Better For You Capital

MeadeCo assists companies like yours with an array of debt capitalization and advisory needs.

Our newest product offering is being rolled out as of Q2 of 2024!

Meade Connect Direct (MCD) takes the art of connection for business development/warm lead introductions to a whole new level. For more information, see the below link.

About MeadeCo

MeadeCo assesses a company’s financeability and the options that may exist to meet its immediate capitalization needs. MeadeCo’s leaders have been involved with the procurement, transaction management and closing of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of financing across a broad array of companies, industries and stages of maturity. On the advisory front, MeadeCo offers services related to connectivity as well as company, lease and real estate restructuring.

We have a solid series of relationships among lenders eager to partner with borrowers on providing the financing for companies’ sustenance and growth. While clients from many industries seek out financing assistance, MeadeCo is particularly focused on several key industries based on long-standing relationships and successful financing transaction completions.

In addition to capitalization expertise, MeadeCo also offers extensive services relative to advisory and restructure matters. With expertise in asset disposition, restructuring across a range of companies, commercial leases and commercial real estate assets, MeadeCo can offer advice, guidance and capitalization alternatives to stabilize and enhance the value of assets under financial distress or duress. As a licensed business broker, MeadeCo can assist clients with the sale of small business in a variety of industries. Finally, MeadeCo’s extensive relationships with a variety of strategic partners and counter-parties allows clients to solve complex problems and easily access and benefit from a large pool of sophisticated professionals and capital sources.

MeadeCo’s hallmark is a commitment to creativity, integrity, resourcefulness, tenacity and transparency that serves our clients well. We’d be pleased to discuss your advisory, capitalization, connectivity and restructure challenges to determine if we can help you and your business achieve its near and long term objectives.

Speaking of connectivity, our newest subsidiary Meade Connect Direct (MCD) has commenced operations and will enable clients to extend their reach through our nationwide network of business development experts. Click here (or on Meade Connect Direct above) for more information.

Areas of Expertise Include:
  • Debt Procurement
  • Capitalization Advisory
  • Business Brokerage
  • Company Restructure
  • Lease and Commercial Real Estate Asset Restructure
  • Connectivity and Relationship Development, Including MCD
Debt Market Specializations:
  • Venture Debt
  • Bridge Debt
  • Bitcoin/Crypto
  • Cannabis, Liquor Debt
  • Real Estate Debt
  • ABL (asset based lending) Debt
  • PO and Factoring Debt
  • Equipment Financing
Industries of Focus:
  • Healthy Food and Beverage
  • Cannabis
  • Bitcoin/Crypto
  • Liquor
  • Real Estate
  • Technology
  • Software/SaaS
  • VC/PE Operating Businesses
  • Distribution/Logistics
  • Start-Up, Early Stage, and Maturing Companies

Our Team

Leah M. Gistenson

Managing Director and General Counsel

Leah brings creative problem-solving skills and extensive experience in the lending and consulting space to her role at MeadeCo. She loves meeting new clients, listening to their business needs and goals, and finding effective strategies and solutions to help reach those goals. Leah is a natural leader with a knack for making connections and approaching problems with an innovative mindset. When it comes to project management, she establishes a clear process, empowers productive teams, and leverages the resources needed to reach completion. Her ability to work with diverse teams and different personalities makes her a strong leader who easily adapts to various environments.

Since 2018, she has been deeply involved with the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC) and the Turnaround Management Association (TMA). In these roles she has delved into DE&I policy, planned numerous educational events, and increased membership across the organizations. Leah currently serves on the board of directors for both IWIRC and TMA and is the Vice President of Education for the Chicago Chapter of TMA overseeing the Membership, University Relations, and Education committees.

Leah is an innovative and analytical professional with 15+ years of experience in legal and corporate environments. She received her B.S. and Juris Doctor (J.D.) from University of Iowa College of Law in 2009 and is currently pursuing her MBA at Indiana’s Kelley School of Business. Throughout her career, Leah has specialized in the areas of lending, asset valuations and dispositions, bankruptcies and bankruptcy alternatives, corporate consulting, and investment banking, and real estate. By working with business development, policy, legal, marketing, PR and operations teams, she’s enabled internal success across several platforms such as debt restructuring, integrations, and process improvement.

