Cascadia Capital, an independent investment bank serving middle-market organizations, today announced that it acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Diamond Art Club, a leading digitally native brand of premium diamond art kits, on its acquisition by Sound Growth Partners.
Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Diamond Art Club has established itself as a leading brand in the rapidly growing diamond painting and DIY creative category. The Company offers premium diamond art kits featuring high-quality materials and original designs created by artists and has built a highly engaged community of hobbyists and a loyal base of repeat customers.
Diamond painting combines elements of cross stitch and paint-by-numbers to create an accessible, screen-free creative experience. As consumer interest in creative hobbies continues to grow, Diamond Art Club has differentiated itself through the quality of its products and designs, strong brand affinity, and an engaged customer community.
Cascadia worked closely with Diamond Art Club’s founders and management team to position the Company for its next phase of growth and identify a partner that could build on the brand’s strong foundation. The partnership with Sound Growth Partners, a growth-oriented private equity firm, provides Diamond Art Club’s founders with liquidity while allowing them to retain upside as the Company pursues opportunities to accelerate growth and expand into new markets and categories.
“I thought I knew where this process was going. I was wrong at least five times,” said Alexandre Perrier, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Art Club. “Cascadia rolled with every unexpected turn and got us to an amazing outcome. Now the fun part begins, the next phase of growth with Sound Growth Partners by our side.”
“We couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome for Alex and the entire Diamond Art Club team, particularly with a world-class partner in Sound Growth Partners,” said Billy Susman, Managing Director at Cascadia Capital. “Diamond Art Club has built an exceptional brand with a deeply loyal customer base and a leadership position in an exciting category. We look forward to seeing what the team accomplishes in its next chapter of growth.”
The transaction further demonstrates Cascadia’s experience advising founder-owned and digitally native consumer businesses, particularly those with differentiated brands, loyal customer communities, and compelling opportunities for continued growth.
Cascadia Capital, an independent investment bank serving middle-market organizations, today announced that it acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Diamond Art Club, a leading digitally native brand of premium diamond art kits, on its acquisition by Sound Growth Partners.
Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Diamond Art Club has established itself as a leading brand in the rapidly growing diamond painting and DIY creative category. The Company offers premium diamond art kits featuring high-quality materials and original designs created by artists and has built a highly engaged community of hobbyists and a loyal base of repeat customers.
Diamond painting combines elements of cross stitch and paint-by-numbers to create an accessible, screen-free creative experience. As consumer interest in creative hobbies continues to grow, Diamond Art Club has differentiated itself through the quality of its products and designs, strong brand affinity, and an engaged customer community.
Cascadia worked closely with Diamond Art Club’s founders and management team to position the Company for its next phase of growth and identify a partner that could build on the brand’s strong foundation. The partnership with Sound Growth Partners, a growth-oriented private equity firm, provides Diamond Art Club’s founders with liquidity while allowing them to retain upside as the Company pursues opportunities to accelerate growth and expand into new markets and categories.
“I thought I knew where this process was going. I was wrong at least five times,” said Alexandre Perrier, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Art Club. “Cascadia rolled with every unexpected turn and got us to an amazing outcome. Now the fun part begins, the next phase of growth with Sound Growth Partners by our side.”
“We couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome for Alex and the entire Diamond Art Club team, particularly with a world-class partner in Sound Growth Partners,” said Billy Susman, Managing Director at Cascadia Capital. “Diamond Art Club has built an exceptional brand with a deeply loyal customer base and a leadership position in an exciting category. We look forward to seeing what the team accomplishes in its next chapter of growth.”
The transaction further demonstrates Cascadia’s experience advising founder-owned and digitally native consumer businesses, particularly those with differentiated brands, loyal customer communities, and compelling opportunities for continued growth.
This week, Cascadia Capital welcomed its Class of 2026 First-Year Analysts to the firm. It is a moment we look forward to each year: a new group of talented young professionals joining our team, ready to learn the craft of investment banking and contribute to the work we do for our clients.
Cascadia has always believed that the strongest working relationships start early. That belief shapes how we bring on and develop new talent, and it reflects who we are as a firm: independent, collaborative, and committed to growing careers from the ground up.
