H. C. Wainwright & Co.
H.C. Wainwright & Co. is a privately-held, FINRA/SIPC-registered broker-dealer and boutique investment bank founded in 1868, headquartered in New York, serving small and mid-size growth companies across healthcare, technology, crypto, metals & mining, and clean tech with PIPE/RD placement, advisory, equity research, sales & trading, and corporate access services, ranked #1 in PIPE/RD placement since 1998.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1868
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What H. C. Wainwright & Co. does
H.C. Wainwright & Co. is a privately-held, FINRA- and SIPC-registered broker-dealer and investment bank founded in 1868 in Boston and now headquartered at 430 Park Avenue, New York. The firm operates an integrated platform across five service lines: Investment Banking (with a specialized PIPE / Registered Direct placement franchise ranked #1 cumulatively since 1998 by Sagient Research Systems / PlacementTracker), Advisory (M&A and strategic financing), Research (equity coverage spanning healthcare/biotech, technology, cryptocurrency & FinTech, metals & mining, and clean tech), Sales & Trading (block trading and liquidity provision in illiquid small/mid-cap equities), and Corporate Access (conferences, roadshows, one-on-one meetings). The firm serves small and mid-size growth companies as its primary customer segment, with institutional investors (hedge funds, asset managers, family offices) as a secondary segment reached through the sales & trading and corporate access channels.
The firm has no proprietary software products or disclosed technology platform; its core "technology" is the integrated workflow of research publication, sales-and-trading desk, and placement execution, supported by standard broker-dealer compliance and trading infrastructure. Approximately 11–50 employees serve a coverage universe of more than 500 companies, with lean staffing reflecting the boutique model.
H.C. Wainwright's revenue mechanics are predominantly transaction-based: placement fees on PIPE and RD offerings (typically 5–8% of gross proceeds per disclosed commentary), advisory fees on M&A and capital-markets mandates, and sales & trading commissions. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies by deal size and complexity. Distribution is sales-led, with dedicated institutional sales coverage, an annual global investment conference, and ongoing corporate access events. Recent leadership changes in 2025 (CEO Mark E. Kaplan, CFO Scott Gray, Executive Vice Chairman Mark Viklund) and 2024–2026 senior hires in healthcare investment banking and healthcare equities sales indicate active franchise reinvestment at the senior level.
H. C. Wainwright & Co. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- H. C. Wainwright & Co.
- Legal name
- H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC
- Website
- https://hcwco.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1868
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- H.C. Wainwright & Co. is a privately-held, FINRA/SIPC-registered broker-dealer and boutique investment bank founded in 1868, headquartered in New York, serving small and mid-size growth companies across healthcare, technology, crypto, metals & mining, and clean tech with PIPE/RD placement, advisory, equity research, sales & trading, and corporate access services, ranked #1 in PIPE/RD placement since 1998.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
H. C. Wainwright & Co. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Investment Banking
- NAICS
- Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)
- SIC
- Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industry-Specialist / Sector-Focused M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Independent Broker-Dealer / Registered Representative Networks (FSAEACAG), Fairness Opinions & Independent Board Advice (FSAEAGAF)
Keywords
Where H. C. Wainwright & Co. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
H. C. Wainwright & Co. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Investment Banking - PIPE and Registered Direct Offerings: H.C. Wainwright serves as exclusive placement agent for equity offerings including PIPE (Private Investment in Public Equity) and RD (Registered Direct) transactions, generating fees from transaction structuring and placement services.
- Research Services: The firm generates revenue through equity research coverage of healthcare, technology, metals & mining, cryptocurrency, and clean technology sectors, supporting investment banking activities and client visibility.
- Advisory Services: Strategic advisory services for mergers, acquisitions, and capital markets transactions for small and mid-size market companies.
- Sales & Trading: Sales and trading services specializing in block trading and providing liquidity in illiquid equities, generating commissions and transaction fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Transaction-based investment banking fees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
H. C. Wainwright & Co. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
H. C. Wainwright & Co. is a privately-held investment bank founded in 1868 and headquartered in New York, providing investment banking, advisory, equity research, sales & trading, and corporate access services. The firm specializes in PIPE (Private Investment in Public Equity) and RD (Registered Direct) financings, serving small and mid-size growth companies alongside institutional investors.
