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
Blair Halver
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.
Louis Garoz-Ferguson
Louis Garoz-Ferguson is an accomplished finance professional specializing in investment banking and strategic marketing. His role centers on board-level oversight and strategic planning, while operational execution and client engagement are managed by the firm's executive leadership team.
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
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AI-powered origination network
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Deep private credit and equity relationships
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Merchant-banking model (we act as principals, not brokers)
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