We are proud to invest in the next generation of bankers, and we look forward to the energy, curiosity, and hard work this class will bring to Cascadia in the years ahead.
Cascadia Capital is pleased to share our Summer 2026 Pet Industry Overview.
The Summer edition of our semi-annual report covers the key themes shaping the next phase of pet growth and M&A activity, with highlights including:
Pet ownership and macroeconomic dynamics, with headline recovery in pet ownership set against persistent inflation and softening consumer sentiment
Sustained premiumization in pet food, with fresh and frozen formats continuing to gain share as minimally-processed form factors reshape the category
Officially entering our "cat era": accelerating cat ownership and growing institutional interest position cat as one of the next industry growth frontiers
Pet supplements in the spotlight, fueled by pet humanization and growing focus on pet healthspan, with science and efficacy front and center for acquirors
Acceleration of multi-site pet services, as consumers continue their services expenditure and institutional capital fuels emerging leaders in a fragmented landscape
Cascadia has deep experience advising founder-owned and private equity-backed pet companies across M&A and capital raising at every stage of growth, and we would be pleased to connect with industry participants considering a potential liquidity event. To set up time with Cascadia or request a copy of the report, please reach out to Aarti Kapoor.
We are thrilled to welcome our 2026 summer analysts to the Cascadia team. Over the summer, they will be jumping headfirst into real transactions, working alongside our deal teams, and getting a firsthand look at what makes Cascadia a different kind of investment bank.
At Cascadia, we genuinely invest in the folks who come through our doors, and we love watching them grow over the course of a summer. To our new summer analysts: we are glad you are here. We cannot wait to see what you bring to the team.
Cascadia Capital Managing Director Aarti Kapoor recently shared her perspective with Mergermarket on the evolving outlook for mergers and acquisitions in the pet products and services sector.
After several years of slower activity following the pandemic-era surge in pet adoption, industry conditions are beginning to shift. Improving macroeconomic conditions, resetting valuation expectations, and a backlog of private equity-backed companies seeking exits are creating the potential for renewed deal activity across the category.
In the article, Aarti highlights several areas drawing strong investor interest, including pet supplements and science-backed products across food, treats, and wellness categories, where innovation and differentiated positioning continue to drive growth. She also notes the broader long-term tailwinds supporting the sector, including premiumization trends and sustained consumer focus on pet health and wellbeing.
As financing conditions improve and operational visibility increases, these factors are positioning the pet sector for a more active period of M&A and capital raising in the years ahead.
Cascadia Capital is pleased to announce it acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Cy’s Linen (“Cy’s”), a portfolio company of Talus Group Holdings, in securing a new debt facility led by Principal Alternative Credit (“Principal”). This financing solution will be used to refinance Cy’s existing facility and provide additional capital to further expand and strengthen its platform into the broader Southeast region. This funding marks a new phase of growth and expansion for Cy’s as it continues to enhance its premier laundry and linen service offering.
Founded in 1945, Cy’s Linen has grown into a leading commercial linen and laundry services platform in South Florida. The Company serves ~700+ customers across the food & beverage, hospitality, and spa end markets, delivering high-quality premium laundry and linens 365 days a year. Since Talus’ investment in 2022, the Company has successfully completed and integrated four acquisitions, solidifying its position as an industry leader in the region. Cy’s Linen will use this financing to further enhance its offerings to meet the increasing demand in the Southeast.
Cy’s Linen has secured a financing structure aligned with its acquisition-driven strategy, providing the capital and flexibility needed to pursue strategic growth opportunities, scale operations, and further solidify its leadership position in the market
“Cascadia Capital played a critical role in guiding us through this financing process, ensuring we had access to the right capital partners to support our expansion strategy,” said Luis Aguilar, CEO at Cy’s Holdings. “We are grateful for their partnership and look forward to executing on our organic and inorganic growth initiatives with this new capital in place.”
“Through a disciplined and competitive process, we attracted strong lender interest and delivered a financing solution that provides Cy’s Linen with the flexibility to continue executing on its growth strategy,” said Tom Mills, Head of Capital Markets at Cascadia Capital. “It was great to work alongside the Talus team again and support Cy’s Linen as the company continues its strong momentum.”
