Built for modern capital markets.

Black Tern Capital is a boutique merchant capital firm focused on connecting mid-market companies with private credit and equity investors.

Based in Winston-Salem, NC, we combine institutional discipline with cutting-edge AI-driven deal origination to deliver funding outcomes that are faster and more aligned than traditional investment banking.

Meet the amazing team behind Black Tern Capital

Managing Partner

As Managing Partner, Blair leads the firm’s origination strategy and investor relationships, combining high-touch advisory with one of the largest AI-driven capital origination networks in the industry. Our approach creates real competition among institutional lenders and investors—delivering better terms, faster execution, and greater leverage for our clients.

Advisor

Ian Drewe is the CEO of Avoca Property and a seasoned investment professional with more than four decades of experience across law, finance, and real estate. Over his career, he has been involved in more than $247 billion in real estate, infrastructure, healthcare, and financial investments, and has raised over $820 billion for S&P 500 companies. Trusted by global institutions including Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, and Credit Suisse, Ian has structured complex, cross-border transactions throughout Europe, the UK, Australia, and the U.S. Today, through Avoca Property, he focuses on identifying undervalued commercial properties and structuring deals that generate stable, long-term passive income for investors in high-yield U.S. real estate.

Advisor

Michael McGoey is a veteran investment banker and capital markets professional with over 25 years of experience in commercial real estate, structured finance, and capital raising. He has led and executed more than $4 billion in transactions across debt, equity, and mezzanine structures, including senior roles at UBS Securities, where he headed global securitized real estate debt distribution, and later as Managing Director of commercial real estate investment banking at StormHarbour and Pierpont Securities. A former securities attorney at Borg-Warner and co-founder of Structured Credit Partners—the firm behind the first CDO backed exclusively by real estate collateral—Michael combines legal, analytical, and financial expertise to deliver innovative capital solutions. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a JD from Loyola University Chicago, and a BA with honors from Washington University in St. Louis.

Advisor

Gabriel España is Managing Director & CEO of Iskali Capital Group (ICG), leading its investment banking and advisory platform focused on high-impact transactions in emerging markets aligned with the UN SDGs and global ESG standards. Over his 25-year career, he has structured and managed more than $8 billion across private equity, M&A, project finance, and impact investing. Under his leadership, ICG has mobilized over $300 million in debt and equity across Latin America and the Caribbean in partnership with leading DFIs, impact funds, and family offices. Gabriel specializes in designing innovative capital solutions—spanning private debt, equity, mezzanine finance, and first-loss guarantees—across sectors including housing, health, education, agribusiness, infrastructure, and financial inclusion. A frequent speaker and published thought leader, he is recognized for bridging global capital with local insight to drive sustainable growth in emerging economies.

Our Philosophy

We believe capital is a tool — not a barrier.
By streamlining access to institutional debt and equity, we help management teams focus on growth, not gatekeeping.

Our Story

From our founder, Blair Halver:

"I started out in real estate — I built one of the largest lead generation services for investors, producing hundreds of thousands of motivated seller leads and a strong pipeline of off-market deals.

From there, I built my own multi-million-dollar portfolio and later started acquiring digital publishing companies — about $30-plus million in assets so far.

Along the way, I realized that in every business, capital and deal flow are the real engines of growth. That’s what led me to start Black Tern Capital — a modern advisory firm that uses AI-driven deal origination systems to connect investors and companies more efficiently than the traditional model."

Our Edge

Large-scale origination network

Deep private credit and equity relationships

Merchant-banking model (we act as principals, not brokers)

Ready to explore your options?