Middle Market Deals and how to buy, sell and raise capital from $5 to $500 million

My name is Devin Thorpe, I’m the founder and managing director of the Thorpe Capital Group, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.  I guess I’m the MidMarketMaven.   I’m certainly a middle market investment banker; let’s decide later if I’m a maven.  (See a quick video introduction.)

Since completing my MBA at Cornell’s Johnson School , I’ve spent virtually my entire career, working in middle market companies or at investment banking firms that serve them.  Most notably, I worked for USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: USNA) as the Treasurer, prior to launching my own investment banking firm in 2000.

Prior to completing my undergraduate education at the University of Utah (see recent photo of me at the 2005 Fiesta Bowl tailgate party with the cardboard ), I managed a multi-million dollar portfolio of foreclosed real estate for a now-defunct S&L (I guess that dates me).  After graduating and before matriculating at Cornell, I spent two years on Capitol Hill, working for the U.S. Senate Banking Committee. 

At Thorpe Capital, our clients range from the smallest to the largest middle market companies, a definition that typically includes companies with revenues from $5 to $500 million.  We also work with quality venture stage companies.  We have worked with clients and investors from coast to coast, but most of our work is in the IntermountainWest.

Community development is critically important to me.  I serve as the President Elect of the MountainWest Capital Network, Chairman of the University of Utah Business Alumni Association, as a member of the Utah Entrepreneur Center Advisory Board, as a mentor and venturing expert for the Wayne Brown Institute and also support the Utah Information Technology Association, the University Venture Fund and the Utah Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth.  I am also a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors.

The Thorpe Capital Group is an NASD Member and I am a licensed securities representative and principal with series 7, 24, 27, 63 and 65 licenses.

I intend to write primarily for an audience of entrepreneurs and business owners who run middle market and venture stage companies.  The focus will be on buying, selling and raising capital to grow middle market businesses.  I hope that this share experience will give us a chance to get to know each other.