Cascadia Capital, an independent investment bank serving middle-market clients globally, is pleased to announce that it served as the exclusive financial advisor to Mana Products (“Mana” or the “Company”) on its sale to Prime Matter Labs, a portfolio company of Monogram Capital Partners.
Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Long Island City, New York, Mana is one of the largest color cosmetics contract manufacturers in the United States. The Company has a long-standing reputation for technical excellence across color cosmetics, skincare, and haircare, and has served as a trusted manufacturing partner to many of the most recognizable brands in beauty.
Mana’s client base has included leading prestige global brands as well as emerging and high-growth brands in color cosmetics and skincare categories. The Company operates two manufacturing facilities in New York and has been recognized for its innovation, scale, and deep formulation expertise.
Prime Matter Labs, backed by Monogram Capital, is a platform focused on building differentiated beauty and personal care businesses. The acquisition of Mana further expands Prime Matter Labs’ capabilities and reinforces its commitment to investing in innovation and high-quality manufacturing in the beauty ecosystem.
“Mana Products has been a cornerstone of the U.S. beauty manufacturing landscape for decades, with a reputation built on quality, innovation, and long-standing customer relationships,” said William Susman, Managing Director at Cascadia Capital. “We are proud to have advised Mana on this transaction and to help position the business for its next chapter under Prime Matter Labs stewardship.”
“This transaction reflects the continued strategic interest in scaled, innovation-led beauty manufacturing platforms,” added Ilya Seglin, Managing Director at Cascadia Capital. “Prime Matter Labs and Monogram Capital bring a thoughtful, long-term approach that we believe aligns well with Mana’s legacy and capabilities.”
Cascadia Capital, an independent investment bank serving middle-market clients globally, today announced that Aarti Kapoor has joined the firm as a Managing Director in its Consumer, Retail & E-Commerce group. Based in New York, Ms. Kapoor brings 18 years of consumer and retail transaction experience across private equity investing and advisory, with deep expertise in health, wellness & beauty services, restaurants, and pet products & services.
Ms. Kapoor joins Cascadia from VMG Partners, a leading consumer and retail growth equity firm, where she served as a Partner in the investment fund and CEO of VMG Consumer Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: VMGA). Prior to VMG, she spent nearly 15 years in investment banking at Goldman Sachs, Moelis & Company, and Citi, advising public and private companies on mergers & acquisitions, capital raising, and strategic alternatives.
Throughout her career, Ms. Kapoor has developed a strong track record advising clients across a broad range of deal stages and profiles—from emerging growth and family/founder-owned businesses to large-cap public companies—and across financial products, including M&A and raising capital in both the private and public markets. She is widely regarded for her deep domain expertise in multi-unit consumer services such as fitness, wellness, aesthetic services, restaurants, and pet services, as well as her specialized focus on pet consumer products.
“Aarti brings a rare combination of senior investment banking experience and principal investing expertise that will immediately elevate our consumer practice,” said William Susman, Head of Cascadia’s Consumer group. “Her deep relationships across the multi-unit services, restaurants and pet ecosystems, coupled with her track record at Moelis, Goldman Sachs, and VMG Partners, position her to add tremendous value to our clients. We are thrilled to welcome her to the team and confident her leadership will further strengthen our ability to execute complex, high-impact transactions across the consumer landscape.”
“I’m excited to join Cascadia and help expand the firm’s consumer practice across several categories. Institutional investors continue to lean heavily into multi-unit, service-oriented models in the health, wellness and lifestyle categories, as well as limited-service restaurants. Further, assets in the pet products category continue to benefit meaningfully from robust long-term sector tailwinds, proving attractive to a wide range of both sponsor and strategic buyers,” said Ms. Kapoor. “Having spent my career advising and investing across these categories, I’ve seen firsthand the impact that thoughtful partnership and deep industry expertise can have on businesses at critical inflection points. Cascadia’s independent model, sector focus, and high-touch advisory approach make it a uniquely compelling platform. I look forward to collaborating with this exceptional team to support founders, management teams, and investors as they navigate important strategic and transactional decisions.”
