SBIA Congratulates Grayhawk Capital and Valesco Industries, SBIC of the Year Award Recipients

The U.S. Small Business Administration recognized Valesco Industries and Grayhawk Capital as part of National Small Business Week

May 16, 2022 (Washington, D.C.) – The Small Business Investor Alliance (SBIA), the leading association for lower middle market private equity funds and investors, is pleased to recognize that two of our members – Grayhawk Capital of Scottsdale, AZ, and Valesco Industries of Dallas, TX – have been awarded this year’s Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) of the Year Award by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Grayhawk Capital was recognized as an Established Manager, and Valesco Industries as an Emerging Manager. Valesco Managing Partner Heather Hubbard is currently the Southern Regional President of SBIA.

“We are extremely proud that Grayhawk Capital and Valesco Industries have been recognized for their strong commitment to investing in American jobs,” said SBIA President Brett Palmer. “The SBIC program has a history of success helping small U.S. businesses access long-term, patient capital, which is critical for growth and job creation.”

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Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) of the Year Award – Established Manager
Grayhawk Ventures Fund II, L.P.
Brian N. Burns, Sherman Chu, and Brian S. Smith, Managing Partners
Scottsdale, AZ
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As an SBA licensed SBIC, Grayhawk Capital provides non-control equity to businesses across the United States. The firm, an industry leader, focuses on investing in companies in the business-to-business software-as-a-service (SaaS) space.

“We’re grateful to be a part of the SBIC Program that plays a significant role in creating and sustaining jobs in the small business sector,” said Sherman Chu, Managing Partner and Co-founder of Grayhawk Capital.  “It’s rewarding to assist in financing promising small businesses that require capital for their growth, expansion and modernization.”

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Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) of the Year Award – Emerging Manager
Valesco Commerce Street Capital, L.P.
Heather Hubbard and Bud Moore, Managing Partners
Dallas, TX
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Valesco Industries focuses on making majority and minority investments in select growth-oriented small and lower middle-market businesses engaged in manufacturing, value-add distribution, and business services.

“Access to capital is essential for every small business to grow and succeed, and SBICs are often the first institutional capital for small businesses in underserved communities,” said Heather Hubbard. “As an investor, it is particularly rewarding when an investment can make a positive impact for an entire community by helping to create jobs and expand opportunities.”

Over the last five years, SBICs have invested nearly $30 billion in 5,562 domestic small and mid-sized businesses. A recent study by the Library Congress found that SBIC-backed small businesses created almost 3 million new jobs and supported an additional 6.5 million jobs over a 20-year period. These businesses and jobs continue to succeed independently of SBICs after the investment is completed. Small businesses that received SBIC investments in their early stages include: Federal Express, Apple, Intel, Costco, Tesla, Whole Foods, and Callaway Golf.

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