Investment Banking

Wedbush delivers independent advice and crisp transaction execution to our growing clients within our focus industries. Coverage bankers are supported by our two specialist product groups, with a primary emphasis on four key sectors.

Advisory Services

Wedbush offers a broad range of advisory services,
including public and private mergers and acquisitions, 
divestitures and executive sales, corporate restructurings
 and recapitalizations, as well as, valuations and fairness opinions.

Capital Raising Services

Wedbush’s capital raising services involve the structuring, marketing, and execution of financing transactions in the public and private markets, including debt and equity public offerings, PIPEs and registered direct offerings, as well as, private placement of equity and debt securities.

EOS

Wedbush is pleased to present EOS – an electronic offering system designed for publicly listed companies seeking to source liquidity via an “at-the-market” offering or repurchase program.

Life Sciences

Wedbush PacGrow has focused on servicing the financial needs of public and private healthcare companies for 30 years. The group specializes in numerous segments of the healthcare industry and companies at all stages of development, including:

BIOPHARMA

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

LIFE SCIENCE TOOLS

DIAGNOSTICS

We have a full spectrum of capabilities, including public equity, PIPEs, ATMs, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic advisory. Our Healthcare Investment Banking professionals have deep healthcare-sector expertise, broad venture and private-equity relationships, and proven capital raising and advisory transaction experience in their sectors.

Disruptive Technology, Media, and Sports

Wedbush’s Disruptive Technology, Media, & Sports (TMS) team delivers a complete range of investment banking and institutional equities capabilities. Whether a client is backed by leading investors or the founding entrepreneur, our goal is the same—to create a tailored process that allows shareholders to achieve their desired goals.

AI
SEMIS
SOFTWARE
FINTECH
CLOUD
MARKETPLACE & ECOMMERCE
INDUSTRIAL TECH & INFRASTRUCTURE

Our Technology, Media, & Sports Investment Banking professionals have industry-wide corporate relationships, deep sector expertise, broad venture & private equity relationships, and proven capital raising & advisory transaction experience in the technology sector.

Consumer & Diversified Industries

Wedbush’s Consumer & Diversified Industries Group is focused on serving the financial needs of both public and private consumer companies. The group works with emerging growth and founder-owned, venture and private equity sponsor-backed, and public clients across the consumer sector, providing a full suite of products with a focus on mergers & acquisitions advisory services, private equity, and public offerings.

CONSUMER PRODUCTS & SERVICES

RESTAURANTS

RESTAURANTS

INTERNET RETAIL & ECOMMERCE

AUTO & POWERSPORT

APPAREL & FOOTWEAR

ENTHUSIAST & ACTIVE LIFESTYLE

Financial Institutions & Real Estate (“FIRE”)

The Wedbush Financial Institutions & Real Estate (FIRE) group is one of the most experienced practicing on Wall Street. Led by Burke Dempsey, a longtime senior FIRE banker, senior members of the group each have 25-40+ years of experience focusing solely on financial services companies. FIRE’s knowledge of multiple financial business models and their interplay within the economic cycle, allows them to provide valuable perspectives to investor or issuer clients. FIRE’s long-standing reputation and trusted relationships in the financial community provide Wedbush’s clients with global access to industry thought leaders, who can refine and help shape a client’s objectives. The FIRE team has been involved in numerous watershed financing and M&A transactions, particularly involving companies with rapid growth attributes and disrupting technologies.

Our FIRE franchise includes equity research analysts covering 70+ public companies in the following sectors:

SPECIALTY FINANCE

GAMING, LODGING & LEISURE

BANKS, HOMEBUILDERS & REITS

Debt Markets & Advisory

Wedbush’s Debt Markets & Advisory team offers comprehensive debt financing advisory services to both public and private companies, delivering solutions that are tailored to each client’s specific needs supported by deep expertise in investor relations. Our team provides extensive support to management throughout every stage of the transaction process, including pre-transaction strategy, financial analysis & modeling, data room preparation, lender outreach, transaction structuring & negotiation, due diligence coordination, legal advisor management, and final closing execution. Our approach remains product-agnostic, ensuring that recommendations on financing strategy are always aligned with the client’s best interests.

PRIVATE CREDIT

TERM LOAN B

PUBLIC / 144A BOND ISSUANCE

SUBORDINATED DEBT

PREFERRED EQUITY

VENTURE DEBT

STRUCTURED ROYALTY

PRIVATE ABS

Equity Capital Markets

The Wedbush Equity Capital Markets Platform is involved in the structuring, marketing, and execution of equity & equity-linked financing in the public and private market, including IPOs, follow-ons, registered direct offerings, and ATMs.

