ABOUT US
COME BEHIND THE COUNTER
Behind the Counter is on a mission to make private markets accessible, and help owners grow their business or successfully exit.
Our Story
After two decades excelling in private equity, investment management and corporate advisory, our founder, Gavin Preston began to see a trend that would define the rest of his working career.
Frustrated by the countless number of hard-working entrepreneurs he saw who were struggling to grow or exit, simply because private markets are cumbersome and ambiguous, and they lacked a partner who could guide them, Gavin left his job to create a company that could lead entrepreneurs to financial victory.
Behind the Counter was born on the philosophy that providing transparency of private market functions and basic market principles could better serve the global community of entrepreneurs.
OUR MISSION
We believe that good corporate finance makes a profound difference in the growth of a business and, in turn, people’s lives. Every founder should be able to access the advice and resources they need to scale and land their perfect exit.
And the truth is that private markets are not as complicated as they appear to be.
Yes, good corporate finance requires financial expertise, market understanding, a solid network and a solid reputation. It is a process – it’s also not rocket science. Anyone can learn it!
Our team is passionate about demystifying markets and helping entrepreneurs leverage our financial expertise to make the right moves, scale and win.
Meet Our Founder
Gavin Preston, CFA is the Managing Partner of Behind the Counter. He works with companies to unlock their next level growth and successfully exit.
Over his 20-year+ career in investment management and private equity, Gavin has led and advised $1M – $100 million transactions across a wide range of industries and deal structures in the US, Canada, Australia and Israel. A former interim CEO who rescued a biotech company out of receivership and returned it to health, Gavin knows the pressures CEOs face leading their businesses.
Direct and candid, Gavin – known for getting in trouble for telling customers the truth – likes to say he is equally proud of the deals he’s advised his clients not to do. A husband and father, he is passionate about helping entrepreneurs attain financial and personal freedom.
OUR CORE VALUES
INTEGRITY
We do the right thing by people and our clients.
CANDOUR
We are real and operate directly and openly.
PARTNERSHIP
We are invested in the health and success of our clients and community.
EXCELLENCE
We seek to win and create exceptional outcomes.
OUR CORE VALUES
INTEGRITY
We do the right thing by peopole and our clients.
CANDOUR
We are real and operate directly and openly.
PARTNERSHIP
We are invested in the health and success of our clients and community.
EXCELLENCE
We seek to win and create exceptional outcomes.
OUR TEAM
Leadership Team
We leverage decades of experience to help our clients grow or exit
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Grown multiple start-ups from the inside as founders and in senior finance and marketing roles.
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Led and advised on transactions worth <$1M - >$100 million.
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Global deals including in Australia, US, Canada and Israel.
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Portfolio management of public equity, private equity, balanced and venture capital funds.
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Rescued company out of receivorship.
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Worked on a wide range of equity and debt structures and deals, including: management buyouts, leveraged buyouts, growth capital, pre-seed, seed, Series A, and later stage capital raises, hybrid securities, convertible debt or preferred shares, senior secured debt, options and more.
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Spoken with hundreds of management teams around the world.