Who Is Apex Fund Group?
In the world of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA), finding an investor who understands both the debt and equity sides of deal financing is rare. Apex Fund Group is one of those rare firms. Founded by Linh Tran and David Madden, Apex Fund Group provides both debt and equity capital solutions for entrepreneurs acquiring small and medium-sized businesses. Featured on VerSquare.com, the trusted review platform for SMB deal services, Apex Fund Group has established itself as a versatile and knowledgeable partner for ETA entrepreneurs.
What makes Apex Fund Group particularly compelling is the complementary expertise of its two founders. Linh Tran brings over 25 years of financial services experience, while David Madden contributes deep expertise in engineering, entrepreneurship, and venture capital. Together, they form a partnership that covers virtually every aspect of business acquisition financing.
Meet the Founders
Linh Tran: 25+ Years in Financial Services
Linh Tran’s background is a masterclass in financial expertise applied to entrepreneurship. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry and a Master’s in Business Administration, both from Duke University. His career in financial services spans over 25 years, beginning with structuring retirement plans, mutual funds, and 401(k) programs.
During his financial services career, Linh worked extensively with entrepreneurs, helping them achieve their financial objectives for over a decade. This deep experience with business owners gave him an intimate understanding of how entrepreneurs think, what they need, and how to structure financial solutions that align with their goals.
But Linh is not just a financial advisor — he is also a proven operator. He has personally acquired multiple businesses in the services sector and scaled them by a factor of 10x under his leadership. He has also managed his own private debt ladder and overseen a successful private equity portfolio. This combination of financial expertise and operational experience makes Linh uniquely qualified to advise and invest in ETA deals.
Linh is widely recognized as an expert in ETA and frequently shares his insights at prestigious MBA programs across the country. He has become a sought-after thought leader in the ETA space, reflecting his wealth of experience and his commitment to developing the next generation of acquisition entrepreneurs.
David Madden: Engineer, Entrepreneur, and Georgia Tech MBA
David Madden brings a different but equally valuable perspective to Apex Fund Group. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State University and launched his career as an engineer and consultant in the automotive industry. He then pursued his MBA at Georgia Tech, where he distinguished himself as a TI:GER fellow — a program focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and venture capital investing.
During business school, David demonstrated his entrepreneurial DNA by founding an online marketplace for used industrial equipment. He built the venture from scratch with no outside funding, and the company has thrived since its founding in 2006, maintaining its position as the market leader in its niche. This kind of bootstrapped entrepreneurial success gives David firsthand insight into what it takes to build and scale a business.
David’s investment experience includes years in private equity and venture capital, with strategic investments in startup companies and facilitated private placements to support ETA buyouts. His expertise spans private markets, online commerce, marketplaces, and business-to-business software.
Debt AND Equity: The Apex Fund Group Difference
Most ETA investors offer either debt or equity. Apex Fund Group offers both. This dual capability is a significant advantage for entrepreneurs because it means Apex can help you structure the entire capital stack for your acquisition, not just one piece of it.
Here is why this matters:
Equity Capital
When you need an equity partner to provide the injection required for an SBA loan, Apex Fund Group can step in as your equity co-investor. They understand SBA requirements and can structure their equity investment to comply with SBA guidelines for acceptable sources of equity injection.
Debt Capital
In some deal structures, additional debt beyond the SBA loan may be needed — for example, seller financing, mezzanine debt, or a private debt facility for working capital or post-acquisition growth initiatives. Apex Fund Group’s debt capabilities mean they can provide flexible debt solutions that complement your SBA financing.
Hybrid Structures
For complex deals, Apex Fund Group can create hybrid financing structures that combine debt and equity in creative ways. This flexibility allows them to tailor the capital structure to the specific needs of each deal, optimizing for the entrepreneur’s cash flow, control, and long-term wealth creation.
How Apex Fund Group Enables Zero-Down SBA Deals
The zero-down SBA loan structure is one of the most powerful financing tools available to business buyers, and equity investors like Apex Fund Group are the key to making it work.
