SBIC Connection
Connecting Licensed SBICs and Small Government Contractors
Licensed SBICs have a regulatory advantage most people underuse: they can invest equity capital into small government contractors without triggering affiliation or causing the loss of set-aside eligibility. Ordinary private equity cannot do this. The problem is that the SBICs with this advantage and the contractors who need this capital are not finding each other. This page—and a networking event tentatively planned for early 2027 in Huntsville, Alabama described further below—exist to change that.
Who This Is For
This initiative serves three groups that need each other but are not reliably finding each other: licensed SBICs looking for deal flow, private capital managers evaluating the SBIC licensing path, and small government contractors that need growth capital without losing set-aside eligibility. Find your group below to learn what the Huntsville event makes possible and how to get involved.
- Group 1 - Existing Licensed SBICs
This track is for licensed SBICs—particularly equity or hybrid funds—that are actively deploying capital and looking for differentiated deal flow. Small government contractors with funded MAC and IDIQ portfolios represent a category of investment opportunity that most SBICs never see, precisely because traditional PE buyers trigger immediate size recertification and these companies cannot afford to lose set-aside eligibility.
The Huntsville event is designed to put those companies in front of you—through materials submitted in advance and through direct in-person meetings. Online introductions we facilitate are at our discretion and are not guaranteed. Conversations that begin in person at the event are ordinary professional networking.
When you register, you can indicate whether you'd like to receive curated contractor materials for review, be considered as a speaker or panelist, or simply receive event updates.
If you are a registered SBIC interested in exploring government contractor deal flow, register below.
- Group 2 - Prospective SBIC / SBICCT Applicants
This track is for private capital managers—growth equity funds, private credit managers, banks, family offices, and other investors—evaluating whether the SBIC program fits their strategy. The practical questions are straightforward: Does this model work for our fund? What does the 9–12 month licensing process actually require? And is there a credible opportunity set that justifies the effort?
The Huntsville event brings prospective applicants together with active SBIC managers and small government contractors. It is a chance to hear real-world deployment and compliance experience and evaluate whether the opportunity set justifies the licensing effort for your fund.
If you are considering an SBIC or SBICCT license and want to learn more, register below.
- Group 3 - Small Government Contractors
This track is for small government contractors that have built real value inside MAC, IDIQ, or set-aside portfolios and need growth capital or partial liquidity—but cannot accept conventional private equity without risking affiliation and the loss of set-aside eligibility on existing contract vehicles.
Licensed SBICs can invest under an affiliation exception (13 C.F.R. § 121.103(b)(1)) that may preserve your status if the investment is structured correctly. The Huntsville event is designed so contractors like you can get in front of those funds—by submitting company materials in advance or by attending in person. Online introductions we facilitate are discretionary and are not guaranteed. In-person conversations at the event are ordinary professional networking.
When you register, you can upload a company overview, capability statement, or pitch deck for potential review by licensed SBICs that are actively deploying capital.
If you are a small government contractor exploring growth capital options that preserve your eligibility, register below.
How Connections Work
Path 1—Through This Page
Materials submitted through this page are reviewed internally by the Maynard Nexsen Government Solutions team. Where there appears to be a potential fit and no conflicts exist, we may facilitate an introduction so the parties can decide whether to continue. All facilitated introductions are at our discretion and create no obligation on any party. Submitting materials does not guarantee review, introduction, or any particular outcome.
Path 2—At the Huntsville Event
The event is where real relationships form. Through breakout sessions, structured programming, and direct conversation, attendees meet the people they came to find. We are not gatekeeping those interactions—connections made in person lead wherever they lead naturally.
Event Status / Timeline
Upcoming Huntsville Event—Target Q1 2027
We are planning an in-person event in Huntsville, Alabama. The event brings licensed SBICs, prospective applicants, and small government contractors together for breakout sessions, structured introductions where appropriate, and the kind of direct conversations that only happen when the right people are in the same room. This page will be updated as details become available — sign up above to be notified directly.
Additional Resources
Disclaimer
Submitting information through this page does not create an attorney-client relationship with Maynard Nexsen or any of its attorneys. Participation does not guarantee that your materials will be reviewed, that an introduction will be made, or that any investment or engagement will result. Should any introduction lead to a desire for legal representation, such engagement would be subject to our firm's standard client intake and conflict review process. This page and related materials are provided for general informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute legal, investment, or brokerage advice. Maynard Nexsen is not acting as a broker-dealer, placement agent, or investment adviser in connection with this initiative.
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