Raising money for a theme park with Independent Sponsor, Amani Kelly

Monique Villa recently joined Launch Tennessee as the organization’s first Chief Investment Officer, leading a new $70M fund backing early-stage companies in Tennessee. She is also the Co-Founder of Build In SE, a network of ecosystem builders committed to supporting entrepreneurs in the Southeast. Prior to joining Launch Tennessee, she was an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) with Mucker Capital. In 2018, she joined Mucker’s investment team and opened the firm’s first satellite office in Nashville to lead investments into early-stage startups across the Southeast and North America.

A native of Los Angeles, Monique’s career in early-stage venture capital began in 2013 as Head of Investor Relations for Velos Partners, a fund based in Los Angeles and Singapore focused on emerging markets. She also served as Chief of Staff to the founding partner of Core Innovation Capital, a fintech-focused fund based in LA and San Francisco. Earlier in her career, Monique advised digital entertainment startups on business development and strategic partnerships and later went on to lead a startup accelerator for students in the Greater Los Angeles area. Her startup career began in 2008 while interning for TOMS, where she supported finance and inventory management projects for several nationwide launches.

Notice: All episodes have been pre-recorded and may not align with the current time you are listening. The Cap Table, Garrett Elmore, and Haley Zapolski are not an investment advisory service and is not a registered investment advisor or broker/dealer and has performed no due diligence and does not endorse any investment services, strategies, managers or investments discussed on The Cap Table. You should perform your own extensive due diligence. 

On this episode of The Cap Table, Garrett and Zap sit down with Wes Barton who is the Co-founder and General Partner of Third Prime VC. His origin started out in farming, and he rose all the way to venture capitalist in New York and Nashville. 

Prior to founding Third Prime, Wes spent a decade as a private equity and hedge fund professional at Trimaran / Trian, investing across diverse industries.  He was also a technology investment banker and M&A lawyer at Skadden before turning venture capitalist.  Wes received his J.D. from Duke School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Western Kentucky University.

Notice: All episodes have been pre-recorded and may not align with the current time you are listening. The Cap Table, Garrett Elmore, and Haley Zapolski are not an investment advisory service and is not a registered investment advisor or broker/dealer and has performed no due diligence and does not endorse any investment services, strategies, managers or investments discussed on The Cap Table. You should perform your own extensive due diligence. 

Since 2003, Chambless has led Nashville Capital Network, a group of 130 professional investors who have infused more than $60 million in 2015, and over $425 million since NCN's inception, into local companies including Aspire Health, NextGxDx, PharmMD, and Contessa Health. In his role, Chambless oversees NCN's investor network and is responsible for deal flow, investment analysis and due diligence. He also serves as managing partner of NCN Angel Funds I & II and the TNInvestco Tennessee Angel Fund. Chambless earned his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt and his graduate degree from Vanderbilt Owen. He is on the board of the Nashville Technology Council.

According to a release, NCN has funded 58 companies that have raised more than $100 million through the NCN platform. The companies have gone on to raise $1.4 billion in follow-on capital and have aggregate enterprise values in excess of $8 billion.

Steve co-founded LFM Capital, a private equity, lower middle market firm investing into manufacturing companies. Steve brings over 29 years of operating experience, having served in a variety of senior executive and functional roles in manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, technology and sales.

Follow us on socials

About Steve: 

Prior to founding LFM, Steve was a Principal with TVV Capital (2010-2014), where he directed the portfolio value creation efforts of six portfolio investments, with a focus on operating improvements, management recruiting, leadership development training and performance. Steve also helped to identify investments and served in a leading role on deal negotiations. He also served on the boards of four TVV portfolio companies: INDCO, Critical Solutions International, Big 3 Precision Products, and Bigham Brothers.

Prior TVV, Steve was Chief Operating Officer of MFG.com (2009-2010), the world’s largest global online marketplace for the manufacturing industry, where he directed all functions, excluding finance and HR, for a global six-office (U.S., Asia, Europe), 250-employee, fast-growing company.

Prior to MFG, Steve spent 11 years as a Southeastern regional Senior Director with The Dell Corporation (1998-2009) serving in a range of executive roles that included GM Dell Nashville Consumer Business and Nashville Site Lead, Director of Manufacturing for Dell’s Nashville Campus, and Director of Dell’s Supply Chain Engineering and Demand/Supply Balancing.

Prior to Dell, Steve served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy (1989-1996), where he flew combat missions in support of Desert Shield and was selected to participate in test squadron flying test missions in all Navy/Marine Corps aircraft.

Steve received a BS in Electrical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, his MS in Electrical Engineering from MIT’s School of Engineering and his MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management where he graduated first in his class. He has served for over 21 years as a member of MIT’s Leaders for Global Operations Operating Committee where he speaks to classes annually on executive leadership and career management.

Steve and his wife, Shannon, recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary and have three wonderful children, Alexis, Christian and Jackson. Steve and his family love to surf and water ski behind their boat, snow ski, SCUBA and kite surf. Steve also enjoys rowing and Crossfit.

If you have raised money before you know how difficult and long the process can take. Rodney has always had a passion for creating things from the ground up and scaling successful companies, and he’s doing just that for the private capital industry with Verivend having transacted hundreds of millions of dollars on their platform. 

The Cap Table sponsor is FirstBank, a bank not only known for being at the forefront of community banking since 1906, but one that is becoming well-known as setting the bar for banking innovation. FirstBank is helping to pave the way for Blockchain applications in the highly regulated financial services sector and is also taking the lead in ushering in a new era of banking. Headquartered in Nashville, FirstBank is not just a thought leader. They are the bank people think of when they’re ready to take their next big leap. FirstBank. Bank Local. Get More. Member FDIC.

