21st Avenue Capital
Nashville, Tennessee
We welcome introductory conversations whether you are a business broker with an active listing, an advisor representing an owner-operator, or a founder planning a succession strategy.
Schedule a confidential discussion with our investment committee at Deals@21stAvenueCapital.com
Partner With Us
Our Investment Thesis
Strategic Growth | Enduring Value | Community Impact
21st Avenue Capital is an independent acquisition vehicle formed by candidates in Vanderbilt's Executive MBA program, seeking to acquire a high-quality, long-standing business in Middle Tennessee.
We are focused on profitable, resilient businesses in the range of $1.2M - $1.5M enterprise value, with a focus on established B2B and specialty commercial service providers that serve as vital infrastructure for their regional markets.
How We Drive Value
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Empowered Day-to-Day Leadership: We install or support a full-time General Manager to run operations effectively on Day 1.
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Strategic Committee Governance: Our Sponsors act as a hybrid between a Board of Directors and strategic consulting team, driving targeted margin expansion, backend modernization, and growth projects.
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Patient Capital Allocation: 100% of post-debt cash flows are retained and reinvested in the business during initial years to strengthen the balance sheet and accelerate long-term compounding of growth.
Our Directors
Leading with precision and a deep commitment to disciplined growth, our leadership team is supported by resources at Vanderbilt to ensure long-term value for our partners and the Middle Tennessee community.
Mike Barkan
Managing Director
Brendan Finucane III
Mike is a growth-focused strategist who crosses strong engineering fundamentals with a focus on operational efficiency to drive disciplined execution. A Vanderbilt University double alumnus (B.E. and EMBA candidate), he brings expertise in cross-functional leadership, complex system analysis, and long-term capital allocation. Mike's strength lies in translating operational capabilities into sustainable business performance, margin expansion, and enterprise value growth.
Managing Director
Brendan is an enterprise sales leader and Middle Tennessee native specializing in strategic account growth, building durable client partnerships, and scaling revenue pipelines. An Eagle Scout, Baylor University Alumnus, and Vanderbilt EMBA candidate, he brings a disciplined sales playbook and value-creation mindset to business operations. Brendan's expertise in developing customer relationships, team mentorship, and deal execution serves as a direct growth catalyst for expanding market share post acquisition.
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Community Impact
We aim to preserve essential local jobs and safeguard founder legacies in Middle Tennessee by reinvesting profits into the people, infrastructure, and regional economies that sustain our business.
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Enduring Value
We do not flip businesses and we are not a chop shop. Our focus is on acquiring established, resilient market leaders with proven operating histories, protecting their competitive moats and compounding enterprise value for short- and long-term success.
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Strategic Growth
We deploy hands-on advisory and targeted operational modernization to unlock new revenue streams, optimize margins, and sustainably scale business cash flows.