512Financial

The executive profile PE and VC firms wanted in 2021 is not the same one getting hired in 2026. Boards are prioritizing operators who know how to manage through uncertainty, tighten execution, and build systems that hold up when growth slows down or expectations rise. Our latest blog, featuring insights from Michelle Culp, Practice Lead of Executive Retained Search at 512Financial breaks down why PE and VC firms are increasingly hiring operators in uncertain markets, and what that shift means for founders and leadership teams preparing for their next stage of growth. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gbfideuw

Today, 512Financial Co-Founder and Chairman Joel Trammell will be inducted into the 2026 Austin Tech Hall of Fame, hosted by the Austin Technology Council alongside the First Time Founder Awards. The Hall of Fame honors the leaders whose vision, work, and community investment helped shape Austin into a world-class tech hub. This year’s reception takes place May 19, 2026, as part of ATC’s eight-year rollout recognizing nearly 70 foundational contributors to Austin tech. Joel has spent his career building, leading, investing in, and advising companies through the moments that define what comes next. At 512Financial, we see that same operator mindset in how we help founders think about growth, leadership, and the infrastructure required to scale well. Congratulations, Joel. We’re proud to see your impact recognized by the Austin tech community. https://lnkd.in/gT_3ZBmg

On 5/12 we celebrated 512 Day! Once a year, we close the laptops and spend the day in service. At 512Financial, most of us went to the Central Texas Food Bank where Chef Gloria put us to work in her kitchen across two shifts. Washing dishes, baking bread, baking cookies, packing snack bags. A lot of what we made is headed to kids in their last few weeks of school. Something we learned from Chef Gloria: When school lets out, a lot of kids lose access to school lunch the same week. The Food Bank's summer programming, including easy microwaveable meals, is one piece of how they work to close that gap. They're accepting donations now to fund summer meals for kids who need them. The rest of the team showed up wherever they were. Packing apple crates at the LA Regional Food Bank. Serving meals at Denver Rescue Mission. Photographing grave markers for families who'd requested them on Find a Grave. We're grateful to every team and volunteer coordinator who made room for us. Same time next year! 

Congratulations to Tenet on their merger with Crown Data Systems. This partnership brings together trusted industry leadership and modern technology to create a more unified, scalable platform for carrier operations across North America. As organizations navigate growth, having the right operational foundation, and the right leadership in place, becomes critical. We’re proud to support companies like Tenet as they continue to scale and evolve. https://lnkd.in/gZBh-xge

Meet Michelle Culp, 512Financial Practice Leader of Executive Retained Search. At 512Financial, Culp works closely with investors and leadership teams to place executives capable of scaling businesses effectively. “We work with PE and venture capital firms to find executives for their next level of growth,” said Culp. As growth expectations evolve, so does the definition of the right leader. 512Financial’s Executive Retained Search practice is built for this shift, helping clients go beyond resumes to identify operators who can bring structure, accountability, and repeatable execution to their organizations. By combining deep market insight with a hands-on, partnership-driven approach, the team ensures companies are not just filling roles, but placing leaders who can navigate complexity and deliver measurable impact at every stage of growth.

Congratulations are in order! 🏆 Our CEO and Co-Founder, Bart Davis, was named the 2026 Austin Under 40 Awards winner in the Capital, Financial, and Insurance Services category over the weekend. This award recognizes Austin’s top leaders under 40 for both professional achievement and community impact, and we can’t think of anyone more deserving. Since co-founding 512Financial in 2022, Bart has grown the firm from five founding employees to 50 professionals supporting more than 150 high-growth and investor-backed companies. He also brings that same commitment to the Austin community through his work with The First Tee of Greater Austin, mentorship of founders and finance leaders, and a company-wide commitment to service. And fittingly, tomorrow is 512Day, our annual day of service. We can't wait to share what we'll be up to. Stay tuned. Congratulations, Bart. We’re lucky to have your leadership at 512Financial!

Huge congrats to Scott R Jones, Scott Sherwood, Jon Ludwig and the entire Novi Labs team on acquiring Turing Analytics. For a decade, Novi has been the platform energy operators and investors use to figure out which oil and gas assets are worth the capital. With Turing joining the team, that lens now covers North America end to end, U.S. and Canada under one roof. We've been lucky to work with Novi on their finance function during this stretch. Excited to see what they do next. https://lnkd.in/gQVYVHHW

Boulder Startup Week is here and we’re excited to be part of the conversation for the first time. 512Financial CRO, Velveth Schmitz will be in Boulder this week connecting with founders, operators, and investors navigating growth in today’s market. From fundraising and financial infrastructure to hiring and operational readiness, we’re looking forward to conversations with teams building what’s next. If you’ll be there, get in touch or reach out directly to coordinate! https://lnkd.in/eCXsYmER

THIS WEEK | 512Financial is proud to sponsor the AM&AA Austin Q2 Panel, Inside the Austin M&A Market: Valuation, Capital, and Deal Execution Trends. If a transaction is on your roadmap in the next 12–24 months, the Austin market conditions today matter more than ever. We’re seeing longer timelines, deeper diligence, and increased scrutiny around financial quality and risk—factors that are directly impacting outcomes for both buyers and sellers. This session will cover: - How to think about valuation in today’s market - What’s changed in capital availability - Where deals are getting stuck (and how to move them forward) - Risk, diligence, and insurance considerations - What the next 12–24 months might look like It’s a valuable opportunity to hear directly from dealmakers who are actively navigating this environment—and to better understand how to position your business for a successful transaction. Contact us to request a ticket to this upcoming event today. https://lnkd.in/eCXsYmER

For founders with plenty of time before the next board meeting, pull up a chair and dive into these 6 metrics that Consulting CFO David Dolmanet has shared in the latest 512Financial blog, The 6 Metrics Your Board Is Actually Evaluating: A Founder’s Guide to Building Board-Ready Financials. https://lnkd.in/gkp6GUQm Presenting soon? Skip to this handy checklist to pressure test some of your assumptions: - Can you explain each of these metrics without referencing your deck? - Do you understand the trend, not just the current number? - Can you clearly articulate the “why” behind anything that’s off track? - Do you have a forward-looking perspective, not just historical reporting? - Is there any number you’re hoping doesn’t come up? That last one is a great place to start. Owning the metrics is about understanding the story they tell and being able to communicate it with confidence. Even under scrutiny.