David L. Kirshenbaum

Founder and Connector-in-Chief

David has had a successful career working for a number of entrepreneurial, fast growing and diverse businesses across law, real estate, venture capital, private equity, family offices and operating businesses in senior operations/leadership positions as well as business development and transaction management. Based on these experiences and the growth of a significant network of contacts, long term relationships and strategic partners, David decided to launch MeadeCo LLC in 2018.

David started his career as a transactional real estate attorney at what is now one of the largest law firms in the world. Following the completion of his MBA, David transitioned to leadership positions in finance, investment management, real estate development, real estate investment and asset management and private equity.

Following the real estate meltdown of 2008, David transitioned to a position in real estate brokerage and business development/transaction management using his extensive knowledge of real estate law and operations as a key to successful client procurement and transaction management. In a brokerage capacity, David launched a successful international brokerage and advisory operation while executing on a range of difficult domestic PE and Corporate Real Estate Sales transactions.

With a strong desire to combine the skill sets that defined him in earlier stages of his career, David was named CEO of a venture capital start-up that was focused on selling products into the world of real estate. While a short-lived experience, David gained valuable insights into the challenges and economics of earlier stage companies in need of capital.

Following his CEO role, David acted as a special situations investment banker working with a variety of companies on matters ranging from restructuring to debt placement for “storied credits” and company sales. Employing entrepreneurial instincts and practical operational knowledge, David was able to complete a series of transactions to assist clients with a variety of needs.

While David was pursuing a successful career across a range of industries, he aggressively pursued investments across a broad spectrum of economic activity that broadened his knowledge base and allowed him to leverage hard fought lessons across three plus decades of entrepreneurial activity in a variety of endeavors. David’s investment portfolio, together with his role as advisor/mentor and board member to early stage CEOs has given him a unique perspective on the financial and operational needs of companies that require debt financing or advisory assistance.

David received his BA from Emory University. In addition, David earned JD and MBA degrees from Northwestern University. David has been an adjunct professor of real estate finance at Northwestern Law School. Moreover, David has lectured extensively on networking and business development at colleges, MBA schools, law schools, law firms and wealth management firms. Finally, David has guest lectured at Kellogg Graduate School of Management (Northwestern) on the topic of raising money for VC and Independent Sponsors as well as career transitioning. Finally, along with his Meadeco responsibilities,David is a tiger 21 chair in Chicago.

Our Approach

MeadeCo works closely with clients through every step of the the debt procurement process: critically evaluating the financeability of a client, preparing client for successful lender introductions/interface, procuring and evaluating term sheets, assisting in the negotiation of optimal terms, and managing the closing and funding process. Staffed and led by a team of experienced professionals who have been involved in finance from every perspective, we provide the unique perspective, advice and guidance that allows clients to access the appropriate capital to fit their near and longer term goals.

We also offer a range of advisory services from restructure to strategic planning to operational assistance. Our goal is to align with clients and to provide the resources to allow clients to overcome immediate challenges, thrive and grow.

Whether assisting clients on debt capitalization, advisory work or general connectivity, the MeadeCo team offers a consistent approach to understanding the key issues, researching alternatives and executing a crisp plan to create the best possible solution for our clients.

With MCD, we have added a new dimension of connectivity allowing our clients to access a nationwide virtual business development team of motivated individuals with significant contacts in a range of industries.

MeadeCo will…

LISTEN

Hearing a client’s concerns, asking probing questions

1

2

RESEARCH

Evaluating the facts, exploring avenues of relief

OFFER ALTERNATIVES

Creating choice and optionality for clients

3

4

EXECUTE A CREATIVE PLAN

Delivering results with creativity, resourcefulness and tenacity

Our Approach

MeadeCo works closely with clients through every step of the the debt procurement process: critically evaluating the financeability of a client, preparing client for successful lender introductions/interface, procuring and evaluating term sheets, assisting in the negotiation of optimal terms, and managing the closing and funding process. Staffed and led by a team of experienced professionals who have been involved in finance from every perspective, we provide the unique perspective, advice and guidance that allows clients to access the appropriate capital to fit their near and longer term goals.

We also offer a range of advisory services from restructure to strategic planning to operational assistance. Our goal is to align with clients and to provide the resources to allow clients to overcome immediate challenges, thrive and grow.

