Founders Advisors’ 2019 Year-In-Review

Founders experienced another record year in 2019; the firm added eight new members to the team, including the addition of a managing director in the Dallas office, Sterling Smith, a very experienced banker who will focus on business services. Founders also hosted business leaders, owners, and executives at several banner events, including Heritage Forum, Silicon Y’all, and the Multi-Unit Summit.  Additionally, Founders invested in the community in many ways including a Founders Serve day along with serving as the Title Sponsor for the Eternal Impact Leadership Conference that had over 3,500 attendees and raised over $2.5 million for Highlands College. This year Simon Sinek and John Maxwell were keynotes at this amazing leadership conference. As the firm continues to grow in every way, Founders looks forward to another exciting and fulfilling year. Highlights of several of Founders’ 2019 transactions are listed below. In some of the transactions, due to competitive sensitivities, the acquirers have requested that some or all of the parties and/or terms of the transactions remain confidential.

  • ChurchStreaming.tv (“CSTV”), a live streaming and distribution provider dedicated to helping churches fulfill their mission, has been acquired by Ministry Brands. CSTV integrates with all major platforms and allows broadcasts to be sent to YouTube Live, Vimeo, Facebook Live, Periscope, Apple TV, Roku TV, and church websites. Ministry Brands’ addition of ministry-focused technology provides churches with the ability to expand their outreach to a wider community, while connecting with those who may not be able to attend church services due to sickness, military leave, homebound, vacation or traveling for work. Read More
  • T-H Marine Supplies, Inc. (“T-H Marine”), a leader in the recreational marine, boating, and fishing accessories market, has been recapitalized by Valesco. T-H Marine provides parts to virtually every recreational boat platform produced in the United States – including bass boats, offshore fishing boats, pontoon boats, ski boats and runabouts. Valesco’s investment supports a recapitalization of the existing ownership group and will support the continued growth of T-H Marine’s successful legacy business. Read More
  • MyBankTracker.com (“MBT”), a source of banking information for consumers, has been acquired by QuinStreet, Inc. (“QuinStreet”). MBT provides in-depth information on more than 5,000 banks and credit unions, as well as comparison tools and recommendations that are designed to help consumers find bank accounts, savings products and loans to best meet their financial needs. The acquisition enables QuinStreet to provide a broader range of personal finance resources to consumers and brings together and expands the QuinStreet and MBT banking client network. Read More
  • Landrum Human Resource Companies, Inc. (“LandrumHR”), a leading full-service human resources company, providing PEO, workforce solutions, and human resources consulting services, has acquired hrQ, Inc. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, hrQ is a recognized leader in talent recruitment and management for Fortune 500 companies as well as mid-cap and small-cap clients. Read More
  • An undisclosed manufacturer of composite products has been acquired by JBA Capital.
  • Kukui Corporation (“Kukui”), provider of the All-in-One Success Platform®, a market leading digital marketing solution for the automotive aftermarket industry, has received a strategic growth investment from SSM Partners. Kukui secured $27 million in Series A funding. The strategic growth investment from Memphis-based SSM Partners will provide Kukui with resources to accelerate continued platform innovation, rapid market expansion, expanded customer services, and support accelerated growth in the automotive aftermarket industry. Read More
  • A data management company has entered a commercial partnership with a leading supplier of work apparel, uniforms, outerwear, and accessories.
  • A provider of marine dock equipment and accessories has been acquired by an undisclosed private equity portfolio company.
  • A provider of documentation and coding processing solutions for the healthcare industry, has been acquired by Nuance (NASDAQ: NUAN).
  • NXTsoft, a SAAS intelligent risk management platform, which includes cybersecurity, compliance and risk analytics, has been acquired by Providence Equity.
  • A senior care software company has been acquired by an undisclosed private equity firm.
  • Presenso, a company that develops and deploys artificial intelligence (AI)-based software for improving machine performance, has been acquired by SKF. Presenso’s AI capability enables production plants to find and act on anomalies that were previously undetectable, automatically and without the need to employ additional data scientists. Presenso’s solution is used by industrial plants to increase production output and revenue by reducing the incidence of unplanned asset downtime. Read More
  • H2Scan, a leading provider of hydrogen sensing technologies for utilities and industrial end markets has closed $10.5 million in a series E financing round from Energy Growth Momentum (EGM), a UK-based private equity group. The investment by EGM will enable H2scan to accelerate production of the Company’s revolutionary Gen 5 technology, a first of its kind low-cost ASIC-based hydrogen sensor. Read More
  • TVS Filters (TVS), a company that designs and manufactures pleated filter cartridges, gas turbine inlet filters, and other filtration products for complex industrial air filtration applications, has been acquired by Pleatco Filtration, a portfolio company of Align Capital Partners. Read More
  • An undisclosed technology-enabled care guidance program has been acquired by a patient engagement solutions company.