Star Mountain Capital
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Star Mountain Capital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Star Mountain Capital
- Legal name
- Star Mountain Capital, LLC
- Website
- https://starmountaincapital.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Star Mountain Capital industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Lower Middle-Market Asset Management
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Business Services (B2B) Growth Equity (FSANACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Large-Cap / Sponsor Finance Direct Lending (FSANADAJ)
Keywords
Where Star Mountain Capital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Star Mountain Capital business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Investment Management / Fund Management Fees: Recurring asset-based management fees on ~$5 billion of AUM (committed capital including debt facilities) across direct investment funds (private credit, private equity, SBIC funds) and secondary investment funds, charged to LPs including public/private pensions, insurance companies, commercial banks, endowments, foundations, family offices and HNW individuals.
- Carried Interest / Performance Fees: Share of investment profits (carried interest) on certain funds, supplemented by personal capital co-investment and profit-sharing with 100% of the U.S. full-time employee base, aligning firm-wide incentives with fund performance.
- Direct Investment Income (Equity & Debt): Returns generated from the firm's direct portfolio investments in U.S. lower middle-market companies (senior debt, subordinated debt, preferred equity, common equity, warrants, and SBIC debenture-backed financings) and from co-investments alongside partners (e.g., CQL Capital in Erie Strayer).
- Secondary Investment Income: Income from purchasing LP interests, acquiring direct assets, and making primary LP commitments in the secondary market, providing liquidity solutions to existing private market investors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Fund-level investment products (Direct Investments, Secondary Investments, SBIC Funds) with terms negotiated bilaterally with LPs |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Star Mountain Capital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Star Mountain Capital is a specialized lower middle-market asset management firm that invests debt and equity directly into established U.S. operating companies (typically $10 million to $150 million per company) and purchases secondary positions, delivering these strategies through private credit, private equity and SBIC-licensed fund vehicles. The firm manages approximately $5 billion in committed capital (including debt facilities) sourced from institutional investors (pensions, insurers, banks, endowments, foundations), family offices and high-net-worth individuals, supported by a 100% employee-ownership structure and the proprietary Opstream AI-enabled investment platform.
Product overview
Star Mountain Capital operates a multi-strategy lower middle-market asset management platform rather than a single unified product. The offering is anchored by two core investment strategies — Direct Investments (private credit, private equity, structured equity, and secondary fund investments) and Secondary Investments (acquiring LP interests, direct assets, and making primary LP commitments) — delivered through a series of fund vehicles including the Direct Lending Fund IV (closed at ~$1.2B), SBIC Fund I and SBIC Fund II (SBA-licensed; Fund II closed at $286M), and additional direct investment and secondary funds. Underpinning the platform is Opstream, the firm's AI-enabled platform that won "Best Market Innovation" at the Alternative Credit Investor Awards North America in 2026 and supports active management in the lower middle-market. The Collaborative Ecosystem® (a network of 40+ Senior Advisors and Operating Partners) and integrated investor portals (SS&C's ViewPoint for SBIC funds and Intralinks for other funds) function as supporting modules that extend the core investment offering.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Collaborative Ecosystem®: Star Mountain's network of partner service providers, senior advisors, operating partners, and other relationships that support its investment platform in the U.S. lower middle-market.
- Opstream
Products and services
- Direct Investments Star Mountain's primary investment strategy providing debt and equity capital directly to established U.S. lower middle-market businesses, with typical investment sizes of $10 million to $150 million per company (often including multiple acquisitions and add-on financings). Includes senior debt, subordinated debt, preferred equity, common equity, warrants and structured equity instruments across more than 100 direct platform investments completed since 2010. For institutional LPs (pensions, insurers, banks, endowments, foundations, family offices, HNW individuals) seeking private credit and private equity exposure to the U.S. lower middle-market.
- Secondary Investments Strategy for purchasing secondary positions, acquiring LP interests and direct assets, and making primary LP commitments in private market funds. Provides liquidity solutions for existing investors and exposure to the U.S. lower middle-market. Star Mountain has completed over 50 secondary/fund investments in the North American lower middle-market since 2010. For institutional and individual investors seeking secondary market access and exposure to the U.S. lower middle-market.
