johnson City, Charleston, North Charleston, and Gastonia. The company specializes in the sale of new and used vehicles, including cars, SUVs, and trucks, and provides reliable auto services from various manufacturers. In addition to vehicle sales, Hudson Automotive offers auto loans and OEM parts, addressing a wide range of automotive needs for its customers. As a subsidiary of Watermark Auto Group, Hudson Automotive continues to uphold its commitment to customer service and quality.

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.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough is a law firm founded in 1897 and headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina. The firm offers a wide range of legal services, including advisory support in banking and financial services, bankruptcy, restructuring, corporate and securities law, cybersecurity, privacy, and economic development. It also provides expertise in higher education, governance, employment and labor, energy, environmental law, estate planning, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, government investigations, insurance, and healthcare. Nelson Mullins serves various industries, including banking and financial services, business services, and construction, demonstrating its comprehensive approach to legal practice.

Tencarva Machinery is Providing the finest process equipment and services to Industrial and Municipal customers in the Southeast U.S., since 1978. Tencarva is the leading process equipment supplier in the Southeast United States, providing products and repair service to; Flag_of_the_United_States Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Tencarva's Repair Centers and Field Service can repair most rotating process equipment.

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.

Truliant Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial institution providing financial services to its member-owners. Chartered in 1952, Truliant now serves more than 200,000+ members with 31 Member Financial Centers in the Carolinas and Virginia.

Parkland is an independent supplier and marketer of fuel and petroleum products, operating primarily in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, the company offers a range of refined fuels, lubricants, and related products to motorists, businesses, and wholesale customers. Its operations include a retail network of over 1,070 gas stations in Canada, as well as commercial fuel services that provide bulk fuel, propane, and heating oil. Parkland also manages fuel supply through strategic contracts and partnerships with refiners, utilizing various distribution methods and storage facilities. The company emphasizes providing locally relevant fuel brands and convenience store offerings tailored to the communities it serves.

Apollo Projects is a venture capital firm founded in 2020 and located in Greenville, South Carolina. The firm focuses on early-stage investments, primarily targeting technology companies. Led by the Altman brothers, Apollo Projects aims to support visionary founders who possess ambitious ideas and the capability to bring those ideas to fruition. By investing in emerging companies, Apollo Projects seeks to foster innovation and help shape the future landscape of the tech industry.

HealthCor Partners Management, L.P. is a registered investment advisor based in Charleston, South Carolina, founded in 2008. The firm specializes in growth equity investments and focuses on later-stage developmental companies within the healthcare and life sciences sectors. With approximately $365 million in capital commitments, HealthCor Partners is dedicated to managing investments that aim to deliver quality returns for its clients. In addition to investment management, the firm also provides accounting and advisory services tailored to the needs of the healthcare industry. Through its specialized platform, HealthCor Partners seeks to capitalize on opportunities within the global healthcare landscape.

Novolex Holdings is a leading manufacturer of paper and plastic packaging products in North America, catering to a diverse range of sectors including retail, grocery, food service, hospitality, and industrial markets. Headquartered in Hartsville, South Carolina, the company supports sustainability through its offerings of renewable, recyclable, and bio-based packaging solutions. Its product portfolio includes compostable can liners, grease-resistant clamshell containers, shopping bags, and food trays, among others. With approximately 7,300 employees and 46 manufacturing facilities across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Netherlands, Novolex is committed to delivering innovative packaging solutions while prioritizing environmental responsibility. The company operates several well-known brands, including Hilex Poly, Duro Bag, and Bagcraft, which contribute to its strong presence in the packaging industry.

Route 2 Capital Partners is a private equity firm founded in 2017 and headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, with an additional office in Greenville, South Carolina. The firm specializes in providing mezzanine debt and equity to lower middle market companies, primarily in the Southern United States. Route 2 Capital Partners focuses its investments on sectors such as business services, healthcare services, niche manufacturing, and specialty distributions. The firm typically invests between $3 million and $5 million in companies that demonstrate an EBITDA ranging from $2 million to $10 million, with annual revenues of at least $10 million. Through its transactional and operational expertise, Route 2 Capital Partners aims to generate risk-adjusted returns for its investors.

