Black Dragon Capital℠ Continues Expansion in 2024

BOCA RATON, Fla., Feb. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Dragon Capital℠ (“BDC,” “Black Dragon”) has announced a successful 2024 marked by significant growth for the firm and its portfolio companies. The global firm’s focus on intense operational experience by its investment professionals, deep domain expertise, and focused industry approach has continued to drive interest from an expanded investor base, and success within its portfolio.

Black Dragon Capital℠ is a multi-phased investment firm focused on advanced technologies in high growth segments that strengthen economic stability within communities. The firm has a unique, operationally led approach which combines deep domain expertise with proven investment success as it works closely with entrepreneurs to build market leading companies. It has a focus on high-potential early stage, and mid-market technology companies in growth sectors disrupted by digitization.

Over the past year, Black Dragon Capital℠ added over 20 new key leadership members in its corporate services, One Dragon Services group and early-stage portfolio companies. Its buyout investments hired over 150 talented new team members as they continue to grow and expand.

In its One Dragon Services group, a subsidiary of the firm which represents a team and set of partnerships aimed at helping early-stage companies launch, manage, and grow faster at a lower cost, Black Dragon Capital℠ appointed long time FinTech industry veteran, Nigel Prince, as Chief Operating Officer. The One Dragon Services group provides experienced team members to support early-stage companies with a direct development team, marketing and branding, legal, finance, accounting, and HR services among other areas.

In the corporate services group, the firm has expanded its reporting and finance functions with key appointments and partnerships.

It also added leaders with deep industry expertise to its portfolio, including core banking industry veteran Joe Lockwood as Chief Executive Office of Open Banking Solutions, tenured fintech executive John Weinkowitz as Chief Operating Officer of Veep Software, and payments industry veteran Michelle Bateman, working with PayOnward and other payments investments. The firm also broadened its support for its cloud based digital commerce platform Naveo Commerce by bringing in a new CEO, Jaimie Goldring, a new CFO and new CRO. For its Latin American based digital banking platform, Ladonware, they expanded the leadership team by adding a new CEO, CFO, and CPO. Its Grass Valley portfolio has continued to add to its global footprint, supporting end users in over 100 countries.

“2024 was a great year to join the Black Dragon family, I am delighted to be part of the continued success in 2025!” said Nigel Prince, Chief Operating Officer of One Dragon Services.

The growth of Black Dragon Capital included additional hires in its India and Argentina locations, as well as expansion of additional hires in Orlando, Salt Lake City, Atlanta and Puerto Rico.

Black Dragon Capital℠ Continues Impact Investing

Black Dragon Capital℠ supported eight financing transactions within its portfolio to growth and expansion. Among the financing transactions was Black Dragon’s facilitation of a $220 million strategic financing for Grass Valley, a control investment in this global market leader in Media Technology. The firm leveraged its proprietary Black Dragon Toolkit℠ to boost the performance of this media platform giant Grass Valley, which delivered outstanding growth in 2024 of over 30%.

“Implementing the Black Dragon Toolkit℠ materially accelerated our business transformation, leading to vastly improved financial results which positioned us to complete strategically important refinancing in 2024,” said Jon Wilson, President, Grass Valley.

Driven by its steadfast commitment to the credit union movement, Black Dragon Capital℠ has intensified its focus into addressing the unique needs of that market by appointing recognized figures in financial technology and from community financial institutions to key leadership and advisor roles.

The Black Dragon Capital℠ roster of leaders now includes prominent figures in the credit union space such as: Benson Porter, former CEO of BECU and First Tech Credit Union; Kirk Kordeleski, former CEO of Bethpage Federal Credit Union; and Mark Meyer, President and CEO of Filene Research Institute. These highly regarded financial services leaders, along with other industry experts and Black Dragon Capital℠ leaders, are deeply focused on building financial technology companies that provide the flexibility, cost savings and innovation that Credit Unions and other Community Based Institutions need to compete and win. Also, the firm’s collaborative vision has resulted in a partnership with CU 2.0

who have joined its cause.

Throughout 2024, Black Dragon Capital℠ participated in global roadshows to support our portfolio companies and the industries they serve though speeches, private meetings with industry leaders, and hosted events. Black Dragon team members participated in events in the United States, China, India, the Middle East and Europe. Black Dragon Capital℠ CEO and Founder Louis Hernandez, Jr. was a prominent speaker at several events including BIRTV Beijing in China, Future of Media Forum (FOMEX) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, among other events. He received recognition with the Honorary Exemplary CEO Award for the Media Industry from Digital Studio India during his visit to the country.

The firm was present at major Fintech, Media Technology and digital commerce trade shows. For FinTech they participated in the CUES Symposium, CUNA GAC 2024, TRANSACT, NAFCU, and Money 20/20, where it unveiled new, low-code processing platform Open Banking Solutions. They also hosted a private reception to discuss partnership opportunities with leaders attending the World Credit Union Conference, supporting the power of community globally.

Black Dragon Capital℠ also consistently participated in major media tradeshows such as CABSAT in the United Arab Emirates, Future of Media Exhibition (FOMEX) in Saudi Arabia, Broadcast India in India, BIRTV Beijing in China, NAB 2024 in Las Vegas, USA, and IBC 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Finally, the Black Dragon Capital℠ team also attended major retail and ecommerce tradeshows: National Retail Federation (NRF), in New York City, NY, as well as CES in Las Vegas, USA.

“2024 has been a remarkable year for Black Dragon Capital℠ and our portfolio companies. Our unique, operational led approach has continued to deliver positive results, leading to our growth in multiple key areas,” said Louis Hernandez, Jr., CEO and Founder, Black Dragon Capital℠. “The expansion of our One Dragon Services team has allowed us to bring more industry veterans into our portfolio, focused on improving their performance. We are excited to make the most out of this momentum for an even more promising 2025! Our team is working harder than ever to innovate and create solutions for our focus industries.”

Many of the members of the Black Dragon Team also participate in the Louis Hernandez Jr, For A Bright Future Foundation which focuses on the needs of children in underserved communities in education, healthcare, leadership development and the arts. Its unique programs include approximately 20 annual scholarship awards, FinTech and MediaTech labs, the Ambassador leadership program, and contributions to partner children's hospitals. The Foundation is expanding to new locations and cities across the United States.

As part of its ongoing efforts, For a Bright Future Foundation announced a strategic partnership with GreenAccord Onlus, a non-profit association dedicated to fostering a global commitment to environmental protection across all faiths and backgrounds.

Through this collaboration, both organizations will work to raise awareness about the devastating impact of climate change on underprivileged children while empowering them through education and environmental stewardship. This partnership represents a significant step toward building a sustainable future, ensuring that every child—regardless of their background—has the opportunity to thrive and become a steward of our planet. This partnership deepened the relationship between Black Dragon and Vatican related organizations.

Black Dragon Capital℠ (BDC) is a multi-phased investment firm focused on advanced technologies in high growth segments that strengthen economic stability within communities. The firm was founded and led by a collaborative team with a combination of intense operating experience, community impact focus, and a positive track record of investing. They work closely with entrepreneurs to build market leading companies using their proprietary Black Dragon Toolkit℠ and focus on high potential early stage, and mid-market technology companies in growth sectors disrupted by digitization.

Learn more at www.blackdragoncap.com

Stephy Wilson

Senior Marketing Manager, Black Dragon Capital

Aren Wong

Social Media Manager, Black Dragon Capital

awong@blackdragoncap.com

SOURCE Black Dragon Capital