Leadership Team

Contact us to learn how we can partner for your financial success.

Burke Dempsey

Executive Vice President,
Head of Investment Banking & Capital Markets

Burke Dempsey is Executive Vice President and Head of Investment Banking & Capital Markets for Wedbush Securities Inc. His personal specialty is investment banking for financial institutions and fintech companies. He is a member of Wedbush’s President’s Executive, Underwriting, and Fairness Opinion Committees. During his 39 years of covering financial services, tech, media and analytics companies he has executed over 300+ publicly announced transactions worth approximately $75 billion and was honored as a Leader of Influence by the Los Angeles Business Journal. Mr. Dempsey has helped companies position for and execute watershed mergers and IPOs.

Before joining Wedbush, Mr. Dempsey was Managing Director and co-head of Financial Institutions at Sterne Agee, Managing Director and Head of Investment Banking at Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., and a Managing Director at UBS heading their fintech efforts.

Mr. Dempsey holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Earth Science from Stanford University. He holds his Series 7, 24, and 63 licenses.

Jared Caputo

Vice President, Investment Banking & Capital Markets 

Jared Caputo is Vice President in the Investment Banking & Capital Markets (“IBCM”) division at Wedbush, focusing on advising clients across the financial services landscape. In addition to advising Wedbush’s clients, he plays an active role in the firm’s IBCM division, capital raises, growth initiatives, and international expansion.  

Beginning his career with Wedbush in early 2021 as an Investment Banking Analyst, Jared was promoted to Investment Banking Associate at the end of 2022 and to Vice President, Investment Banking & Capital Markets in 2024. In these roles, Jared has developed broad expertise and contributed to numerous high-profile transactions across specialty finance, cryptocurrency, and technology services.  

Jared graduated cum laude from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Real Estate.  

Benjamin Davey

Managing Director,
Head of Equity Capital Markets 

Ben Davey is a Managing Director, Head of Equity Capital Markets at Wedbush Securities. He has previously served as the Head of Equity Syndicate/Equity Capital Markets at ThinkEquity Partners (ThinkPanmure), Vice President/ECM at JP Morgan Chase and VP/Deal Captain at Hambrecht & Quist. Ben joined Pacific Growth in October 2007 and has over 21 years in the industry while executing over 360 equity offerings. Ben holds a BS in Business and a BA in Economics from Saint Mary’s College. He also earned his MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management. 

Contact Email: [email protected] 

Kelly Lisbakken

Managing Director,
Life Sciences Investment Banking

Kelly Lisbakken is a Managing Director in the Life Sciences Investment Banking group at Wedbush PacGrow focusing on Biotechnology and Specialty Pharmaceuticals. Ms. Lisbakken joined Pacific Growth Equities in 2004 and has completed over 300 transactions with the firm raising over $36 billion. Prior to Wedbush, Kelly worked at ICOS (now part of Eli Lilly) on Cialis and the PDE4 program. She is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Retinal Degeneration Fund, a 501(c)(3)not-for-profit focused on making venture philanthropy investments to further the mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Kelly holds an AB in Molecular Biology from Princeton University where she completed her thesis under the direction of Dr. Thomas Shenk, the Elkins Professor in the Life Sciences and former board member of Merck & Co. 

Contact email: [email protected] 

Dan Bowen

Managing Director,
Life Sciences Investment Banking

Dan Bowen is a Managing Director and Director of Private Placements in the Life Sciences Investment Banking group at Wedbush PacGrow. Based in Minneapolis, Dan joins Wedbush after spending 11 years at Piper Jaffray’s Equity Private Placements Group, where he was head of the firm’s healthcare private placements. In addition, Dan previously worked in the Investment Banking Group at UBS and was a Foreign Service Officer in the U.S. Department of State for 11 years, where he held a variety of international and domestic positions. Over the past 16 years, Dan has completed over 50 private equity transactions, representing over $1.9 billion in equity and debt placements. Dan is a graduate of Amherst College, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Russian Studies and has an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. 

Contact email: [email protected] 

Lisa McClure Byrnes

Managing Director, TMS Investment Banking 

Lisa McClure Byrnes is a Managing Director in the Disruptive Tech, Media & Sports Investment Banking Group at Wedbush Securities. Based in Boston, she brings over 25 years of technology investment banking experience, advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, private and public financings, and strategic initiatives.  

