Michael (Mike) Nitka is a Managing Director with Stifel Financial leading a private investments and partnerships platform designed to bring the broad capabilities of the firm’s network to emerging businesses and entrepreneurs.
Mike and his partners recently received one of the inaugural Small Business Investment Company (“SBIC”) – Critical Technologies Fund licenses from the US Small Business Administration and Department of Defense, Office of Strategic Capital, for a fund focused on investment in advanced an additive manufacturing in the US aerospace and defense supply chain. This public-private partnership will serve to create capacity and opportunity in the defense supply chain bringing crucial attention to the need for innovative, skilled, on-shore small business suppliers. The SBIC – Critical Technologies program is targeted to invest in dual-use, military/non-military technologies, creating opportunities to cross-pollinate between individuals with military, government and manufacturing experience.
Prior to Stifel, Mike worked for several prominent financial services firms building out private capital markets capabilities.
Mike is the proud husband of an Army Veteran who both introduced him to the challenges of matriculation into the non-military/government domain after service as well as the unmatched skills, loyalty and drive of so many of the active-duty and veteran members of the US Military. Mike is also on the Advisory Board of 51 Vets, an organization committed to connecting skilled veterans with the finance and advisory community, addressing the limited pathways into finance beyond the regular undergraduate and graduate training programs. Finally, he supports his community as a member of his local planning board.
Mr. Nitka received a BBA, with a concentration in international business from Loyola University Maryland and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.