Star Mountain Capital, LLC (“Star Mountain”), a specialized private investment firm focused on delivering systematic alpha and low market-correlated, tax-advantaged returns from the inefficient lower middle-market, is pleased to announce that it has been named one of GrowthCap’s Top Private Credit Firms of 2025.

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Star Mountain Capital Has Been Named one of GrowthCap's Top Private Credit Firms 2025.

GrowthCap’s annual awards highlight firms that demonstrate exceptional lending expertise, organizational excellence and the ability to serve as long-term, solutions-oriented partners to private businesses. Honorees are selected based on GrowthCap’s evaluation of investment capabilities, firm culture, track record and commitment to responsible stewardship within the private credit ecosystem.

“We are honored to be recognized by GrowthCap as one of the leading private credit firms in the United States,” said Brett Hickey, Star Mountain Capital Founder & CEO. “This recognition reflects our team’s dedication to delivering value-added financing solutions to established lower middle-market businesses and providing consistently strong partnership to management teams and investors.”

GrowthCap’s 2025 review emphasized the importance of consistent performance, differentiated sourcing networks and collaborative, borrower-aligned capital solutions. These are areas that Star Mountain has strategically focused on for over fifteen years. Star Mountain’s platform is designed to support high-quality private businesses with flexible debt and equity capital, while leveraging technology, data analytics and a deep bench of operating partners to help drive long-term success.

“Our focus remains on being a thoughtful, long-term capital partner,” Mr. Hickey added. “We continue to invest meaningfully in our team, technology and infrastructure to help deliver scalable, value-enhancing solutions across a wide range of industries. We believe our 100% U.S. full-time employee profit-sharing model and active community engagement through the Star Mountain Charitable Foundation strengthen our culture and support our mission.”

About Star Mountain Capital

With ~$4.5 billion in AUM (committed capital including debt facilities as of 12/31/2025), Star Mountain specializes in providing data-driven investment solutions across two core strategies:

• Direct Investments: Providing debt and equity capital to established lower middle-market businesses.
• Secondary Investments: Acquiring LP interests, direct assets, NAV loans and making primary LP commitments.

Star Mountain’s investors include public and private pensions, insurance companies, commercial banks, endowments, foundations, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals. Employee-owned and sharing profits with 100% of its U.S. full-time employees, the firm prioritizes alignment of interests to maximize value for stakeholders.

Since 2010, Star Mountain has completed over 100 direct platform investments and 50 secondary/fund investments in the North American lower middle-market. The firm has been recognized as one of the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private companies and a Best Place to Work by Crain’s New York Business and Pensions & Investments.

For more information, visit www.starmountaincapital.com.

Legal Disclaimer:

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase interests in any investment product. Awards and recognitions by third-party rating agencies, companies, or publications should not be interpreted as a guarantee of future results or performance. They should not be considered as an endorsement, recommendation, or referral of Star Mountain Capital or its representatives by any client or third party. Rankings published by media and industry organizations are based on information provided by the recognized advisor. Additionally, readers should understand that past performance is not indicative of future results. Award descriptions and selection methodologies may vary.

Awards and Recognition Disclosure:

Star Mountain Capital’s awards and recognitions are based on third-party evaluations and criteria, which may be subjective. These honors do not imply a guarantee of future performance or an endorsement by current or past clients.

Ranking Methodologies:

• Crain’s Best Places to Work: Evaluations were conducted through a two-part process, assessing workplace policies, practices, and employee satisfaction via surveys. Participation required a fee solely for survey processing purposes. More details are available at Crain’s eligibility criteria.
• Pensions & Investments Best Places to Work: Companies were evaluated based on surveys measuring employee engagement (75%) and employer policies (25%). Participation required a minimum of 20 U.S. employees and $100 million in discretionary assets under management. Further details can be found at P&I eligibility criteria.
• Inc. 5000 Rankings: Companies were ranked based on revenue growth from 2019 to 2022. To qualify, firms had to be U.S.-based, privately held, and independent, with revenue thresholds of at least $100,000 in 2019 and $2 million in 2022. More details are available at Inc. 5000 criteria.
• GrowthCap Top Private Debt Firms: Companies were selected based on GrowthCap’s evaluation of capabilities, partnership approach with portfolio companies, firm growth and track record, organizational culture, and commitment to ESG, among other factors. Information was obtained through nomination forms, online submissions, direct communications, and independent research. More details are available at GrowthCap.

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