Before joining Wedbush, Lisa held senior investment banking roles at Canaccord Genuity, SVB Alliant and Robertson Stephens. Throughout her career, she has advised leading global corporations including Blackberry, Siemens, and Exact Software. Her transaction experience includes sales to prominent technology acquirers such as Microsoft and Oracle, as well as to top private equity firms including Apax Partners, Thoma Bravo, and Vista Equity Partners. She has also led complex cross-border transactions in Europe and Asia, as well as carve-outs and divestitures for large multinational companies.*  

Lisa has deep expertise in software and services transactions, spanning a wide range of software sectors including data and analytics, financial, sales and marketing, and supply chain. Her experience also extends to numerous vertical market applications, such as the communications, non-profit and restaurant sectors. She earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of New Hampshire.  

*Deal completed prior to joining Wedbush Securities.  Empty heading 

Contact email: [email protected] 

Michael Janovec

Managing Director, TMS Investment Banking 

Michael (Mike) Janovec is a Managing Director in the Disruptive Technology, Media & Sports Investment Banking group at Wedbush, where he focuses on the Industrial Technology sector. With experience spanning both advisory and operational roles, Mike brings a diverse background across various tech focuses such as Lidar, AR/VR, 3D printing, advanced mobility and enterprise software. He is known for his ability to navigate complex corporate structures for maximum productivity and building enduring client relationships through a client-first approach that has defined his career.   

Prior to joining Wedbush, Mike spent five years at BTIG, where he contributed to the firm’s Industrial Technology practice. His earlier investment banking experience includes roles at Croft & Bender in the TMT space and GCA (now part of Houlihan Lokey). Mike also served in AT&T’s M&A group, concentrating on digital media, AI, machine learning and speech technology. His recent notable deals include advising Zanite Acquisition Corp on its acquisition of EVEX from Embraer, Colonnade Acquistion Corp on its acquisition of Ouster, and Vuzix Corp on its $97M underwritten public offering.*  

Mike holds an MBA from Georgia Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, where he studied economics.   

*Deals completed prior to joining Wedbush Securities. Empty heading 

Contact email: [email protected] 

Sameer Karim

Managing Director, TMS Investment Banking 

Sameer is a Managing Director in the Disruptive Technology, Media & Sports Investment Banking Group at Wedbush Securities in San Francisco. He brings over 20 years of tech-related experience advising clients on M&A, capital raises, and strategic initiatives such as acquihires.  

Before joining Wedbush, Sameer worked in investment banking at Morgan Stanley and Citi, where he gained extensive experience executing complex financial transactions. Earlier in his career, Sameer worked in engineering roles at Cisco and Forcepoint (formerly Websense), providing him with a strong foundation in technology and innovation.  

Sameer earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from the University of California, San Diego, and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University. Originally from Los Angeles, he has lived in the Bay Area for nearly 20 years. 

Contact email: [email protected] 

Moshe Katri

Managing Director, TMS Investment Banking 

Moshe Katri brings over two decades of experience in the Tech-Enabled Services and Payments sectors. He currently serves as a Managing Director in the Disruptive Technology, Media & Sports Investment Banking group at Wedbush Securities, advising clients on strategic transactions and capital markets activity. He is regularly sought out by financial media for his insights on IT Services, Payments, and FinTech companies, and is recognized as a trusted voice on market trends and sector developments. 

Prior to transitioning into Investment Banking, Moshe spent nearly eight years as a Managing Director in Equity Research at Wedbush, where he covered leading companies including IBM, Visa, and PayPal. Earlier in his career, Moshe was a Managing Director at Sterne Agee CRT, expanding the firm’s research coverage in the rapidly evolving payments space. He previously spent 16 years at Cowen & Company as a senior equity analyst focused on IT and Business Services. Moshe began his Wall Street career in 1991 at Oppenheimer & Co., later joining UBS, where he transitioned from Aerospace and Defense to technology research. 

He holds a B.S. in Finance and Information Systems and an M.B.A. in International Business from New York University. Before entering finance, Moshe served as a military intelligence officer in the Israeli Defense Forces. 

Contact email: [email protected] 

Phil Kwun

Managing Director, TMS Investment Banking 

Phil Kwun is a seasoned Managing Director in the Disruptive Technology, Media & Sports Investment Banking group at Wedbush Securities in New York. With over 25 years of experience in investment banking, Phil specializes in advising public and private technology companies on M&A matters, financings, corporate finance projects, and strategic value-enhancement assignments.  

