Academy Securities
Academy Securities is a privately held, veteran-owned US broker-dealer and investment bank providing debt, equity, public finance, trading, advisory, and asset management services to institutional, municipal, and corporate clients nationwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Academy Securities does
Academy Securities is a privately held, veteran-owned US broker-dealer and investment bank founded in 2009 by former US Naval Officer Chance Mims. Headquartered at 622 Third Avenue in New York with nine offices across the US, the firm operates across the full capital markets stack: Debt Capital Markets, Equity Capital Markets, Public Finance (municipal underwriting), Institutional Trading in equities and fixed income, Investment Banking advisory (including M&A and corporate finance), Money Market fund services, and Asset Management through its Academy Asset Management subsidiary (including the VETZ Academy Veteran Bond ETF). It is FINRA-registered and certified as a California DVBE, nationally as an SDVBE, and as an MBE through the NMSDC — certifications the firm uses as direct procurement differentiation.
The firm differentiates through two structural advantages. First, its talent base: 48% of employees are military veterans and over 90% of the firm's equity is veteran-owned as of 2025, with a CEO, CFO/COO, Chief Risk Officer, and Head of Capital Markets all Naval Academy or service academy alumni. Second, its Geopolitical Intelligence Group (GIG), staffed by retired Admirals and Generals, which it sells as an embedded geopolitical risk overlay for capital markets decisions. Named clients include Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, BNY Mellon, UBS, Wells Fargo, Jefferies, Bank of America, Cheniere Energy, Venture Global, and the Department of Veterans Affairs of the State of California; the firm reports aggregate $6.5T in capital markets underwriting commitments across 5,716 transactions since inception and consistent #1 ranking among veteran-owned firms in capital markets league tables from 2019 through 2026 YTD.
Economically the firm runs a hybrid revenue model: transaction-based fees for underwriting, placement, and trading activity; project-based professional services fees for advisory; and recurring asset-management economics through Academy Asset Management and the VETZ ETF (over $100M AUM milestone reported). Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The GTM motion is enterprise field sales — direct senior-banker engagement with municipal issuers, corporates, pension funds, and institutional investors — supported by thought-leadership content ("Around the World with Academy Securities" geopolitical publications, media appearances on Bloomberg and CNBC, an in-house podcast, and a LinkedIn presence aimed at veteran recruiting). The firm has two wholly owned subsidiaries (Academy Asset Management and Academy Ventures) and is currently expanding through MD-level hires (Frank Oh in muni banking, John Maguire in M&A, Chris Bury as CRO/COO-Markets, Michael Taets in corporate finance) and new defense-sector IPO relationships.
Academy Securities firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Academy Securities
- Legal name
- Academy Securities Inc.
- Website
- https://academysecurities.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Academy Securities is a privately held, veteran-owned US broker-dealer and investment bank providing debt, equity, public finance, trading, advisory, and asset management services to institutional, municipal, and corporate clients nationwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Academy Securities industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Investment Banking
- NAICS
- Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (523150), Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage (5231), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239)
- SIC
- Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211), Investment Advice (6282), Asset-Backed Securities (6189)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Capital Raising Advisory (Equity & Equity-Linked) (FSAEAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Equity Capital Markets Advisory (Equity Issuance Strategy & Readiness) (FSACAAAI), Investment Grade Credit Trading (FSACAEAC), Institutional Brokerage & Agency Execution (FSAEACAC)
Keywords
Where Academy Securities is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices9 records
Markets served
Academy Securities business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Debt Capital Markets: Underwriting and distributing debt securities including bonds, notes, and structured products to institutional investors
- Equity Capital Markets: Underwriting and distributing equity securities including IPOs and secondary offerings
- Public Finance: Municipal securities underwriting for government and public sector issuers
- Institutional Trading: Equity and fixed income trading services for institutional clients
- Advisory Services: Geopolitical, macro strategy, sustainable finance, and merger & acquisition advisory services
- Asset Management: Managing assets including the Academy Veteran Bond ETF (Ticker: VETZ)
- Money Market Funds: Money market fund services for institutional clients
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Academy Securities product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Academy Securities is a veteran-owned investment bank and FINRA-registered broker-dealer providing institutional capital markets services including debt and equity underwriting, public finance, institutional equity and fixed income trading, investment banking advisory, asset management (including the VETZ ETF), money market funds, and venture capital. The firm pairs Wall Street execution capabilities with a Geopolitical Intelligence Group staffed by retired Admirals and Generals to deliver market intelligence and advisory services to corporate, government, and institutional clients.