- Star Mountain Direct Lending Fund IV Star Mountain's direct lending fund that closed above its $750 million LP capital target at approximately $1.2 billion in committed capital (including debt facilities). Provides senior debt capital to U.S. lower middle-market businesses. For institutional LPs and family offices/HNW individuals subscribing to the fund.
- Star Mountain SBIC Fund I and SBIC Fund II (SBIC Program) Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) funds licensed under the U.S. Small Business Administration's SBIC program. SBIC Fund II closed at a program-optimized $286 million, unlocking access to up to $175 million in SBA debentures, and invests in established, recession-resilient U.S. lower middle-market service businesses. LP access provided through SS&C's ViewPoint portal. For SBIC-eligible U.S. small and medium-sized service businesses seeking SBA-guaranteed debt and equity capital.
- Collaborative Ecosystem® Star Mountain's registered trademark network of more than 40 Senior Advisors and Operating Partners (and a broader ecosystem of partner service providers) located across the United States, providing relationships, resources, and industry knowledge to support Star Mountain's portfolio investments and investors. Senior Advisors and Operating Partners have personal capital invested and a share in investment profits. For portfolio companies and LPs benefitting from the network's domain expertise and relationships.
Quantifiable outcome
- ~$5 billion AUM (committed capital including debt facilities) as of March 15, 2026
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Star Mountain Capital
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Star Mountain Capital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability6 records
Feature3 records
Star Mountain Capital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ernst & Young (EY)coreEY audits all Star Mountain managed funds, leveraging more than 15,000 asset management professionals globally. Star Mountain is among EY's asset management clients including 96% of the top 25 global asset managers and 92% of the top 25 global private equity firms.
- SS&CcoreSS&C provides fund administration services to Star Mountain, leveraging its position as the industry's second largest private equity fund administrator with more than $1 trillion in assets under administration across fund of funds, private equity funds, family offices and managed accounts.
- ACA Compliance GroupcoreACA supports Star Mountain's in-house compliance program as a third-party compliance specialist, focused on compliance monitoring, code of ethics administration, risk management, regulatory advisory, controls infrastructure and operational support.
- SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board)minorStar Mountain Capital licenses and applies the SASB Materiality Map® General Issue Categories in its due diligence efforts, using SASB Standards to guide disclosure of financially material sustainability information.
- CQL CapitalcoreCQL Capital led a strategic investment in Erie Strayer with Star Mountain Capital as lead co-investor, alongside UMB Private Investments, Tecum Capital, Brookside Capital Partners and Everside Capital Partners, to fund growth, engineering innovation, service expansion and aftermarket support.
- Lincoln InternationalminorLincoln International launched a strategic collaboration with S&P Dow Jones Indices to create the S&P Lincoln Senior Debt Index Series, evaluating the performance of private credit investments across US and European markets, with quarterly reporting transitioning to monthly by end of 2026.
- S&P Dow Jones IndicesminorS&P Dow Jones Indices partnered with Lincoln International to create the S&P Lincoln Senior Debt Index Series, providing transparent, rules-based private credit benchmarks for institutional and retail investors.
- Foreign Policy Association (FPA)minorBrett Hickey, Founder & CEO of Star Mountain Capital, joined the Foreign Policy Association (FPA) board of directors, aligning with the organization's mission to promote international understanding and dialogue.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay
- CSC (Computer Sciences Corporation / CSC Global Financial Markets)coreCSC's Viewpoint platform is the investor portal used by Star Mountain SBIC Fund I and SBIC Fund II LPs to access fund information.
- Intralinks (SS&C Intralinks)coreIntralinks investor portal is used by Star Mountain LPs in non-SBIC funds for secure LP communications and document sharing.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Star Mountain Capital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- New Mountain Capital: Private equity firm exclusively focused on the U.S. lower middle-market, providing debt and equity capital to recession-resilient businesses with retiring-owner demographics. Directly comparable to Star Mountain's direct investment strategy in target market, ticket size and sector mix.
