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ISF Deal Series - Chicago

September 16, 2026 | 8:00am - 6:00pm CT
Marriott Marquis Chicago | Chicago, IL

Conducted in a convenient one-day format to maximize efficiency, the ISF Deal Series is open by invitation-only to vetted capital providers and independent sponsors and the Chicago event will take place on September 16, 2026, at the Marriott Marquis Chicago.

Launched in partnership with the Small Business Investor Alliance (SBIA), the ISF Deal Series is:

  • Designed exclusively by and for independent sponsors and capital providers with a defined independent sponsor strategy.
  • Invitation only to pre-screened capital providers and independent sponsors, ensuring your time will be well spent and yield the highest return.
  • Focused on attendee-selected 1:1 meetings using our proprietary scheduling platform featuring robust attendee profiles.
  • Designed to offer ample time for networking, peer discussions and key insights on current market trends.
  • Limited in vendor involvement solely to ISF sponsors.
  • Offered on a consistent basis, better matching the natural cadence of deal flow.

DEALINX ISF

You will be invited to access the DeaLinx ISF scheduling platform one week before the event on Wednesday, September 9, with reminder communication sent before the launch of the meeting platform. Only one profile is necessary per firm, so if you have additional colleagues registered, a meeting point-person will be determined and given access to the meeting platform on the firm's behalf.

Event Agenda

Please note, times subject to adjustment.

Wednesday, September 16

8:00am

Registration & Networking Breakfast

9:00am

1:1 Meetings

10:30am

Fireside Chat: Preparing for Exit - Key Considerations

Sylvia Gadant - Citrin Cooperman

Robert Connolly - Levenfeld Pearlstein

Husnain Safdar - Tecum Capital

Franklin Staley - Exeter Street Capital

11:00am

1:1 Meetings

12:30pm

Lunch & Roundtable Discussions

Roundtable 1: Section 1202 Benefits for Independent Sponsors

Steve Brady - Withum

Joe Rodgers - Source Capital

Roundtable 2: Creating Alignment with Capital Providers & Management Teams

Tye Hernandez - Aspen HR

David Naiman - Wherewithal Partners

Roundtable 3: AI/Tech Use Strategies for Independent Sponsors

Rodney Reisdorf - Verivend

1:30pm

1:1 Meetings

3:00pm

Fireside Chat: Win-Win: Negotiating Closing and Management Fees

John Koeppel - Lippes Mathias LLP (Moderator)

Simon Haidamous - Genesis Park

Ryan McGovern - Star Mountain Capital

Jeff Piper - LXP

3:30pm

1:1 Meetings

4:30pm

Networking Reception

Chicago

LOCATION:

Marriott Marquis Chicago
2121 South Prairie Avenue
Chicago, IL 60616 United States

Request an Invitation

Please fill out the appropriate application:

I am a Capital Provider >

I'm an Independent Sponsor >

 

Who Attends?
Agenda
Pricing
Sponsorship

Thank you to our Chicago Sponsors

PRESENTING

 

PATRON

 

PREMIER

 

CONTRIBUTING

(R) ISF Gradient Against Dark BG

529 14th Street, NW
Suite 400

Washington, DC 20045
Phone: 202-628-5055

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