We buy, back and build compelling companies by leveraging the specialized expertise of founders and leaders to invest in growth, capabilities and infrastructure
We endeavor to create category leaders in niche insurance, software and services sectors
Will Sale - Director
Will started Roland Avenue to acquire and scale enduring businesses in insurance and business services. He works with Somers Investment Partners, an operationally-oriented principal investment firm focused on software and business services, and previously served its predecessor firm SV Investment Partners.
Before SV will worked in the Financial Institutions investment banking group of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, primarily covering property & casualty insurance and financial technology industries.
Will received his BA from Yale University, with distinction in History and Political Science majors, and holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
wsale@rolandavenue.com
Nick Rockwell - Director
Nick has spent his entire career in a variety of growth businesses including the last 11 as an operator and executive in financial technology, insurance, and renewable energy endeavors. He started his professional career in 2008 at Canaccord Genuity, a middle-market Canadian investment bank with a significant US operation.
In 2013 he joined small business lending marketplace pioneer Funding Circle and relocated to San Francisco. He was part of the US leadership team during the IPO in 2018 – Funding Circle has lent over $20B to main street small businesses since its inception in 2010.
After Funding Circle, Nick joined CircleUp as a General Partner of the $125M credit fund, which lent and invested in high growth consumer brands. Later he joined the founding team of insurance payments and lending startup Ascend, where he led the raise of a $250M credit facility and built all early go-to-market customer motions. Nick has most recently worked and advised in the renewable energy sector at both early stage software startups and later stage, scaled operations.
Nick holds a BA in Economics and English Literature from Hamilton College.
nrockwell@rolandavenue.com