American Discovery Capital
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
American Discovery Capital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- American Discovery Capital
- Legal name
- American Discovery Advisors, LLC
- Website
- https://americandiscoverycapital.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
American Discovery Capital industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Investment Banking / Merchant Banking
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523)
- SIC
- Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211), Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Buy-Side M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Technology & Software Growth Equity (FSANACAA), Equity Capital Advisory (Private Equity Placements, Growth Capital) (BPAHAOAE)
Keywords
Where American Discovery Capital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
American Discovery Capital business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Investment Banking Advisory: ADC provides M&A advisory and capital raising services to leading private and public companies. Revenue generated through advisory fees on completed transactions.
- Private Equity Fund Management: ADC manages private equity funds (American Discovery Fund I and Fund II) investing in founder-owned businesses. Generates returns through equity investments and portfolio company exits.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
American Discovery Capital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
American Discovery Capital is an independent merchant banking firm that provides investment banking advisory services (M&A, capital raising, and restructuring) through its FINRA-registered broker-dealer American Discovery Advisors, LLC, and makes private equity investments through American Discovery Fund, L.P. in founder/family-owned and closely-held businesses in the software and services sectors with $10-50 million in revenue.
Product overview
American Discovery Capital operates as an integrated, independent merchant banking firm with two core offerings: (1) American Discovery Advisors, LLC, a FINRA-registered broker-dealer providing M&A advisory, capital raising, and restructuring advisory services to middle-market companies, and (2) American Discovery Fund, L.P., a private equity fund investing in founder/family-owned Software & Services businesses. The firm focuses on investments in Application Software, Business/IT Services, FinTech, and Healthcare Services sectors, with investment criteria targeting US-based companies with $10-50 million in revenue and $10-50 million equity investment sizes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Investment Banking Advisory (American Discovery Advisors, LLC) FINRA-registered broker-dealer providing M&A advisory, capital raising, and restructuring services to middle-market private and public companies, including corporate sales, divestitures, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, restructurings, and private/public capital solutions.
- American Discovery Fund, L.P. (Private Equity) Private equity fund making control or structured minority equity investments in founder/family-owned and closely-held businesses operating in Software & Services sectors, targeting US-based companies with $10-50 million in revenue with $10-$50 million equity investment sizes for growth, acquisitions, and shareholder liquidity.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $100 billion of M&A transactions and $10 billion+ of capital raised by partners
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use American Discovery Capital
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
American Discovery Capital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
American Discovery Capital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
American Discovery Capital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Houlihan Lokey: Global independent investment bank with a strong middle-market M&A advisory practice and restructuring franchise. Comparable to ADC because both serve founder-led and middle-market companies with M&A advisory, while Houlihan Lokey is materially larger with broader sector and geographic coverage.
- Moelis & Company: Global independent investment bank with strong middle-market and large-cap M&A advisory capabilities. ADC's Co-CEOs Brian Webber and John Joliet were former Partners at Moelis. Comparable on advisory model and sector coverage (notably technology and software), though materially larger.
- Duff & Phelps (now Kroll): Global advisory firm with a substantial M&A and valuation practice serving middle-market and large clients. Comparable to ADC's advisory practice; ADC partner Greg Range previously led the LA office. Broader scale and service breadth than ADC.
Direct peers
- Harris Williams: Middle-market M&A advisor with deep sector groups in technology, business services, and healthcare. Comparable to ADC in serving founder-led and family-owned businesses in the $10-50M+ revenue range, with similar engagement style and senior banker involvement.
- Cascadia Capital: Independent middle-market investment bank headquartered in the Pacific Northwest with sector focuses in technology, business services, and consumer. Comparable to ADC on founder-led, middle-market M&A advisory and similar deal size range.
- Lincoln International: Independent global investment bank focused on mid-market M&A advisory and capital raising across sectors including technology, business services, and healthcare. Closely comparable to ADC in target client (founder-led, middle-market), deal size focus, and senior-led relationship model.
- Intrepid Investment Bankers: Middle-market M&A advisor based in Los Angeles focused on founder-led and family-owned businesses, including consumer products where Marvin Padilla (ADC partner) previously led the Lifestyle Brands practice. Comparable on geography, client profile, and deal size focus.
- Wedbush Capital Partners: Private equity and merchant banking arm of Wedbush Securities, focused on lower middle-market investments in business services and software. Highly comparable to ADC's American Discovery Fund given ADC partner Peter Shoemaker previously led Wedbush Capital Partners' PE fund.
- Stout: Independent advisory firm offering M&A, restructuring, and valuation services to middle-market companies; Greg Range (ADC partner) previously founded and led Stout's LA office. Directly comparable on client profile, middle-market M&A focus, and senior-led model.
Others
- Wedbush Securities: Full-service investment bank and broker-dealer with capital markets, advisory, and PE businesses. Adjacent to ADC through Wedbush Capital Partners (where ADC partner Peter Shoemaker previously served) and shared FINRA-registered broker-dealer model.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
American Discovery Capital social profiles
Digital presenceAmerican Discovery Capital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
American Discovery Capital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
American Discovery Capital subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
American Discovery Capital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
American Discovery Capital M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments4 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about American Discovery Capital
What does American Discovery Capital do?
American Discovery Capital is an independent merchant banking firm that provides investment banking advisory services (M&A, capital raising, and restructuring) through its FINRA-registered broker-dealer American Discovery Advisors, LLC, and makes private equity investments through American Discovery Fund, L.P. in founder/family-owned and closely-held businesses in the software and services sectors with $10-50 million in revenue.
Is American Discovery Capital a public or private company?
American Discovery Capital is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was American Discovery Capital founded?
American Discovery Capital was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is American Discovery Capital based?
American Discovery Capital is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does American Discovery Capital make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Investment Banking Advisory is the primary driver. The others are private Equity Fund Management.
Who are American Discovery Capital's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Houlihan Lokey, Moelis & Company and Duff & Phelps (now Kroll). Direct peers are Harris Williams, Cascadia Capital, Lincoln International, Intrepid Investment Bankers, Wedbush Capital Partners and Stout. Wedbush Securities is listed as an others.
Does American Discovery Capital have an API?
No public API is recorded for American Discovery Capital.
What industry is American Discovery Capital in?
American Discovery Capital's product category is Investment Banking / Merchant Banking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEAGAB, Buy-Side M&A Advisory, with a secondary code of FSANACAA, Technology & Software Growth Equity. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6211.