Healthcare Venture Partners is a venture capital firm established in 2019 and located in Charleston, South Carolina. It focuses on investing in mid-to-later-stage companies within the healthcare and life sciences sectors. The firm aims to support innovative ventures that contribute to advancements in healthcare, leveraging its expertise to identify promising opportunities in these critical industries.

Spectrum is a cable telecommunications company that provides a diverse array of home entertainment and information services. Its offerings include video on-demand, digital video recording, high-speed internet access, and various communication tools, as well as home automation and monitoring services. In addition to residential services, Spectrum also caters to business clients with data and network services, video programming, and music services. Established in 1989 and headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, Spectrum operates in multiple regions, including New York State, the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Southern California, and Texas. The company has grown to serve approximately 15 million customers.

BrokerTech Ventures is a program for investors and innovators building the next generation of technology solutions for insurance agencies and brokerages. The owners of the program are leading insurance brokers who seek to work with and invest in innovators building new solutions to improve customer experiences and insurance operations.

YETI Coolers, LLC specializes in manufacturing and marketing high-quality portable coolers and outdoor products designed for outdoor enthusiasts. Founded in 2006 and based in Austin, Texas, the company offers a diverse range of products, including hard and soft coolers, drinkware, bags, chairs, and apparel, as well as customized items featuring collegiate and corporate logos. YETI's products are tailored for various outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, camping, and tailgating. The company serves customers through its retail store in Texas, a network of dealers across the United States and internationally, and an online platform. YETI Coolers has manufacturing facilities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and South Carolina, along with locations in the Philippines and China. Known for their durability and performance, YETI products are built to withstand rugged conditions and keep ice for extended periods, catering to the needs of outdoor adventurers.

TFX Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 2016 and located in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The firm specializes in early-stage investments in B2B technology companies, particularly those led by Military and National Security Veterans. TFX Capital focuses on entrepreneurs who are dedicated to addressing real-world challenges through innovative technological solutions. By investing in high-performing and commercially validated ideas, TFX Capital aims to contribute to the development of new and impactful businesses across the United States.

Comporium is a diversified communications company providing a Quintuple Play of five services -- voice, video, data, wireless and security -- at the retail level; as well as, providing security monitoring and directory publishing for its industry customers. Comporium, which is headquartered in Rock Hill, S.C., provides communications services in York and Lancaster Counties in the Upstate; as well as, in parts of six counties in the Midlands: Lexington, Saluda, Edgefield, Orangeburg, Calhoun and Aiken. Comporium also is the incumbent local telephone exchange company and cable TV operator in Transylvania County, N.C. In addition, Comporium has a Competitive Local Exchange Company (CLEC) in the Charlotte metropolitan area and offers a comprehensive suite of business communications equipment and service options. Comporium is a major investor in Home Telephone (one of the Spirit/PalmettoNet owner/partners). Home Telephone is based in Moncks Corner, S.C. Comporium is a major investor in Immedion, an enterprise-class, dedicated data center services provider. Immedion has data centers in Asheville, NC, Greenville, SC, Columbia, SC and Charleston, SC. Further, to complement its own retail and wholesale Security business, Comporium has invested in iControl, which provides a wireless Security, Monitoring and Automation (SMA) Platform that can combine an alarm system, communications gateway and home automation platform into one device. The SMA Platform enables broadband service providers to deliver the next generation of services for the “connected home.”

Southeastern Grocers LLC, parent company and home of BI-LO, Harveys and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is the fifth-largest conventional supermarket chain in the U.S. and the second-largest conventional supermarket in the southeast based on store count. The company employs nearly 66,000 associates who serve customers in 756​ grocery stores, 145 liquor stores and 504 in-store pharmacies throughout the seven southeastern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Blackbaud, Inc. is a global provider of cloud-based software solutions tailored for nonprofit organizations, foundations, educational institutions, healthcare entities, and other social good organizations. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, Blackbaud offers a comprehensive suite of products that facilitate fundraising, constituent relationship management, financial management, and marketing engagement. Key solutions include Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT, Blackbaud CRM, and Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT, among others. The company also provides specialized services such as grant management, program management, and social responsibility solutions. Blackbaud supports approximately 19,000 organizations worldwide, enabling them to enhance operational efficiency, build strong relationships, and drive fundraising efforts. Additionally, the company offers customer support, training, and consulting services to ensure effective implementation and usage of its software solutions.