In his most recent role, Phil served as a Managing Director at Stifel Financial in New York, contributing to the success of the Internet and Digital Media team. His journey with Stifel began with the acquisition of Mooreland Partners, where Phil held the roles of Partner, Co-Head of the Consumer Internet Industry Practice Group (IPG), and a key member of the Enterprise Software IPG with a focus on verticalized application software. Prior to his time at Mooreland, Phil played a pivotal role as Managing Director, Co-Founder, and Chief Financial Officer at Sonenshine Partners. His career began as an analyst in M&A at BT Wolfensohn, the M&A division of BT Alex. Brown.  

Phil extends his impact beyond the financial realm through active participation in charitable and non-profit boards. He has served on the board of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, now known as the Partnership to End Addiction, championing the cause of preventing teen drug abuse on a national scale. Phil holds a BA from Yale University and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Phil grew up in Los Angeles and is a graduate of the Harvard-Westlake School.  

Contact email: [email protected] 

Rick Sherlund

Senior Advisor, TMS Investment Banking 

Rick Sherlund brings decades of leadership and expertise at the intersection of technology, finance, and innovation. He spent 24 years at Goldman Sachs where he was a Partner, Managing Director, Head of the Technology Research Group and a leading software industry analyst – ranked as the #1 software industry analyst by Institutional Investor for 17 consecutive years. 

He was involved in the initial public offerings of many of the industry’s leading companies and has a broad and deep range of relationships throughout the industry. He has long been a strategic adviser to companies positioning themselves for disruptive new computing platforms, including the recent AI revolution. 

For the past 10 years, Rick has been a technology investment banker, most recently as Vice Chairman of Technology Investment Banking at Bank of America in Palo Alto where he was actively involved in helping young companies prepare for an IPO, raise equity and debt capital, facilitate strategic partnership introductions and in M&A advisory. 

Since leaving Bank of America, Rick founded Sherlund Partners LLC, an investment advisory firm focused on the rapidly evolving AI Software sector and traditional Enterprise SaaS space. Rick has focused on software M&A, IPO advisory, private placements, deep software industry research and aspires to extend the team’s fluency in software and AI to address market opportunities in asset management and baskets for SPVs. 

Rick has long focused on the digital transformation of enterprises and the application of AI and machine learning to enable the upcoming platform shift from systems of record and systems of engagement to a new generation of cloud-based systems of prediction. Rick and his team have leveraged their acumen and expertise in software and AI to serve as the trusted strategic and financial advisor for both the new generation of AI native companies and bridge across in serving the incumbent enterprise SaaS companies who need to transform their systems and business models for AI.    

Rick holds an MBA in Finance and a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University. 

Contact email: [email protected]

Lowell Bleiweiss

Senior Vice President, TMS Investment Banking 

Lowell Bleiweiss is a Senior Vice President in the Disruptive Technology, Media & Sports Investment Banking group at Wedbush Securities. With over 13 years of experience, he has completed dozens of transactions across M&A, IPOs, follow-on offerings, and private placements, working with clients in sectors such as artificial intelligence, software, internet, digital media, and tech-enabled services.  

Prior to joining Wedbush, Lowell was a Vice President at GCA Advisors (acquired by Houlihan Lokey). He previously worked in investment banking at FT Partners and JMP Securities (acquired by Citizens Bank).  

Lowell holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder. Originally from Chicago, he is now based in San Francisco. 

Contact email: [email protected] 

Patrick Furlong

Managing Director, Consumer & Diversified Industries 

Patrick Furlong is a Managing Director in Wedbush Securities’ Consumer & Diversified Industries Investment Banking group in New York, where he specializes in branded consumer, retail, distribution, and consumer services companies. A lifelong automotive, powersports, and outdoor enthusiast, Patrick brings a unique perspective to his work in the consumer sector.  

With nearly 20 years of investment banking experience, Patrick has served on consumer teams at DC Advisory and Solomon Partners. He has worked with a diverse range of clients, from multi-billion-dollar global holding companies to family-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. His expertise spans a variety of assignments, including buy-side and sell-side transactions, divestitures, mergers, debt and equity financing, and restructurings and recapitalizations. Patrick’s achievements in dealmaking have earned him recognition as an Emerging Leader by The M&A Advisor.  

Patrick graduated magna cum laude from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, earning a B.S. in Economics with a concentration in Finance. He also holds a B.A. in International Studies from the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, completed as part of the Huntsman Program.   

