ThinkForward
ThinkForward is a New York–based independent municipal financial advisory firm that helps nonprofits, real estate developers, and manufacturing companies finance capital projects by structuring multi-source capital stacks using tax-exempt bonds, government grants, SBA loans, and NYCIDA incentives.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ThinkForward does
ThinkForward (legal entity: Think Forward Financial LLC) is a New York–based independent municipal financial advisory firm founded in 2009 by Sunil K. Aggarwal. The firm advises nonprofits, real estate developers, and manufacturing/industrial companies on capital project financing, with a focus on assembling multi-source capital stacks that combine tax-exempt municipal bonds, SBA loans, LISC and other community development loans, NYC Industrial Development Agency (NYCIDA) incentives, NYC City Council discretionary capital grants, and New York State agency programs (Empire State Development, NYS Council on the Arts).
The firm operates as a professional services boutique with a core team of five specialists covering quantitative credit analysis, tax incentive programs, economic incentives and grants, and capital markets/bonds. Its service offering centers on Capital Project Financing Advisory, with dedicated practices in Tax-Exempt Bond Financing, Real Estate Acquisition Financing, Economic Development Incentive Procurement, and a recently added Green/Energy Financing module covering C-PACE and Inflation Reduction Act resources. The firm does not develop proprietary software; the underlying 'technology' is the team's financial modeling, debt capacity analysis, and structuring expertise, supported by SEC, MSRB, FINRA, and NYS/NYC MBE registrations.
ThinkForward generates revenue through advisory fees on individual engagements, with no public pricing, no recurring subscription revenue, and no disclosed revenue figures. The firm has facilitated more than $3.0 billion in bonds, loans, and tax credits across 300+ projects since inception, with a client base concentrated in New York City and a project size range of roughly $5M to $235M. Client acquisition is primarily referral- and relationship-driven, supplemented by thought-leadership content marketing through the firm's website and founder-led LinkedIn presence.
ThinkForward firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ThinkForward
- Legal name
- Think Forward Financial LLC
- Website
- https://thinkforwardfinancial.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ThinkForward is a New York–based independent municipal financial advisory firm that helps nonprofits, real estate developers, and manufacturing companies finance capital projects by structuring multi-source capital stacks using tax-exempt bonds, government grants, SBA loans, and NYCIDA incentives.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ThinkForward industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Municipal Financial Advisory Services
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Credit & Direct Lending Fundraising Placement (FSAEALAE)
Keywords
Where ThinkForward is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ThinkForward business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Municipal Financial Advisory Services: ThinkForward earns fees for providing independent financial advisory services to nonprofits, real estate developers, and manufacturing companies seeking capital project financing. Services include identifying financing options, preparing applications for government grants and tax credits, structuring bond financing, and managing the financing process from feasibility analysis through closing.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
ThinkForward product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ThinkForward is an independent municipal financial advisory firm that helps nonprofits, real estate developers, and manufacturing companies secure low-cost capital for real estate acquisition, facility construction, and expansion projects. The firm structures comprehensive capital stacks combining tax-exempt bonds, SBA loans, government grants, NYCIDA tax incentives, community development loans, and conventional bank financing, and guides clients through financial modeling, RFP funding process, agency approvals, and grant eligibility from feasibility through closing.
Product overview
ThinkForward is an independent municipal financial advisory firm offering a unified suite of capital financing services. The core offering is Capital Project Financing Advisory, which encompasses tax-exempt bond financing, real estate acquisition financing, and economic development incentive procurement. Green/Energy Financing is offered as an specialized module for sustainability-focused projects. The firm connects clients with diverse funding sources including tax-exempt bonds, community development loans, SBA loans, government grants, and industrial development agency incentives to structure comprehensive capital stacks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Capital Project Financing Advisory Core advisory service that helps nonprofits, real estate developers, and manufacturing companies secure financing for capital projects through comprehensive analysis, financial modeling, and strategic guidance on funding options from feasibility through closing.
- Tax-Exempt Bond Financing Advisory and placement service that facilitates low-cost financing for tax-exempt organizations through municipal bond markets, enabling access to capital at favorable interest rates for facility acquisition and construction.
- Economic Development Incentive Procurement Advisory service that identifies and secures government incentive programs, tax credits, grants, and economic development assistance from agencies such as NYCIDA, Empire State Development, NYC City Council, and SBA to reduce client project costs.
