About Us
Pioneer Capital Advisory LLC is a national boutique commercial loan brokerage specializing in SBA 7(a) financing. We guide business buyers through the entire process—from initial LOI acceptance to final funding.
We primarily serve clients seeking $1 million to $5 million in SBA financing, providing full support through closing. For clients seeking financing below $1 million, we assist through term sheet procurement, provided the client is comfortable working directly with the bank after selecting a lender—without our continued involvement post-selection.
To date, the firm has helped more than 84 business buyers successfully close and fund acquisitions. Our deep expertise ensures a smooth and efficient path to securing financing, supporting both first-time buyers and experienced owners looking to expand or enter new industries.
Our commitment is to be with you at every step, ensuring a seamless and transparent financing journey tailored to your goals.
Matthias Smith
President / Owner
Matthias Smith is the President and Founder of Pioneer Capital Advisory LLC, a commercial loan brokerage firm specializing in SBA 7(a) acquisition financing for business buyers. Since launching Pioneer from scratch in May 2022, Matthias has scaled the firm into a seven-figure business, helping 87 business buyers close SBA-backed acquisitions nationwide.
With over seven years of SBA lending experience across four commercial banks and his own firm, Matthias has worked on more than $300 million in SBA 7(a) financings. His transaction experience spans a wide range of industries and deal types—from ground-up self-storage construction in Alaska to private equity platform add-ons in Colorado.
Matthias is also a recognized voice in the entrepreneurship-through-acquisition (ETA) community. He has spoken on panels at both the Chicago Booth ETA Conference and the Wharton ETA Conference at the University of Pennsylvania, where he shares insights on SBA structuring and deal execution. In addition to advising buyers, he is an active investor in ETA transactions.
He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Today, Matthias leads a growing team committed to delivering institutional-grade guidance and a professionalized financing process for entrepreneurs seeking to buy and scale exceptional businesses.
Matthias Smith, founder of Pioneer Capital Advisory, is increasingly recognized as a trusted voice in the small business acquisition community. In 2025, he was featured in two Forbes articles that explored both the evolving SBA lending landscape and the unique challenges buyers face when financing acquisitions—particularly in industries like manufacturing.
His insights were highlighted in the following national publications by senior Forbes reporter Brandon Kochkodin:
“How New SBA Loan Rules Are Making Small Business Deals Harder” – a deep dive into recent SBA guideline changes and how they’re reshaping deal terms for acquisition entrepreneurs.
“SBA Loan Limit May Double To $10 Million, But Not For Every Small Business” – an analysis of proposed SBA loan limit increases and what they could mean for business buyers.
These features reflect Matthias’ ongoing commitment to demystifying SBA financing and equipping entrepreneurs with the knowledge they need to navigate acquisitions with confidence.
Valerie Stash
Chief Operating Officer
Valerie Stash serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Pioneer Capital Advisory LLC. She brings over 10 years of experience in SBA lending, with a deep understanding of both underwriting and post-approval operations.
Rafael McFerran-Lopez
Head of SBA Business Development
Rafael McFerran-Lopez is the Head of SBA Business Development at Pioneer Capital Advisory LLC. Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Rafael brings over 15 years of experience in global sales, project management, and business development.
Alan Pacheco
M&A Associate – Sales
Alan Pacheco Damas is an M&A Associate – Sales at Pioneer Capital Advisory LLC. He works closely with prospective clients during the discovery process and helps guide them from initial conversations through to deal execution.
Pablo Redondo
Director of Credit - SMB Acquisitions
Pablo Redondo is an Director of Credit - SMB Acquisitions at Pioneer Capital Advisory LLC, where he focuses on credit analysis, financial modeling, and packaging SBA loan requests for lender submission.
Fernanda de la Peña
M&A Underwriter
Fernanda de la Peña is an M&A Underwriter at Pioneer Capital Advisory LLC, where she focuses on underwriting SBA-financed acquisitions and debt refinances.
Ramiro Daher
M&A Underwriter
Ramiro Daher is an M&A Underwriter at Pioneer Capital Advisory LLC. He brings a background in investment banking and credit risk analysis from J.P. Morgan and supports buyers by developing lender-ready credit presentations and structuring SBA-compliant financing packages.
Matthias speaking at the 2025 UPenn Wharton Entrepreneurship
Sharing insights on SBA financing and business acquisitions at UPenn’s prestigious event.
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Guys - if you're coming from a "white collar" background, think twice about buying a landscaping business or similar without a GM at a minimum.
Having to confront an employee about taking a shit in someone's front yard when your background is making waterfall models is probably going to be tough.