Contact email: [email protected] 

Dan Shea

Managing Director, Consumer & Diversified Industries 

Daniel (Dan) Shea is Managing Director, Investment Banking within Wedbush’s Consumer & Diversified Industries Investment Banking group. With nearly two decades of experience, Dan specializes in e-commerce, specialty retail, branded consumer products, and restaurants. Before joining Wedbush, Dan served as Managing Director at BTIG, LLC, where he developed the firm’s first consumer group. He has also held senior investment banking roles at firms such as Keen-Summit Capital Partners, Canaccord Genuity, Sterne Agee-CRT, and Janney Montgomery Scott.   

Over the course of his career, Dan has advised numerous high-profile transactions, including M&A, IPO, and deSPAC advisory, corporate spinouts, private convertible raises, and follow-on equity offerings. Dan is committed to facilitating and directing the expansion of innovation within the consumer sector, working closely with entrepreneurs as they scale and evolve their business.    

Dan holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and received his Master Business Administration degree from UCLA.   

Contact email: [email protected] 

Kamal R. Bajoria

Managing Director, Financial Institutions & Real Estate Investment Banking 

Kamal Bajoria is a Managing Director in the Financial Institutions & Real Estate (FIRE) Investment Banking group covering depositories and other financial institutions at Wedbush Securities. 

Throughout his career, Kamal has successfully originated and executed a number of capital raising, M&A, and strategic advisory transactions for his clients exceeding $6 billion in transaction value. Kamal has in depth experience in evaluating complex structures and transaction alternatives in order to recommend best course of action to his clients.  He has lead and successfully consummated transactions in challenging markets and circumstances.  His capital markets expertise includes IPOs, follow-on offerings, private placements, at-the-market (ATM) offerings, and de novo capital offerings of common stock, preferred stock and debt securities.  He has represented several clients on M&A transactions and has a thorough understanding of the strategic landscape. 

Prior to Wedbush, Kamal was Managing Director leading Western US depository investment banking coverage at B. Riley FBR.  Kamal started his investment banking career at Bear Stearns & Co in New York where he was focused on transaction execution across financial institutions’ sectors including depositories, REITs, insurance and asset management. 

Kamal received a B.S. in Finance and Communications from Bryant University and a MBA from Yale University’s School of Management. 

Contact email: [email protected] 

Michael Murrer

Managing Director, Financial Institutions & Real Estate Investment Banking 

Michael Murrer is a Managing Director in Wedbush Securities’ Financial Institutions & Real Estate (FIRE) Investment Banking group. With nearly two decades of experience, Michael is a seasoned investment banker specializing in real estate, gaming, lodging, leisure, and entertainment sectors. 

Throughout his 14-year tenure at Jefferies, Michael developed deep expertise in advising clients on complex and high-profile transactions. His notable recent deals include advising Casago on its acquisition of Vacasa, etc.venues on its sale to Convene, Golden Nugget Online Gaming on its merger with Landcadia II, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians on its acquisition of the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas from Red Rock Resorts, and Benchmark Global Hospitality on its merger with Pyramid Hotel Group.* 

Michael attended The Ohio State University and earned his degree in Finance. 

*Deals completed prior to joining Wedbush Securities. Empty heading 

Contact email: [email protected] 

Bard Cook

Managing Director, Debt Markets & Advisory 

Bard Cook is Managing Director, Debt Markets Advisory at Wedbush. Bard has over 40 years of experience assisting corporate issuers in accessing the capital markets for a wide range of debt instruments including public/Rule 144A investment grade and high yield bonds, hybrid capital securities, private senior and subordinated notes, institutional leveraged loans, syndicated and club lending facilities, and asset backed securities.    

Before joining Wedbush in 2024, Bard was Managing Director at Citizens JMP Securities where he established its U.S. corporate debt business. Prior to JMP, Bard worked at RBC Capital Markets where he established the firm’s U.S. high yield, private placement, and investment grade debt capital markets groups. Bard began his career at Mellon Bank where he ran the placement division and has held several positions in corporate banking.    

Bard graduated from Yale University, where he received a B.A. degree in Economics. He holds Series 7, 24, 53, 63, and 79 licenses.  

Jax Koren

Analyst, Debt Markets & Advisory 

Jax Koren is an Investment Banking Analyst on the Debt Markets and Advisory team at Wedbush Securities, where he supports capital raising and strategic advisory transactions for corporate clients. He previously served as an Analyst on the Corporate Strategy and Data Analytics team and earlier began his career within the Wealth Management division of Wedbush.  

Jax graduated from California Lutheran University in December 2022 with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Finance. He holds FINRA Series 7, 63, 79, 82, and SIE licenses.