Dr. Michael J. Nowak is an experienced investment banker and healthcare and high tech investor in both public and private companies. He has prior experience with healthcare and life sciences focused investment funds, family offices and boutique investment banks. He was previously a Managing Director and Head of Healthcare Investments for $B multinational hedge fund Yorkville Advisors. Before that he led investments and sat on numerous Boards of Directors while a General Partner at leading $B Euro-US fund TVM Capital. He was also a corporate venture capitalist and business development executive at Xerox PARC in Palo Alto, where he was CEO of two startups, a strategic management consultant and Vice President at McKinsey & Co., and a Program Manager at the Advanced Technology Program, National Institute of Standards and Technology, US Department of Commerce.
Mike earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a PhD in Physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He worked as a post-doctoral scientist at Bell Labs (Bellcore), Princeton University, and at the CEA research labs in Saclay and the University of Paris VI (Jussieu) in France. He received his BA in Physics from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, where he was a College Scholar.
Who We Are
A small team of senior investment bankers with a combined 55+ years of experience acting as agents, principal investors and operators.
We are an independent boutique merchant banking firm, i) acting as principal investors, making significant minority investments in privately held companies; and ii) acting as advisors to private equity and venture capital firms, providing a range of services, such as advising on GP-led transactions, capital raising, etc.
Over the last 20 years, the firm has built a solid reputation on successfully executing complex transactions, which has led us to focus our strategy on special situations in the private equity and venture capital asset class. We deliberately seek complexity, where we can make a difference, bringing to the table our expertise and our network of relationships.
We were pioneers in what is today called “GP-led transactions”, with a first such fund restructuring transaction completed in 2006, when many venture capital funds vintages 1997-99 were experiencing severe post-bubble trouble. Today, there is a massive industry around such, and is predicted to represent over half of the secondaries transactions volume.
We were again pioneers in placement of co-investments and deal-by-deal financing of private equity transactions, by identifying and pursuing deal-by-deal financing of transactions as a real and viable alternative to blind pools of capital.
Today, we see the opportunity in a niche segment of the market: significant minority investments in privately held companies, as segment that has been long ignored by buyout firms seeking a control position in companies.
What We Do
- Making significant minority investments in privately held companies;
- Advising private equity and venture capital firms, providing a range of services, such as advising on GP-led transactions, capital raising, etc.
- Principal Investing:
Our investment strategy is focused on making significant minority investments in privately held companies. This approach is designed to create a liquidity event for entrepreneurs whose significant part of wealth is tied up in their business, while leaving them with a majority ownership and control of the company.
We understand the importance of providing liquidity to other minority investors who may be looking to divest their stake in the company, and our preferred equity approach allows us to provide this option without diluting the founder’s control.
Our investment strategy is also designed to provide an alternative investment opportunity in the context of high interest rates and tightening credit. With preferred equity, we can offer attractive yields to our investors while maintaining a relatively low-risk profile.
We are committed to working closely with the companies we invest in, providing strategic guidance and operational support where needed. We believe that our experience and expertise in building and scaling successful businesses can help our portfolio companies achieve their full potential and generate significant returns for our investors.
Overall, our preferred equity approach to minority investing provides a flexible and attractive option for entrepreneurs, minority investors, and our investors looking for a unique investment opportunity in today’s challenging economic environment.
- Advisory Services to Fund Managers:
We specialize in providing advisory services to fund managers, helping them navigate complex investment landscapes and achieve their goals. Our experienced team has a wealth of knowledge and expertise, and we are committed to delivering exceptional results for our clients.
We offer a range of services to fund managers, including raising capital on a deal-by-deal basis, late primaries, GP-led fund restructuring, leveraging legacy assets, and more. Whether you are seeking to raise capital for a new investment opportunity or looking to restructure an existing fund, our team can provide the strategic guidance and support you need.
We also offer post-closing syndication services, which can help fund managers to distribute risk and capitalize on opportunities that may be too large for an existing fund. Additionally, we can assist with raising follow-on capital for portfolio companies, providing a crucial source of funding to help these companies achieve their growth potential.
Our team is well-versed in the secondary sale of direct investments, and we can help you navigate the complexities of these transactions with ease. We are also equipped to handle other special situations, and can provide tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of your fund.
We understand that each fund manager’s needs are unique, and we take a personalized approach to each engagement. Our team works closely with our clients to understand their goals and develop customized strategies to achieve them. We are dedicated to building long-term relationships with our clients, and we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional service and results.
If you are a fund manager seeking expert advisory services, we invite you to contact us to learn more about how we can help you achieve your goals.
Meet the Team
Jim Soleymanlou
Founder & Managing Partner
Jim founded RainMakers in 2004 and has been behind the development of the firm and the execution of each transaction.
Prior to founding RainMakers in 2004, Jim held various positions in the field of interest rate and equity derivatives.
Jim started his career in 1988 as a derivatives technologist, working with Sophis and SociétéGénérale CIB, developing trading and risk management models.
From 1994 to 2003, Jim held senior management positions at companies such as Opt4 Derivatives in Berkeley, California, as well as Login SA and SunGard in Paris, France. In 2003-04, Jim served as an Expert Witness for the French Department of Justice.
Jim holds an MSc in Computer Science from University of Paris VI, and an MBA from St Xavier University of Chicago.
Dr. Michael J. Nowak
General Partner