Product overview
Academy Securities is the nation's first Post-9/11 veteran-owned and operated investment bank operating as a single unified platform with specialized divisions. The firm offers a comprehensive suite of capital markets services including Debt Capital Markets, Equity Capital Markets, Public Finance, Institutional Trading (Equity & Fixed Income), Investment Banking, Money Market Funds, and Venture Capital through Academy Ventures. The advisory platform includes the Geopolitical Intelligence Group staffed by retired military leadership, Macro Strategy, Sustainable Finance, Securitized Products Research, Rate Reduction Bonds Advisory, Director Advisory Services, and Inclusion & Innovation. Additionally, Academy Asset Management offers the Academy Veteran Bond ETF (VETZ). The firm differentiates itself through its military-trained culture and unique geopolitical risk expertise, operating across multiple U.S. office locations including New York, San Diego, Chicago, and others.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Academy Asset Management: Asset management division offering investment strategies and the Academy Veteran Bond ETF (Ticker: VETZ)
- Academy Ventures
- VETZ
Products and services
- Debt Capital Markets Debt capital markets services including underwriting and issuance of debt securities (bonds, notes, and structured products) for corporate and institutional clients.
- Equity Capital Markets Equity capital markets services including IPOs, secondary offerings, and equity underwriting for corporate clients.
- Public Finance Municipal and public sector financing services including bond issuances for government entities and infrastructure projects.
- Institutional Trading Institutional trading services for both equity and fixed income markets, providing liquidity and execution capabilities for institutional clients.
- Investment Banking Advisory Investment banking advisory services including M&A advisory, corporate finance, and strategic transactions.
- Money Market Funds Money market fund services providing short-term investment options for institutional and individual investors.
- Venture Capital Venture capital investment services through Academy Ventures, supporting innovation and growth-stage companies.
- Geopolitical Intelligence Group (GIG) Advisory service staffed by retired military Admirals and Generals providing geopolitical risk analysis and market intelligence to institutional clients.
- Macro Strategy Macro strategy analysis and insights focusing on fixed income and credit markets, incorporating geopolitical and ESG analysis.
- Sustainable Finance Sustainable finance advisory services including ESG analysis and green securities evaluation.
- Securitized Products Research and Strategy Research and strategy services for securitized products including MBS and asset-backed securities.
- Rate Reduction Bonds Advisory Advisory services for rate reduction bond structures and financing solutions.
- Director Advisory Services (DAS) Board placement and director advisory services connecting clients with experienced board members.
- Inclusion and Innovation Advisory services focused on inclusion, diversity, and innovation initiatives for clients.
- Academy Veteran Bond ETF (VETZ) Exchange-traded fund focused on veteran-related bonds and securities, managed by Academy Asset Management; surpassed $100M in assets.
Companies that use Academy Securities
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Academy Securities technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Academy Securities partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Applied Aerospace & Defense, Inc.minorAcademy Securities participated as underwriter/co-manager for Applied Aerospace & Defense's IPO of 32.5 million shares on NYSE under ticker AADX, raising approximately $650 million for the defense hardware manufacturer
- General Catalyst Global Resilience Merger Corp.minorAcademy Securities served as co-manager for General Catalyst Global Resilience Merger Corp.'s $402.5 million IPO on Nasdaq under ticker symbol GCGRU, a SPAC focused on aerospace, defense, and industrial sectors
- Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. VIminorAcademy Securities served as co-manager for Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. VI's $220 million IPO on Nasdaq under ticker IPFXU, a SPAC targeting North American and European businesses in disruptive growth sectors
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Academy Securities competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Samuel A. Ramirez & Co. Ramirez & Co. is a Hispanic-owned investment bank and broker-dealer offering capital markets, public finance, and institutional trading; comparable to Academy in diversity-certification-driven mandate capture and comprehensive capital markets platform.