- Real Estate Acquisition Financing Advisory service that guides organizations through commercial property acquisition, including commercial condominium purchases and refinancing transactions, securing permanent bank loans, SBA 504 financing, or tax-exempt bond financing.
- Green and Energy Financing Advisory service that secures funding for energy-efficient building systems and renewable energy projects through programs including C-PACE, federal Inflation Reduction Act resources, grants, and tax credits.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $3.0 billion in bonds, loans, and tax credits facilitated across 300+ projects
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ThinkForward
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ThinkForward technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
ThinkForward partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ThinkForward competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Prager and Company: Boutique municipal financial advisory firm serving public agencies, nonprofits, and developers on bond issuances and capital project financings. Closely comparable niche positioning and client mix to ThinkForward at smaller scale.
- Acacia Financial Group: Mid-size SEC-registered municipal financial advisory firm advising on bond issuances, capital projects, and economic development financings. Comparable size and mandate focus to ThinkForward, serving similar public-sector and nonprofit clients.
- Kaufman Hall: Specialized financial advisory firm serving nonprofit and healthcare clients on capital planning, debt issuance, and real estate transactions. Closely comparable to ThinkForward's nonprofit + tax-exempt bond focus and capital-stack structuring approach.
- CSG Advisors: Independent municipal financial advisory firm specializing in bond underwriting, IDA/EDC financings, and public-private partnership advisory. Directly comparable practice areas to ThinkForward, particularly in NYC/NYS development agency work.
- PFM Financial Advisors: Leading independent municipal financial advisory firm providing bond issuance, capital planning, and economic development advisory to states, cities, nonprofits, and developers. Directly comparable to ThinkForward in municipal advisory mandate, SEC/MSRB registration, and public-sector client base, but at materially larger scale.
Broad incumbents
- Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors: Top-10 accounting and advisory firm with a dedicated public finance / municipal advisory practice serving governments, nonprofits, and developers on debt and capital projects. Comparable bond advisory capability but as part of a much broader professional services portfolio.
- HilltopSecurities: Full-service broker-dealer and municipal advisory firm providing public finance, capital markets, and economic development services. Overlaps with ThinkForward's municipal bond and IDA advisory mandates, with much broader balance sheet and product range.
Others
- Capital Impact Partners: Community development financial institution financing community-owned real estate and mission-driven facilities. Compares to ThinkForward's nonprofit and community development client focus and NYC geographic overlap, but as a capital provider rather than an advisor.
- Nonprofit Finance Fund: National CDFI providing loans, consulting, and advisory services to nonprofits on real estate and capital projects. Comparable nonprofit client base and capital access mission to ThinkForward, but operates as a funder/lender rather than a sell-side municipal advisor.
Emerging players
- Build Up Advisory Group: Boutique advisory firm focused on helping nonprofits and mission-driven developers access capital and navigate complex financing structures. Closely comparable to ThinkForward's nonprofit real estate advisory niche at similar early-stage scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ThinkForward social profiles
Digital presenceThinkForward financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ThinkForward leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
ThinkForward funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ThinkForward M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ThinkForward
What does ThinkForward do?
ThinkForward is an independent municipal financial advisory firm that helps nonprofits, real estate developers, and manufacturing companies secure low-cost capital for real estate acquisition, facility construction, and expansion projects. The firm structures comprehensive capital stacks combining tax-exempt bonds, SBA loans, government grants, NYCIDA tax incentives, community development loans, and conventional bank financing, and guides clients through financial modeling, RFP funding process, agency approvals, and grant eligibility from feasibility through closing.
Is ThinkForward a public or private company?
ThinkForward is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ThinkForward founded?
ThinkForward was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ThinkForward based?
ThinkForward is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does ThinkForward make money?
One revenue line is on record: municipal Financial Advisory Services.
Who are ThinkForward's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Prager and Company, Acacia Financial Group, Kaufman Hall, CSG Advisors and PFM Financial Advisors. Broad incumbents are Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors and HilltopSecurities. Others are Capital Impact Partners and Nonprofit Finance Fund. Build Up Advisory Group is listed as an emerging player.
Does ThinkForward have an API?
No public API is recorded for ThinkForward.
What industry is ThinkForward in?
ThinkForward's product category is Municipal Financial Advisory Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEALAE, Private Credit & Direct Lending Fundraising Placement. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.