“Aarti’s addition reflects our continued investment in senior talent across key growth sectors,” added Michael Butler, Chairman & CEO of Cascadia Capital. “Her experience across both advisory and principal investing, particularly in high-growth, service-oriented consumer categories, aligns perfectly with our commitment to building the most effective, deeply specialized advisory platform in the market. We are proud to welcome her to Cascadia.”
To learn more about Aarti, or connect with her, please visit her profile:
Aarti Kapoor is a Managing Director at Cascadia in the Consumer, Retail & E-commerce group and brings 18 years of wide-ranging transaction experience in consumer & retail across principal investing and advisory both on M&A and capital markets. Aarti primarily focuses on multi-site consumer businesses across various verticals including fitness, wellness, aesthetic services, pet and restaurants, and also specializes in pet consumer products.
Aarti most recently spent four years in principal investing at a leading consumer & retail private equity firm, VMG Partners, where she was a Partner in the firm’s investment fund as well as CEO of VMG-affiliated special purpose acquisition company, VMG Consumer Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:VMGA).
Prior to joining VMG Partners, Kapoor was a senior banker in consumer & retail investment banking at Goldman Sachs, where she was integral to growing the firm’s coverage of leisure, lifestyle, and wellness brands. Prior to Goldman Sachs, Kapoor was an investment banker for nearly a decade at Moelis & Company, where she built one of Wall Street’s first coverage platforms focused on the health and wellness industry.
Aarti has been recognized for her work in pioneering health & wellness sector coverage by various publications, listed to "Forbes 30 Under 30" in Finance and Business Insider's "Rising Stars" of Wall Street, and featured in Bloomberg, CNBC, Yahoo! Finance and other leading industry publications.
Aarti graduated from Harvard College and is based in New York, NY.
Cascadia Capital, an independent investment bank serving middle market clients globally, is pleased to announce it acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Modes Corwik, a Canadian designer and marketer of branded and private-label women’s apparel, in receiving an investment from MASSiv Brands, a U.S.-based platform with a growing portfolio in the apparel and lifestyle sector.
Founded in 1978, Corwik has established itself as a leader in the women’s fashion space, with a diverse product offering that includes jeans, blouses, tops, dresses, and sustainable luxury apparel. Its portfolio of owned and licensed brands—Hilary Radley, Dalia, and Forest Lily, is distributed across longstanding retail and wholesale channels throughout North America.
This transaction brings together two complementary platforms with a shared commitment to brand-building, design leadership, and operational excellence. The combination enhances Corwik’s market presence and positions the business for continued growth across both Canada and the United States.
The cross-border nature of the transaction, combined with prevailing macroeconomic volatility and U.S.–Canada trade complexities, required a highly strategic and relationship-driven advisory approach. Cascadia leveraged its deep sector expertise, longstanding relationship with the Corwik leadership team, and understanding of the global apparel value chain to structure and execute a successful outcome.
“This was a highly complex and strategic transaction that underscores Cascadia’s commitment to relationship-driven advisory. Leveraging deep sector expertise and longstanding client trust, our team navigated a challenging cross-border apparel deal amidst significant geopolitical and trade uncertainty, delivering a successful outcome for all stakeholders,” said William Susman, Cascadia Managing Director.
“Having worked closely with Cascadia over the better part of four years, we’ve consistently been impressed by the team’s resilience, professionalism, and commitment to tailoring the right process for our business. We’re thrilled with the outcome of this transaction and deeply value the partnership we’ve built along the way,” added Hezi Twik, CEO of Corwik.
This deal highlights Cascadia Capital’s strength in cross-border transactions and deep expertise within the consumer and apparel sectors, particularly in navigating complex processes and delivering successful outcomes in dynamic market environments.
