Principals
David Nussbaum
Chairman of the BoardMr. Nussbaum is the Co-Founder and Chairman of EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. ("Company"), a boutique investment bank in New York City. Mr. Nussbaum has over two decades of experience in the securities sector, particularly in the emerging-growth arena, which continues to be his primary focus today. Mr. Nussbaum was the innovative force behind the creation of the Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. (“SPAC”) financing product.
During the 1990s, Mr. Nussbaum’s firm served as lead underwriter for 13 SPAC Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”). He re-introduced the SPAC vehicle in 2003 and his Company has acted as lead underwriting manager in 105 SPAC IPOs and co-manager in 41 additional SPAC IPOs. Moreover, Mr. Nussbaum has been actively involved in the successful consummation of over 100 SPAC mergers with operating companies.
Mr. Nussbaum began his career as an associate with Rosenman & Colin where he practiced corporate and securities law. In 1984, seeing the need for a quality boutique that would advise and finance small firms, he started GKN Securities, a broker-dealer. When he launched EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. in 2000, GKN had six offices, 500 employees and had originated more than 100 financings for early stage companies.
A member of the Young Presidents’ Organization, Mr. Nussbaum served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Regional Investment Bankers Association and is a frequent speaker at industry forums. Mr. Nussbaum earned his BA degree from the University of Michigan in 1976, graduating with honors, and his JD degree from New York University Law School in 1980, graduating magna cum laude with Order of the Coif.
Steven Levine
CEO and Head of Investment BankingMr. Levine is Co-Founder, CEO and Head of Investment Banking. His primary focus is on private placements, public offerings, restructurings, mergers and acquisitions and financial advisory work.
Prior to EarlyBirdCapital, Mr. Levine was Vice President of Investment Banking at Southeast Research Partners, Inc., (a predecessor to EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.) an investment banking and research firm with offices in New York and Florida that specialized in institutional research and sales, covering middle market private and public companies. In June of 2000, together with Mr. Nussbaum, Mr. Levine launched EarlyBirdCapital to focus on financing and advisory opportunities with small and mid-market private and public companies. From 1980 to 1991 he headed a New York-based food distribution company, a role that gave him hands-on experience in running a mid-sized business.
Mr. Levine earned his B.A. from George Washington University and his J.D., magna cum laude, from George Mason University School of Law. He is a member of the Virginia State Bar and the District of Columbia Bar.