- Crescent Capital Partners: U.S. middle-market direct lending and private credit manager (formerly part of TCW). Closely comparable to Star Mountain's direct lending strategy in deal size, sponsor- and non-sponsor-backed middle-market borrowers, and institutional LP distribution.
- Main Street Capital: Publicly listed BDC focused on lower middle-market debt and equity investments. Highly comparable to Star Mountain's direct investment strategy in target borrower size, use of SBIC-style structures, and emphasis on first-lien and mezzanine financing to established U.S. lower middle-market companies.
- LBC Credit Partners: U.S. middle-market private credit manager (now part of CIFC). Highly comparable to Star Mountain's direct lending strategy in ticket size, lower middle-market focus and senior-secured/junior capital product mix. Note that LBC's co-founder Chris Calabrese joined Star Mountain as a Strategic Portfolio Partner.
- HPS Investment Partners: Major alternative credit manager with a meaningful private credit franchise focused on senior secured financing for middle-market and lower middle-market borrowers. Directly comparable to Star Mountain's direct lending and private credit strategy in target market, instrument mix and LP base.
- Audax Group: Middle-market private equity and private debt manager focused on the U.S. lower middle-market. Comparable to Star Mountain's direct investment strategy in target deal size, sector focus and add-on/platform investment model, and a competitor for the same fragmented owner base.
- Trinity Capital: Publicly listed specialty lender providing debt capital to growth-stage and lower middle-market companies. Comparable to Star Mountain's direct lending strategy in deal size, sector diversification and institutional funding model.
Broad incumbents
- Ares Management: Large, publicly listed alternative asset manager with a sizeable U.S. direct lending and private credit franchise. Explicitly named by Star Mountain as a larger competitor it has been distinguished from in industry awards; competes for the same U.S. lower middle-market borrowers and institutional LPs but at materially larger AUM scale.
- Bain Capital Credit: Global credit affiliate of Bain Capital, with a meaningful middle-market and direct lending franchise. Comparable to Star Mountain's direct credit strategy in instrument mix and institutional LP base, but operating at much larger scale with a broader strategy set.
- Oaktree Capital Management: Large alternative credit and private equity manager with broad strategies across the credit spectrum. A scaled incumbent that overlaps with Star Mountain's private credit and special situations offerings, but at materially larger AUM and with a broader mandate.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Star Mountain Capital social profiles
Digital presenceStar Mountain Capital compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Star Mountain Capital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Star Mountain Capital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Star Mountain Capital subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Star Mountain Capital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Star Mountain Capital M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments11 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Star Mountain Capital
What does Star Mountain Capital do?
Star Mountain Capital is a specialized lower middle-market asset management firm that invests debt and equity directly into established U.S. operating companies (typically $10 million to $150 million per company) and purchases secondary positions, delivering these strategies through private credit, private equity and SBIC-licensed fund vehicles. The firm manages approximately $5 billion in committed capital (including debt facilities) sourced from institutional investors (pensions, insurers, banks, endowments, foundations), family offices and high-net-worth individuals, supported by a 100% employee-ownership structure and the proprietary Opstream AI-enabled investment platform.
Is Star Mountain Capital a public or private company?
Star Mountain Capital is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Star Mountain Capital founded?
Star Mountain Capital was founded in 2010. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Star Mountain Capital based?
Star Mountain Capital is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Star Mountain Capital make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Investment Management / Fund Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are carried Interest / Performance Fees, direct Investment Income (Equity & Debt) and secondary Investment Income.
Who are Star Mountain Capital's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are New Mountain Capital, Crescent Capital Partners, Main Street Capital, LBC Credit Partners, HPS Investment Partners, Audax Group and Trinity Capital. Broad incumbents are Ares Management, Bain Capital Credit and Oaktree Capital Management.
Does Star Mountain Capital have an API?
No public API is recorded for Star Mountain Capital.
What industry is Star Mountain Capital in?
Star Mountain Capital's product category is Lower Middle-Market Asset Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANACAD, Business Services (B2B) Growth Equity, with a secondary code of FSANADAJ, Large-Cap / Sponsor Finance Direct Lending. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.