Creative Liquidity for Private Shareholders
was founded for the sole purpose of providing partial liquidity and asset diversification to individual shareholders in market-leading, later-stage private companies. We focus on providing partial liquidity to company founders, angels, active or departed employees and corporate strategic investors. We are a new kind of investment fund created as a joint venture between Brown Advisory, a leading asset management firm with approximately $25 billion in client assets under advisory, and the founding partners of SmithDefieux Capital Partners, a pioneer of venture direct secondary investing. We have the full backing of one the nation’s most respected money management platforms, Brown Advisory, but we are nimble enough to invest in any equity security, in transactions as large as eight figures or as small as a few hundred thousand dollars, across a broad array of industry verticals, in any part of the country. We have significant experience with these types of transactions and can effectively navigate the many unique considerations required. We focus exclusively on investing in great companies by partnering with individuals.

Brown Advisory is an independent investment firm committed to delivering a combination of superior performance and the highest level of client service. Since its founding as an affiliate of Alex. Brown & Sons in 1993, the firm has grown substantially, with assets of approximately $25 billion in separate account, mutual fund and securities assets. Since opening its London office in March 2008, the firm has accumulated assets exceeding $1 billion for non-U.S. institutional clients.

Savano Direct Capital Partners was formed by the founding partners of one of the pioneers of venture direct secondary investing to provide partial liquidity to individual shareholders in best of breed, late-stage companies. The principals of Savano have over five decades of combined experience investing in and building some of the nation’s leading growth companies across multiple industry sectors including: eCommerce, software, communications, business services, electronics and cleantech. The founders of Savano have worked together as a team for most of their careers.
 Our JV Partner

Brown Advisory is an independent investment firm committed to delivering a combination of superior performance and the highest level of client service.
  • Its predecessor, Alex. Brown & Sons, was the leading underwriter of IPOs during the 80’s and 90’s, including growth companies such as Microsoft, Oracle, AOL, Starbucks, Qualcomm and many others.
  • Since its founding as an affiliate of Alex. Brown & Sons in 1993, the firm has grown substantially, with client assets of approximately $25 billion from high net worth individuals and institutions.  
  • Brown Advisory is owned entirely by its partners, employees, board members and a small group of clients.
  • Differentiated private equity and venture capital investment opportunities have been a part of Brown Advisory's client portfolios since its inception.
  • Brown Advisory’s private equity/venture capital effort was initiated in 1997, and manages $750 million in committed capital across 50 funds.