Basware is a provider of procure-to-pay and e-invoicing solutions, focused on delivering comprehensive spend visibility through complete data capture. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Fort Mill, South Carolina, the company offers a cloud-based platform that automates financial processes, allowing organizations to manage their spending effectively while mitigating financial risk and lowering operational costs. Its advanced accounts payable automation and invoicing services streamline complex invoice processes for finance leaders in global enterprises. By offering features such as touchless invoice processing, smart coding, and e-procurement, Basware enhances operational efficiency and ensures compliance with regulatory changes, ultimately reducing errors and risks for its clients.

IAG Capital Partners, LLC is a private equity and venture capital firm established in 2017 and headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina. The firm specializes in early-stage investments as well as recapitalizations and growth capital across various sectors, including life sciences, data-based software-as-a-service, artificial intelligence, and infrastructure. IAG Capital Partners employs a flexible investment strategy, utilizing common equity, preferred equity, convertible debt, mezzanine debt, structured facilities, and senior secured financing to support its portfolio companies. The firm aims to be a sole source of financing while also collaborating with other debt and equity investors during investment rounds.

SouthStar Capital is a financial services company that specializes in accounts receivable financing, asset-based lending, equipment leasing, and purchase order financing. It specializes in the fields of financial services, finance, and financial exchanges. The company was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

Postmates Inc. operates an on-demand food and grocery delivery platform that connects customers with local couriers to deliver products from various restaurants and stores across the United States. Founded in 2011 and based in San Francisco, the platform features a wide selection of over 600,000 restaurants and retailers, many of which are exclusive to Postmates. The service covers approximately 80% of U.S. households, reaching all 50 states, with a strong presence in Los Angeles and other southwestern markets. Customers can enjoy free delivery from all merchants by subscribing to Postmates Unlimited, the industry’s first subscription service. In addition to food delivery, Postmates also offers gift card services, enhancing the user experience and encouraging local shopping without delays.

Monarch's investment objective is to seek superior risk-adjusted rates of return through investment in a diversified portfolio comprised primarily of bank loans, public and private corporate bonds, trade claims, equity securities received in connection with debt restructurings and certain types of special situation investments, while maintaining a bias to opportunities in the upper part of the capital structure. The core strategy of the firm is to invest in what it believes are "good" companies with "bad" capital structures. Additionally, Monarch employs an "event-driven" strategy focusing on situations where there is a discount to fundamental value that the team believes can be realized through the completion of a debt restructuring process or other realization event.

Verizon is a leading broadband and telecommunications company that offers wireless services, devices, and solutions across the United States. It operates a robust 4G LTE network, serving over 108 million retail connections and managing more than 1,700 retail locations nationwide. In addition to voice and data services available in more than 200 locations, Verizon's online store features a wide array of products, including smartphones, tablets, mobile hotspots, and various digital content. The company also emphasizes innovation through its investment arm, Verizon Ventures, which focuses on early-stage technologies relevant to network solutions, media, and consumer sectors. By connecting entrepreneurs with its extensive ecosystem, Verizon leverages its technical expertise and market insights to foster the development of new technologies.

HCI Equity Partners is a private equity firm established in 2003 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., with additional offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Northbrook, Illinois. The firm specializes in leveraged buyouts and investments in growth-oriented lower middle-market companies, particularly those that are family or founder-owned. HCI focuses on a range of sectors, including industrial manufacturing, aerospace and defense, automotive aftermarket, foodservice, and energy services, among others. The firm typically invests between $15 million and $75 million in companies with enterprise values ranging from $20 million to $150 million, aiming for majority ownership while considering minority positions. HCI Equity Partners emphasizes building strong relationships with management teams, leveraging its extensive operational expertise to support growth initiatives and enhance the performance of its portfolio companies.

Service Provider Capital is a venture capital firm established in 2014 and located in Golden, Colorado. The firm focuses on co-investing in seed and series A rounds, primarily in collaboration with institutional venture funds. It targets a diverse range of sectors, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, cannabis, cybersecurity, e-commerce, education technology, fintech, hardware, information technology, robotics, and health. By concentrating on these industries, Service Provider Capital aims to support innovative companies at critical stages of their development.