Product overview
H.C. Wainwright & Co. is a financial services firm offering a unified suite of investment banking, advisory, research, sales & trading, and corporate access services. The firm specializes in capital raising through PIPE and registered direct offerings, with equity research coverage spanning healthcare (biotech, pharma), technology, cryptocurrency, clean technology, and metals & mining sectors. The investment banking service serves as the core revenue driver, supported by advisory capabilities and an extensive distribution network through sales & trading and corporate access.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Investment Banking
- Advisory Services
- Equity Research
- Sales & Trading
- Corporate Access
Quantifiable outcome
- Ranked #1 Placement Agent in PIPE and RD transactions cumulatively since 1998
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use H. C. Wainwright & Co.
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
H. C. Wainwright & Co. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
H. C. Wainwright & Co. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
H. C. Wainwright & Co. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Maxim Group: A boutique investment bank and research firm focused on healthcare, technology, and consumer sectors — directly competes with H.C. Wainwright in PIPE placements, equity research coverage, and small-cap advisory mandates.
- Chardan Capital Markets: A boutique investment bank focused on healthcare, technology, and small-cap advisory, with HCW hiring multiple senior staff from Chardan (Director of Research David Lenchus, Head of Healthcare Research Andrew Fein) — making it a closely comparable talent and business model competitor.
- Lake Street Capital Markets: A Minneapolis-based boutique investment bank with research and advisory focus on small/mid-cap growth companies — competes in similar sectors with HCW for equity research sponsorship, capital raising, and corporate access mandates.
- Aegis Capital Corp. A full-service broker-dealer and investment bank with research and capital markets focus on small/mid-cap companies — directly comparable to HCW in sector-specialized equity research and PIPE/placement activity.
- Cantor Fitzgerald: A diversified financial services firm with substantial equity research, investment banking, and sales/trading operations covering small/mid-cap biotech and growth companies — a key competitor for HCW's healthcare research and placement mandates.
- Rodman & Renshaw: A boutique investment bank historically focused on small/mid-cap healthcare and technology equity financing — direct competitor in PIPE and registered direct offerings, with multiple HCW analysts having previously worked at Rodman.
- Roth Capital Partners: A boutique investment bank specializing in small and mid-cap public companies across similar sectors to H.C. Wainwright, with comparable PIPE/placement, equity research, and advisory services — competing head-to-head in the same healthcare and growth-company segments.
Emerging players
- ThinkEquity: A boutique investment bank providing capital markets services, research, and advisory to small/mid-cap growth companies — overlaps with HCW's PIPE/RD placement and research sponsorship business, particularly in technology and growth sectors.
- EF Hutton: A newer boutique investment bank emphasizing small/mid-cap advisory and capital markets — competes for the same issuer client base as HCW, with overlapping research and placement capabilities, though with a smaller institutional footprint.
Broad incumbents
- B. Riley Financial: A larger diversified financial services firm offering investment banking, research, wealth management, and capital markets — competes with HCW in small/mid-cap advisory and research, with broader product capabilities and balance sheet access.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
H. C. Wainwright & Co. social profiles
Digital presenceH. C. Wainwright & Co. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
H. C. Wainwright & Co. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
H. C. Wainwright & Co. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
H. C. Wainwright & Co. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
H. C. Wainwright & Co. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments12 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about H. C. Wainwright & Co.
What does H. C. Wainwright & Co. do?
H. C. Wainwright & Co. is a privately-held investment bank founded in 1868 and headquartered in New York, providing investment banking, advisory, equity research, sales & trading, and corporate access services. The firm specializes in PIPE (Private Investment in Public Equity) and RD (Registered Direct) financings, serving small and mid-size growth companies alongside institutional investors.
Is H. C. Wainwright & Co. a public or private company?
H. C. Wainwright & Co. is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was H. C. Wainwright & Co. founded?
H. C. Wainwright & Co. was founded in 1868. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is H. C. Wainwright & Co. based?
H. C. Wainwright & Co. is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does H. C. Wainwright & Co. make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Investment Banking - PIPE and Registered Direct Offerings are the primary driver. The others are research Services, advisory Services and sales & Trading.
Who are H. C. Wainwright & Co.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Maxim Group, Chardan Capital Markets, Lake Street Capital Markets, Aegis Capital Corp., Cantor Fitzgerald, Rodman & Renshaw and Roth Capital Partners. Emerging players are ThinkEquity and EF Hutton. B. Riley Financial is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does H. C. Wainwright & Co. have an API?
No public API is recorded for H. C. Wainwright & Co..
What industry is H. C. Wainwright & Co. in?
H. C. Wainwright & Co.'s product category is Investment Banking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEAGAJ, Industry-Specialist / Sector-Focused M&A Advisory, with a secondary code of FSAEACAG, Independent Broker-Dealer / Registered Representative Networks. Its NAICS code is 523 and its SIC code is 6211.