Here is the standard structure:
- 90% SBA 7(a) Loan — Provided by an SBA-approved lender
- 5% Buyer Equity — Your personal contribution to the deal
- 5% Investor Equity — Provided by Apex Fund Group
By covering the 5% investor equity portion, Apex Fund Group cuts your out-of-pocket cost in half. For a $2 million acquisition, this means you need approximately $100,000 from personal funds instead of $200,000 — with Apex providing the other $100,000 in exchange for a minority ownership stake.
Because Apex understands both debt and equity, they can also help you evaluate whether the SBA loan terms you are being offered are competitive, whether additional debt facilities might benefit your deal, and how to optimize the overall capital structure for maximum efficiency.
For a complete guide to zero-down SBA acquisitions, read: How to Buy a Business with Zero Down Using an SBA Loan.
The Operator-Investor Advantage
Both Linh and David are not just investors — they are operators who have personally built and scaled businesses. Linh scaled his service-sector acquisitions by 10x. David built a bootstrapped marketplace into a niche market leader. This operational DNA means that when they invest in your deal, they bring practical, tested advice about:
- Post-acquisition integration — How to smoothly transition into ownership
- Operational improvement — Identifying quick wins to improve profitability
- Growth strategies — Scaling revenue through new markets, services, or technology
- Financial management — Optimizing cash flow, debt service, and capital allocation
- Exit planning — Building long-term value for an eventual exit
This operator-investor combination is exactly what first-time acquirers need. You get capital to close your deal AND experienced partners who can help you succeed after closing.
ETA Thought Leadership
Linh Tran’s role as an ETA thought leader adds another dimension to the Apex Fund Group partnership. His speaking engagements at prestigious MBA programs mean he is constantly engaging with the latest trends, research, and best practices in the ETA space. When you partner with Apex Fund Group, you benefit from this cutting-edge knowledge.
David’s TI:GER fellowship background at Georgia Tech — focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and venture capital — ensures that Apex Fund Group stays at the forefront of innovation in deal structuring and business building.
Pairing Apex Fund Group with GoSBA Loans
While Apex Fund Group can provide the equity (and potentially additional debt) for your acquisition, you still need a strong SBA lender to provide the primary financing. This is where GoSBA Loans comes in.
GoSBA Loans is the nation’s leading SBA loan brokerage for business acquisitions, offering:
- 50+ SBA-Approved Lenders — The largest lender network in the SBA acquisition space
- $320M+ in Funded Deals — Proven experience closing complex acquisitions
- Completely Free Service — GoSBA never charges borrowers. Lenders compensate them directly.
- Free Business Plan — Every client receives a professionally written business plan valued at $2,500 to $5,000 at no cost
The combination of Apex Fund Group’s debt and equity expertise with GoSBA’s lender network creates a comprehensive financing solution. Apex provides the equity injection and strategic capital, GoSBA finds the optimal SBA lender, and together they help you close your acquisition with the best possible terms.
Is Apex Fund Group Right for You?
Apex Fund Group is an excellent fit if:
- You need both debt and equity solutions for your business acquisition
- You want investors with deep financial services expertise and operational experience
- You value partners who have personally acquired and scaled businesses
- You are looking for flexible, creative deal structures
- You want access to ETA thought leadership and MBA-level strategic guidance
- You are planning to use SBA financing and need an equity partner for the injection
Learn more about Apex Fund Group on VerSquare.com or visit apexfundgroup.com.
Ready to Acquire a Business?
Whether you are partnering with Apex Fund Group or another equity investor, GoSBA Loans is your go-to resource for SBA financing.
Contact GoSBA Loans today to get started. Our service is 100% free, every client gets a professionally written business plan worth $2,500 to $5,000 at no charge, and our network of 50+ lenders with $320M+ in funded deals ensures you get the best SBA loan for your acquisition.