Whether assisting clients on debt capitalization, advisory work or general connectivity, the MeadeCo team offers a consistent approach to understanding the key issues, researching alternatives and executing a crisp plan to create the best possible solution for our clients.

With MCD, we have added a new dimension of connectivity allowing our clients to access a nationwide virtual business development team of motivated individuals with significant contacts in a range of industries.

Meadeco will…
  1. LISTEN (hearing a client’s concerns, asking probing questions)
  2. RESEARCH (evaluating the facts, exploring avenues of relief)
  3. OFFER ALTERNATIVES (creating choice and optionality for clients)
  4. EXECUTE A CREATIVE PLAN (delivering results with creativity, resourcefulness and tenacity)
Our Approach - Meadeco

Our Services

MeadeCo is a licensed Illinois loan broker. Regarding debt capitalizations, borrowers need a strong, experienced advocate to navigate the world of debt finance–especially in times of rising interest rates and unpredictable market volatility. Working hand in hand with clients, MeadeCo helps companies best position themselves for a comprehensive debt procurement process.

Debt Placement

Better for You Capital to fuel strategic growth and take advantage of opportunities that require additional capital. Offering a comprehensive program of debt procurement, MeadeCo helps companies clear the market, evaluate available options and secure the optimal debt capital facilities.

Advisory

MeadeCo offers a range of advisory services to augment a company’s ongoing operational, tactical and strategic needs. Careful situational analysis, an extensive network and deep experience bolsters the outcome of all advisory services, including business brokerage and investment banking.

Strategic Connections

MeadeCo has developed extensive contacts in law, finance, VC, PE, real estate, family offices and operating businesses across a variety of industries and geographies. We have been able to make extremely valuable introductions that have led to the conclusion of significant transactions benefiting both parties.

Warm Introductions

With the advent of MCD, we have taken our connection capabilities to a whole new level. Clients with limited or localized sales forces/BD teams benefit from a nationwide team deployed to open meaningful doors from coast to coast.

AVAILABLE RESOURCES

As an addition to the Advisory Services offered through MeadeCo & the sales/connectivity services offered through MCD, David has developed a strategic relationship with a range of firms, individuals and counterparties who/which augment MeadeCo’s/MCD’s offerings and allow for clients to benefit from MeadeCo’s/MCD’s longstanding relationships. Key partners include firms which can add value to MeadeCo clients in the following areas:

  • Appraisals Hilco”
  • Business Brokerage Multiple”
  • Cannabis Back Office/OPS Panther Christy P??”
  • Construction Mosaic”
  • Co-working Deskpass”
  • CPG Sales/Finance/OPS Back Office Josh Reitman-family office/Jill K”
  • Crypto/Bitcoin Gideon”
  • Data/Location Services Seaker/Ashley”
  • Fractional CFO/CMO/COOs
  • Logistics/Trucks Nations Jims”
  • Mentorship/Board of Directors Advisory Bruce Kabat”
  • PEOs (Professional Employment Organization)
  • Real Estate Joey”
  • Recruitment
  • Restructure Redd/Capstone”
  • Risk Management CAC”
  • Sales and Operational Help Siskin”
  • Shipping Siskin”
  • VC/PE Strategy + OPS Consulting
  • Wire Fraud Prevention Gideon”
  • Appraisals Hilco”
  • Business Brokerage Multiple”
  • Cannabis Back Office/OPS Panther Christy P??”
  • Construction Mosaic”
  • Co-working Deskpass”
  • CPG Sales/Finance/OPS Back Office Josh Reitman-family office/Jill K”
  • Crypto/Bitcoin Gideon”
  • Data/Location Services Seaker/Ashley”
  • Fractional CFO/CMO/COOs
  • Logistics/Trucks Nations Jims”
  • Mentorship/Board of Directors Advisory Bruce Kabat”
  • PEOs (Professional Employment Organization)
  • Real Estate Joey”
  • Recruitment
  • Restructure Redd/Capstone”
  • Risk Management CAC”
  • Sales and Operational Help Siskin”
  • Shipping Siskin”
  • VC/PE Strategy + OPS Consulting
  • Wire Fraud Prevention Gideon”

Contact MeadeCo & MCD