Our Team
Leadership
Carter Asefi
Partner —Franchise Finance & Investments
With over 30 years of experience across franchise finance, operations, and multi-unit management, Carter has built a career around turning disciplined operations into long-term enterprise value. He has led and advised on hundreds of franchise transactions across QSR, retail, and service industries, developing deep expertise in valuation, growth modeling, and operator performance systems.
Carter’s background combines hands-on operational management with structured deal execution, giving him an uncommon ability to assess both the people and the numbers behind every business.
- Prior Experience: Gaines Business Brokerage · FranBizNetwork · Little Caesars (Multi-Unit Operator)
- Education: San Francisco State University
Sam Kaufman
Partner — Private Equity & Turnaround Management
Sam brings more than two decades of experience in private equity, restaurant operations, and turnaround management. He has held senior leadership roles at national restaurant brands and investment groups, focusing on restructuring initiatives, cost optimization, and scalable unit economics.
His work spans performance recovery, operational integration, and brand repositioning, and he has guided management teams through both distressed and growth environments.
- Prior Experience: Hargett Hunter · Sprinkles Cupcakes · LeDuff America · Brinker International
- Education: MBA, Southern Methodist University — Cox School of Business
David Drinan
Partner — Investments & Advisory
David has over 30 years of experience in investments, operational restructuring, and executive advisory. His career includes leadership roles at global consulting and asset management firms where he oversaw capital redeployment, corporate turnarounds, and strategic growth programs across multiple sectors.
Known for his analytical rigor and steady leadership, David has advised management teams through complex transformations involving finance, operations, and technology modernization.
- Prior Experience: AlixPartners · FTI Consulting · Partners Group · Grosvenor Capital Management
- Education: MBA, University of Chicago — Booth School of Business
Alex Asefi
Partner — Data & Infrastructure
Alex specializes in data systems, analytics, and infrastructure engineering, with more than 10 years of experience in large-scale technical environments. His background spans data architecture, process automation, and cross-functional team leadership at global science and technology companies.
He is recognized for building reliable, high-performance data pipelines and tools that improve decision-making speed and organizational visibility.
- Prior Experience: Johnson & Johnson · Bristol Myers Squibb
- Education: B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of California — Irvine (Henry Samueli School of Engineering)
Ab Asefi
Partner — System Design & Operational Excellence
Abraham specializes in systems design, strategic foresight, and operational excellence, with experience spanning private equity, multi-unit operations, and intelligent software architecture. His background includes building decision frameworks, risk and opportunity models, and workflow systems that bring clarity to complex organizations.
He is recognized for turning ambiguity into structure — designing scalable operating systems that improve execution, reduce uncertainty, and accelerate business performance.
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Prior Experience: Radar+ · FranBizNetwork · CAAZLLC
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Education: Purdue University — Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business
Matteya Morgan
Partner — Management & Relations
Matteya specializes in marketing strategy, transaction management, and investor relations, with experience supporting growth-stage companies and private equity operations. Her background includes brand development, deal coordination, and managing communication flows across investors, advisors, and operating partners.
She is recognized for creating clear, consistent messaging and maintaining high-trust relationships that strengthen deal execution and long-term strategic alignment.
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Prior Experience: FranBizNetwork
- Education: TMCC