Martin Sumichrast Entrepreneur Shaping Capital Markets

Spanning more than three decades and three continents, the professional journey of Martin Sumichrast reflects an extraordinary depth of experience in public company leadership, investment banking, and private equity. Based in Charlotte, Martin Sumichrast — widely known as Marty Sumichrast — built his reputation as a co-founder and former Chairman, CEO, and President of cbdMD, Inc., a consumer wellness company trading on the NYSE. He also co-founded Adara Acquisition Corp., a NYSE-listed special purpose acquisition company, and serves as a Trustee of Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund. Earlier in his career, Marty Sumichrast established Global Capital Partners, Inc., scaling it into a worldwide investment bank employing over 500 professionals across 27 offices. His leadership of Stone Street Capital, a Charlotte-based private equity firm, further broadened his expertise in direct investment. Currently, Martin Sumichrast works through American Capital Partners Inc., delivering strategic planning, capital markets insight, and mergers and acquisitions guidance to entrepreneurs seeking to grow their businesses.

Marty Sumichrast: Decades of Leadership Across Public Markets and Private Enterprise

Leading NYSE-Listed Companies to Lasting Success

Among the most significant milestones in Marty Sumichrast's career is his co-founding role at cbdMD, Inc. (NYSE: YCBD), where he held the positions of Chairman, CEO, and President. Guiding a consumer wellness brand through the rigorous process of achieving a full NYSE listing demands both meticulous operational management and sophisticated capital markets knowledge — a combination that defines his professional profile. He subsequently brought that same expertise to bear as co-founder and CEO of Adara Acquisition Corp. (NYSE), a special purpose acquisition vehicle designed to bring private companies into public markets. Across these roles, Martin Sumichrast demonstrated a consistent ability to manage investor relations, board responsibilities, and regulatory obligations at the highest tier of public company governance. For a comprehensive overview of his professional history, visit his about.me/marty.sumichrast profile.
Leading NYSE-Listed Companies to Lasting Success

Scaling a Global Investment Bank and Private Equity Firm

Prior to his work in consumer wellness and public acquisition vehicles, Martin Sumichrast founded Global Capital Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: GCAP) and methodically expanded it into an internationally recognized investment bank employing more than 500 people across 27 offices on multiple continents. Achieving that scale required deep competency in cross-border deal structuring, international regulatory compliance, and the ability to recruit and retain top-tier financial talent in competitive markets. Complementing this, Marty Sumichrast directed Stone Street Capital, a Charlotte-based private equity firm, gaining hands-on insight into direct investment strategies and portfolio management. These combined experiences gave him a practical, ground-level perspective on how capital moves from institutional sources to high-growth businesses — knowledge that now benefits every entrepreneur and founder he works alongside.
Scaling a Global Investment Bank and Private Equity Firm

Advising Entrepreneurs Through American Capital Partners

In his current work, Martin Sumichrast applies more than three decades of company-building experience through his affiliation with American Capital Partners Inc., a firm dedicated to business advisory and investment services. His primary areas of focus — strategic planning, capital markets advisory, and mergers and acquisitions — align directly with the challenges entrepreneurs face when scaling or repositioning their companies. Concurrently, his role as a Trustee of Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund (NYSE: BGH) keeps him actively engaged in institutional fixed-income markets, reinforcing his broad financial perspective. Entrepreneurs who work with Marty Sumichrast benefit not just from theoretical frameworks but from the practical lessons earned by building and leading real companies across multiple market cycles. His Charlotte presence positions him well within the Southeast's dynamic business community, while his international track record enables him to serve clients with ambitions far beyond regional boundaries.
Advising Entrepreneurs Through American Capital Partners

Frequently Asked Questions

Martin Sumichrast is a highly experienced entrepreneur and business advisor based in Charlotte, with over 35 years of success co-founding and steering public companies, investment banks, and private equity firms across three continents.

Marty Sumichrast co-founded cbdMD, Inc. (NYSE: YCBD), where he served as Chairman, CEO, and President, as well as Adara Acquisition Corp. (NYSE). He also founded Global Capital Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: GCAP), which grew into a significant global investment bank.

cbdMD, Inc. is a NYSE-listed consumer wellness company trading under the ticker YCBD. Martin Sumichrast was a co-founder of the business and held the roles of Chairman, CEO, and President, leading the company through its public listing process and early growth stages.

Global Capital Partners, Inc. was a NASDAQ-listed investment bank that Marty Sumichrast founded and led to remarkable scale — growing to more than 500 employees operating out of 27 offices worldwide, establishing it as a prominent force in international capital markets.

Today, Martin Sumichrast is affiliated with American Capital Partners Inc., where he provides guidance to entrepreneurs on strategic planning, capital markets access, and mergers and acquisitions. He also serves as a Trustee of Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund (NYSE: BGH).