Star Mountain Capital, an employee-owned investment firm, added Daniel Lee as managing director, where he focuses on investment originations and business development. Lee brings extensive experience working with business owners and private equity sponsors to help create bespoke finance and private equity investment solutions. His 30 years of experience also includes working for large global audit and investment banking firms.
“Daniel brings extensive private credit experience, a strong network and a demonstrated ability to source and execute investments while helping build and scale investment platforms,” Brett Hickey, founder and CEO of Star Mountain Capital, said. “We believe his experience and relationships will further enhance our origination capabilities as we continue to provide capital solutions to established lower middle-market businesses.”
Prior to joining Star Mountain, Lee was a partner and co-founder of Comvest Capital Partners, a direct lending platform focused on providing growth capital to small and medium-sized businesses. During his 14-year tenure, the platform grew to $12 billion. He also co-founded the firm’s consumer and retail vertical, served as an investment committee member and helped grow its credit team.
Earlier in his career, Lee was an initial team member, senior director and investment committee member at Dymas Capital, a Cerberus affiliate, which grew from inception to approximately $3 billion in assets under management during his seven-year tenure.
“Star Mountain has built a differentiated platform focused on providing capital to established lower middle-market businesses, a segment where deep relationships, disciplined underwriting and experience can be particularly valuable,” Lee said. “I look forward to working with the team to expand our origination capabilities, develop relationships with business owners and intermediaries and support the continued growth of the firm.”
Lee subsequently served as a partner at Garnett Station Partners, a principal investment firm backing growth platforms with $3 to $50 million of EBITDA, and as a partner and co-founder of Pin High Strategies, a merchant banking and advisory firm serving independent sponsors and founder-led businesses on capital raising and strategic growth assessments. His earlier career also included roles at Square 1 Bank, Salomon Smith Barney, Heller Financial and Arthur Andersen, where he began his career as an accountant before transitioning into investment banking and private markets investing.
Lee earned his Master of Business Administration with distinction from the University of Michigan and his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame.