- Siebert Williams Sharrow: Siebert Williams Sharrow is a minority-owned investment bank focused on public finance, capital markets, and institutional services; comparable to Academy in leveraging diversity certifications for public sector mandates and serving institutional clients across fixed income and equity products.
- Mischler Financial Group: Mischler Financial is a service-disabled veteran-owned investment bank and institutional broker-dealer specializing in capital markets, fixed income, and equity execution for institutional clients; highly comparable to Academy in veteran-ownership moat and institutional sales/trading focus.
- Roberts & Ryan Investments: Roberts & Ryan is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) institutional broker-dealer focused on investment grade fixed income; comparable to Academy in veteran-owned certification, municipal and corporate bond underwriting, and mission-driven positioning.
- Loop Capital Markets: Loop Capital is a minority-owned investment bank and broker-dealer with significant public finance, capital markets, and institutional trading capabilities; comparable to Academy in minority/diversity certification-driven public sector mandate capture and full-service institutional offering.
- Drexel Hamilton: Drexel Hamilton is a service-disabled veteran-owned investment bank and institutional broker-dealer offering capital markets, fixed income sales and trading, and equity research; directly comparable to Academy in veteran-ownership structure, FINRA registration, and mid-tier institutional focus.
- Pickwick Capital Partners: Pickwick Capital Partners is a small FINRA-registered broker-dealer led by Douglas Greenwood (also on Academy's Board) focused on investment banking and capital markets; comparable in mid-tier institutional broker-dealer positioning and capital raising focus.
Broad incumbents
- Goldman Sachs: Goldman Sachs is a bulge-bracket global investment bank and broker-dealer; comparable as both a counterparty (Academy lists Goldman as a co-managed deal counterparty) and a benchmark for capital markets capabilities across DCM, ECM, public finance, and trading.
- Stifel Financial Corp. Stifel is a mid-tier full-service broker-dealer and investment bank offering institutional brokerage, capital markets, and public finance; comparable as a similarly-positioned mid-tier broker-dealer competing for the same institutional and municipal clients.
- Jefferies Financial Group: Jefferies is a global full-service investment bank and broker-dealer with deep capital markets, equities, and fixed income operations; comparable as both a competitor and a frequent counterparty in co-managed IPOs and capital markets transactions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Academy Securities social profiles
Digital presenceAcademy Securities compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Academy Securities financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Academy Securities leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles22 records
Academy Securities subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Academy Securities funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Academy Securities M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Academy Securities
What does Academy Securities do?
Academy Securities is a veteran-owned investment bank and FINRA-registered broker-dealer providing institutional capital markets services including debt and equity underwriting, public finance, institutional equity and fixed income trading, investment banking advisory, asset management (including the VETZ ETF), money market funds, and venture capital. The firm pairs Wall Street execution capabilities with a Geopolitical Intelligence Group staffed by retired Admirals and Generals to deliver market intelligence and advisory services to corporate, government, and institutional clients.
Is Academy Securities a public or private company?
Academy Securities is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Academy Securities founded?
Academy Securities was founded in 2009. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Academy Securities based?
Academy Securities is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Academy Securities make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Debt Capital Markets are the primary driver. The others are equity Capital Markets, public Finance, institutional Trading, advisory Services, asset Management and money Market Funds.
Who are Academy Securities's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Samuel A. Ramirez & Co., Siebert Williams Sharrow, Mischler Financial Group, Roberts & Ryan Investments, Loop Capital Markets, Drexel Hamilton and Pickwick Capital Partners. Broad incumbents are Goldman Sachs, Stifel Financial Corp. and Jefferies Financial Group.
Does Academy Securities have an API?
No public API is recorded for Academy Securities.
What industry is Academy Securities in?
Academy Securities's product category is Investment Banking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEAGAC, Capital Raising Advisory (Equity & Equity-Linked), with a secondary code of FSACAAAI, Equity Capital Markets Advisory (Equity Issuance Strategy & Readiness). Its NAICS code is 523150 and its SIC code is 6211.