Notice: All episodes have been pre-recorded and may not align with the current time you are listening. The Cap Table, Garrett Elmore, and Haley Zapolski are not an investment advisory service and is not a registered investment advisor or broker/dealer and has performed no due diligence and does not endorse any investment services, strategies, managers or investments discussed on The Cap Table. You should perform your own extensive due diligence. 

The Cap Table sponsor is FirstBank, a bank not only known for being at the forefront of community banking since 1906, but one that is becoming well-known as setting the bar for banking innovation. FirstBank is helping to pave the way for Blockchain applications in the highly regulated financial services sector and is also taking the lead in ushering in a new era of banking. Headquartered in Nashville, FirstBank is not just a thought leader. They are the bank people think of when they’re ready to take their next big leap. FirstBank. Bank Local. Get More. Member FDIC.

Notice: All episodes have been pre-recorded and may not align with the current time you are listening. The Cap Table, Garrett Elmore, and Haley Zapolski are not an investment advisory service and is not a registered investment advisor or broker/dealer and has performed no due diligence and does not endorse any investment services, strategies, managers or investments discussed on The Cap Table. You should perform your own extensive due diligence. 

Have you ever heard of a private equity roll up? 

In today’s episode, we talk with John Cerasoulo, who’s on his third go-around executing a roll-up strategy, this time in the HVAC and plumbing industry. Tune in to learn more!

The Cap Table sponsor is FirstBank, a bank not only known for being at the forefront of community banking since 1906, but one that is becoming well-known as setting the bar for banking innovation. FirstBank is helping to pave the way for Blockchain applications in the highly regulated financial services sector and is also taking the lead in ushering in a new era of banking. Headquartered in Nashville, FirstBank is not just a thought leader. They are the bank people think of when they’re ready to take their next big leap. FirstBank. Bank Local. Get More. Member FDIC.

Want to book a private event at our recording venue? You can book here!

Notice: All episodes have been pre-recorded and may not align with the current time you are listening. The Cap Table, Garrett Elmore, and Haley Zapolski are not an investment advisory service and is not a registered investment advisor or broker/dealer and has performed no due diligence and does not endorse any investment services, strategies, managers or investments discussed on The Cap Table. You should perform your own extensive due diligence.

Have you ever heard of a Venture Capital firm that gives some of their equity to the founders? On today's episode with Cam Doody we dive into his success as founder at bellhops which transitioned him to funding over 18 startups and raising 18m in 5 weeks.

The Cap Table sponsor is FirstBank, a bank not only known for being at the forefront of community banking since 1906, but one that is becoming well-known as setting the bar for banking innovation. FirstBank is helping to pave the way for Blockchain applications in the highly regulated financial services sector and is also taking the lead in ushering in a new era of banking. Headquartered in Nashville, FirstBank is not just a thought leader. They are the bank people think of when they’re ready to take their next big leap. FirstBank. Bank Local. Get More. Member FDIC.

Want to book a private event at our recording venue? You can book here!

Notice: All episodes have been pre-recorded and may not align with the current time you are listening. The Cap Table, Garrett Elmore, and Haley Zapolski are not an investment advisory service and is not a registered investment advisor or broker/dealer and has performed no due diligence and does not endorse any investment services, strategies, managers or investments discussed on The Cap Table. You should perform your own extensive due diligence. 

What’s one of the most exciting investment opportunities happening in Nashville?

This episode will literally throw you for a loop.  We talk to Amani Kelly, independent sponsor, who helped raise capital for Nashville’s first theme park, Storyville Gardens. How can you get involved with this project? Find out today.  

The Cap Table sponsor is FirstBank, a bank not only known for being at the forefront of community banking since 1906, but one that is becoming well-known as setting the bar for banking innovation. FirstBank is helping to pave the way for Blockchain applications in the highly regulated financial services sector and is also taking the lead in ushering in a new era of banking. Headquartered in Nashville, FirstBank is not just a thought leader. They are the bank people think of when they’re ready to take their next big leap. FirstBank. Bank Local. Get More. Member FDIC.

Want to book a private event at our recording venue? You can book here!

Notice: All episodes have been pre-recorded and may not align with the current time you are listening. The Cap Table, Garrett Elmore, and Haley Zapolski are not an investment advisory service and is not a registered investment advisor or broker/dealer and has performed no due diligence and does not endorse any investment services, strategies, managers or investments discussed on The Cap Table. You should perform your own extensive due diligence.

Did you know you can invest into a musicians songs that they create? This is called Music Royalty investing. We talk with 16m music royalty fund manager, Aaron Davis on how you can do this too.

The Cap Table sponsor is FirstBank, a bank not only known for being at the forefront of community banking since 1906, but one that is becoming well-known as setting the bar for banking innovation. FirstBank is helping to pave the way for Blockchain applications in the highly regulated financial services sector and is also taking the lead in ushering in a new era of banking. Headquartered in Nashville, FirstBank is not just a thought leader. They are the bank people think of when they’re ready to take their next big leap. FirstBank. Bank Local. Get More. Member FDIC.

Want to book a private event at our recording venue? You can book here!
 

Notice: All episodes have been pre-recorded and may not align with the current time you are listening. The Cap Table, Garrett Elmore, and Haley Zapolski are not an investment advisory service and is not a registered investment advisor or broker/dealer and has performed no due diligence and does not endorse any investment services, strategies, managers or investments discussed on The Cap Table. You should perform your own extensive due diligence.