JAMES STONE
Austin,TX
Summary
Experienced technology investment banker with a proven track record of over 75 closed transactions, effective revenue generator and client builder, focus on software, financial technology and tech enabled services with experience in healthcare IT, managed/data center services and IT services. Track record of building and leading tech teams with a mix of founder owned and private equity backed engagements.
Overview
39
39
years of professional experience
Work History
Managing Director
Cascadia Capital
Austin, TX
11.2022 - Current
- Started and manage Financial Technology Sector Coverage and member of software investment banking team, especially focused on payments, integrated payments, banking software and financial transaction services. Responsible for deal origination, managing junior bankers, overseeing research reports on sector. Initially also covered Legal/Compliance Tech, BPO and Office of CFO sector. Revenue generated ranged from $2-5M per year. Engagements included a mix of founder owned and sponsor backed sell side engagements and sponsor and family office buy side engagements.
Partner
AGC Partners
Boston, MA
08.2019 - 11.2022
- Partner at leading technology focused investment bank focused on middle market transactions. Sourced/closed engagements including the sale of PatientNow a leading software/payments firm to Blue Star Innovation Partners/PSG. Build/maintain prospect pipeline and relationships with private equity, VC and other transaction sources. Published research reports on legal, compliance and financial technology.
Managing Director
ONEtoONE Corporate Finance
New York, NY
09.2012 - 07.2019
- Partner at OnetoOne, a leading boutique international investment banking firm. Focus on the technology, fintech/insurtech and healthcare IT sectors. Sourced/closed M&A and capital raising transactions.
Managing Director
Headwaters Merchant Bank
Boston, MA
05.2011 - 08.2012
- Developed network for deals, built financial models, created pitch books for client presentations, initiated meetings with leading private equity funds, coordinated junior bankers, valued companies, created buyers lists and contacted buyers.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Converge Capital, Inc.
Boston, MA
10.2001 - 04.2010
- Founded, operated and funded a firm specializing in advisory services including M&A, recapitalizations, and financings with a focus on software, healthcare IT, government technology, software, outsourcing and business services sectors.
- Built a productive team, including dealmakers from Fortune 100 companies and Wall Street investment banks.
- Created a business model focused on sell-side representation of private equity and entrepreneur owned companies and a buy-side/co-investment model that provided transaction closing fees plus equity for long-term client deal success incentives.
Director – Technology, Media and Telecom Investment Banking
PricewaterhouseCoopers Securities, Inc.
McLean, VA
09.1998 - 09.2001
- Cultivated client relationships through tailored solutions, resulting in increased service satisfaction.
- Mentored senior analysts, fostering professional development and knowledge sharing within the team.
- Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Enhanced team collaboration through regular communication, goal setting, and performance evaluations.
- Led strategic initiatives to enhance financial advisory services and client engagement.
Vice President
Bank of America Securities, Inc.
Boston, MA
09.1996 - 09.1998
- Oversaw execution of all M&A transactions out of the Boston office, ran full and limited auction processes, led due diligence and closings, managed junior staff of 4 Associates and 6 analysts. Transactions were in software, IT Services, Healthcare IT, Data Center/Outsourcing and Fintech.
Vice President – Corporate Development
Affiliated Computer Systems, Inc. (now Conduent)
Dallas, Texas
09.1994 - 09.1996
- Managed the M&A process for a highly acquisitive public technology company and reported to CEO/Chairman and President.
- Responsibilities included working with business units and market leaders to identify and map strategic opportunities for inorganic growth, gathering and evaluating market information, competitor positioning, market sizing, creating a dynamic financial model and presentation templates, assessing acquisition candidates for strategic fit, multi-year financial projections, business valuation, and deep due diligence for numerous acquisition and funding transactions.
- Participated in integrating the acquisitions post-closing, structured and organized transactions, navigated matrix and global environment, and demonstrated strong influencing, relationship management, interpersonal and collaboration skills.
Associate
Kirkland and Ellis
Washington, DC
08.1992 - 09.1994
- Member of the Corporate Group, legal work on M&A, IPO and secondary offerings, public and private company board work.
Senior Associate
Citicorp Leveraged Capital Group
Dallas, TX
05.1987 - 08.1989
- Created financial models; completed credit training program in Long Island City, NY (won Best Negotiator Award).
- The Leveraged Capital Group was responsible for making secured and unsecured loans into large leveraged transactions.
Education
LLM - International Business and Trade Law
New York University School of Law
New York, New York05.2011
LLM - Asian Legal Studies
The National University of Singapore
Singapore/Shanghai05.2011
JD -
Columbia University School of Law
New York, New York05.1992
MBA - Concentration in Finance
Graduate School of Business
Austin, Texas05.1987
BS - Business Administration
Boston University School of Management
Boston, Massachusetts05.1985
Skills
- Mentoring and training
- Client relationships
- Project management
- Negotiation
- Acquisitions and mergers
- Revenue generation
Affiliations
- Association for Corporate Growth (current member of the Austin and Dallas Chapters, past speaker)
- American Bar Association (created a panel “Business Valuation for Lawyers” at Annual Conference April, 2015)
- Adjunct Professor, Boston University Graduate School of Management, 2001–2002
- Past Board (and Audit/Corporate Governance) Member, Official Payments Corp, a NASDAQ public company
- Past member of Fundraising Boards of Childhelp and The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Former Trustee of Shakespeare Theater
Timeline
Managing Director
Cascadia Capital
11.2022 - Current
Partner
AGC Partners
08.2019 - 11.2022
Managing Director
ONEtoONE Corporate Finance
09.2012 - 07.2019
Managing Director
Headwaters Merchant Bank
05.2011 - 08.2012
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Converge Capital, Inc.
10.2001 - 04.2010
Director – Technology, Media and Telecom Investment Banking
PricewaterhouseCoopers Securities, Inc.
09.1998 - 09.2001
Vice President
Bank of America Securities, Inc.
09.1996 - 09.1998
Vice President – Corporate Development
Affiliated Computer Systems, Inc. (now Conduent)
09.1994 - 09.1996
Associate
Kirkland and Ellis
08.1992 - 09.1994
Senior Associate
Citicorp Leveraged Capital Group
05.1987 - 08.1989
LLM - International Business and Trade Law
New York University School of Law
LLM - Asian Legal Studies
The National University of Singapore
JD -
Columbia University School of Law
MBA - Concentration in Finance
Graduate School of Business
BS - Business Administration
Boston University School of Management