Cascadia Capital has formed a new investment banking practice dedicated to the robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence (RAAI) sectors.
Cascadia’s RAAI practice has been formed in response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution – commonly referred to as “Industry 4.0” – the ongoing automation of traditional manufacturing and industrial practices, using modern smart technology. Sectors of specific focus for the RAAI include robotics; mobility tech; manufacturing automation; artificial intelligence and machine learning; computer vision; data management and analytics; augmented and virtual reality; and the Internet of Things.
The RAAI practice is led by Cascadia Chairman & CEO Michael Butler and Managing Directors Jamie Boyd and Firdaus Pohowalla, with support from Vice Presidents Yee Lee and Jason Lippenberger, Associate Tarek Elmasry, and Analysts Scott Whiting and Mikaela Slade.
“The Fourth Industrial Revolution is underway, and the breadth and depth of its impact are shifting paradigms across all industries on a global scale,” said Mr. Pohowalla. “Our team will be able to leverage the deep industry expertise across our platform and understanding of end markets, which is critically important to crystalizing value and understanding the proposition of different technologies.”
The RAAI practice leverages Cascadia’s internal expertise and its history of advisory work through its long-standing industrials, energy & applied technology, healthcare, consumer, and food & agriculture practice groups.
“We have been active in the RAAI space for several years with growing excitement and felt that the time was right to formally pull together the firm’s expertise in a way that maximizes the service we deliver to our clients,” said Mr. Butler. “Our bankers have established a deep understanding of the underlying technologies and end markets while simultaneously developing unparalleled relationships with strategic buyers and investors.”
Recent engagements for the RAAI practice include Lucidyne Technologies, an Oregon-based manufacturer of AI-enabled computer vision systems that was acquired earlier this year by Italy-based Microtec; Vexcel Imaging, an Austria and Colorado-based provider of digital mapping and drone technologies; and Qi2, a Washington-based developer of robotic sensor systems used in the energy sector.
“The formation of this practice reinforces Cascadia’s commitment to our highly targeted sub-vertical industry focus, which provides the most innovative and expertise-driven service for clients,” said Mr. Boyd. “Given the shifting economic dynamics in light of COVID-19 and other world events, sector and sub-vertical expertise have never been more critical as each industry and corresponding transaction environment is impacted in nuanced ways.”
Seattle-headquartered Cascadia Capital is an independent middle-market investment bank that provides merger and acquisition advice, capital raising, and strategic advisory services.
Private Equity Professional | October 16, 2020
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