We are happy to share our 2H 2025 Retail Technology Industry update, complete with insightful analysis, comprehensive industry trends, and detailed M&A and capital raise data. Key Takeaways:
Macroeconomic Update: Although public equities continue to surge, other parts of the economy show signs of weakness as the Government shutdown clouds key indicators, and the Fed continues to cut interest rates
Retail Market: Driven by nascent technology, evolving consumer behavior and demand for operational efficiency, the retail technology market is expected to reach $49.2B by 2030
Recent Trends: Generative AI, social commerce and rising competition are helping to transform the retail technology landscape
Transaction Activity: Both M&A and capital raise transaction volume, within the retail tech sector, has experienced a slowdown in 1H 2025 compared to 1H 2024 as economic conditions damper activity, primarily in the middle market
If you are interested, we are happy to discuss market conditions, retail technology trends, or learn more about your business and strategic goals.
We’re excited to launch our new Cascadia Conversations:Meet Our Team video series, highlighting the people who make our firm unique. At Cascadia, we believe our greatest value to clients comes from our people—their experience, perspectives, and passion for what they do.
We’re kicking off the series with Managing Director Billy Susman, who shares his path to Cascadia, his most memorable deal, and the values that guide his work with clients. He also shares a few fun facts you might not expect.
Watch the video to get to know Billy and stay tuned for more conversations with our team.
Cascadia Capital, an investment bank serving middle-market clients globally, is pleased to announce that Corkcicle, a leading lifestyle drinkware brand, has been acquired by a private investor group.
Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Corkcicle develops, markets, and sells consumer products including insulated drinkware, barware, and soft coolers. The company’s mission is to enhance personal style while reducing environmental impact, enabling customers to enjoy cool beverages conveniently and sustainably.
Through this acquisition, the investor group will provide Corkcicle with the resources and strategic support to accelerate its growth, expand distribution channels, and continue developing innovative consumer lifestyle products. The company is well-positioned to capture the increasing demand for stylish and sustainable drinkware solutions.
“Cascadia ran a thoughtful and efficient process that resulted in a strong outcome for the team and brand,” said the Corkcicle management team. “Their network of strategic contacts along with their knowledge of the consumer goods marketplace made them an invaluable partner throughout this process.”
“Corkcicle has built an iconic lifestyle brand at the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and consumer design,” said William Susman, Managing Director at Cascadia Capital. “This transaction highlights the strong investor appetite for differentiated consumer businesses, and we are proud to have advised Corkcicle on this important milestone.”
Cascadia Capital, an independent investment bank serving middle-market organizations, today announced that it acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Diamond Art Club, a leading digitally native brand of premium diamond art kits, on its acquisition by Sound Growth Partners.
Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Diamond Art Club has established itself as a leading brand in the rapidly growing diamond painting and DIY creative category. The Company offers premium diamond art kits featuring high-quality materials and original designs created by artists and has built a highly engaged community of hobbyists and a loyal base of repeat customers.
Diamond painting combines elements of cross stitch and paint-by-numbers to create an accessible, screen-free creative experience. As consumer interest in creative hobbies continues to grow, Diamond Art Club has differentiated itself through the quality of its products and designs, strong brand affinity, and an engaged customer community.
Cascadia worked closely with Diamond Art Club’s founders and management team to position the Company for its next phase of growth and identify a partner that could build on the brand’s strong foundation. The partnership with Sound Growth Partners, a growth-oriented private equity firm, provides Diamond Art Club’s founders with liquidity while allowing them to retain upside as the Company pursues opportunities to accelerate growth and expand into new markets and categories.
“I thought I knew where this process was going. I was wrong at least five times,” said Alexandre Perrier, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Art Club. “Cascadia rolled with every unexpected turn and got us to an amazing outcome. Now the fun part begins, the next phase of growth with Sound Growth Partners by our side.”
“We couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome for Alex and the entire Diamond Art Club team, particularly with a world-class partner in Sound Growth Partners,” said Billy Susman, Managing Director at Cascadia Capital. “Diamond Art Club has built an exceptional brand with a deeply loyal customer base and a leadership position in an exciting category. We look forward to seeing what the team accomplishes in its next chapter of growth.”
The transaction further demonstrates Cascadia’s experience advising founder-owned and digitally native consumer businesses, particularly those with differentiated brands, loyal customer communities, and compelling opportunities for continued growth.