ABOUT US
Connecting Two Worlds
SEA Equity is a boutique consulting firm connecting private capital with exclusive, institutional-grade opportunities across Media & Entertainment and Wealth Management. From film, television, and sports, to strategic partnerships in the wealth management sector, we curate proprietary deal flow for family offices, RIAs, hedge funds, and private equity firms, bridging the gap between the creative world and institutional asset management, which is increasingly seeking uncorrelated, direct investments.
PARTNERS
Our partnership began in 2005 as classmates on the Southeast coast of England. Bonding through sport, we competed as high school teammates in regional and national championships, ultimately earning academic and soccer scholarships to the United States as NCAA student-athletes. After graduation, we built careers in finance - one at a boutique credit hedge fund, the other at an investment bank - before choosing to bet on ourselves and establish SEA Equity.
What began as outsourced deal origination for private equity firms has since evolved into curating exclusive opportunities for private capital across Media & Entertainment and Wealth Management. From modest beginnings in the UK, to building careers in US finance, we bring a global perspective, a trusted network, and an entrepreneurial approach to aligning opportunity with investor objectives.
Temilolu “Tim” Ajayi
Prior to founding SEA Equity, Tim was Vice President of M&A at NewGate Capital Partners, a Florida-based advisory firm, where he structured and executed lower middle market transactions. He spearheaded the launch of the firm’s buy-side services, building relationships with private equity groups nationwide and driving the firm’s expansion. He has executed deals across industries including software, manufacturing, and business services.
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With an extensive background in sports, Tim had stints at professional youth soccer clubs Southend United and Colchester United, represented Essex County, and was part of the team that won the FA County Youth Cup. In high school, he was an integral member of regional championship-winning teams in soccer, basketball, cross-country, and rugby, as well as a national championship-winning track and field team.
Tim went on to earn an academic and athletic scholarship to Rollins College in Florida, where he played NCAA Division II soccer in the Sunshine State Conference and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics.
Beyond finance and sports, Tim has long pursued a passion for Media & Entertainment. At 15, he independently wrote, recorded, and sold an album of original music - handling production, artwork, marketing, and distribution, selling more than 100 physical copies to friends and family. More recently, he conceived, executive produced, and co-directed a documentary series capturing the stories and performances of independent artists across London and Miami, filmed at iconic studios such as Abbey Road Studios and Bay Eight, and premiering at Curzon Hoxton Cinema in London.
Mitchell Smith
Prior to founding SEA Equity, Mitch was a Senior Analyst at Concise Capital, a Miami-based credit hedge fund with over $500M in assets under management, where he worked closely with the principals analyzing short-duration high-yield bonds. He led coverage of approximately $150M in capital from investors including family offices and European pension funds. Mitch also consulted for an asset manager in GP stakes, supporting strategic initiatives such as capital formation, product development for existing partners, and origination of new partnerships.
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Mitch earned an academic and athletic scholarship to compete as an NCAA student-athlete in the United States, first playing Division I soccer at Drake University in the Missouri Valley Conference, before transferring to Division II Barry University in the Sunshine State Conference, where he captained the team in his senior year. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Finance. An accomplished athlete in high school, Mitch represented Essex County in soccer and was part of multi-year regional championship teams in soccer, basketball, and rugby, as well as two-time national championship-winning track and field teams.
In the creative realm, Mitch has executive produced a variety of projects, including a live-action docuseries, music videos, and animated short films, while also being actively involved in sports and media across South Florida and London.