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Pass the Hat

[phrase]

To collect contributions of money from a number of people for a specific purpose.

Pass the Hat connects retail investors to private market investment opportunities that were once only available to large institutional investors or the ultra-wealthy. Pass the Hat makes it easy for individual investors to view deals, invest and achieve portfolio diversification.

Unlike other online investment platforms, Pass the Hat is not an aggregator of deals from different sponsors, nor is it a fund. Pass the Hat showcases individual investments sponsored by Borgman Capital, an investment firm founded in 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Our mission is to make private market investing more accessible.

PRIVATE EQUITY

REAL ESTATE

GROWTH EQUITY

“Borgman Capital has been a great avenue to diversify my portfolio with direct investments in private equity and real estate. I have invested in 10 deals to-date, and continue to be impressed with the team’s communication and investment strategy across many different industries. I also appreciate the ability to make investments via my self-directed IRA, which I try to utilize as much as possible for tax efficiencies.”

-Andrew B., Commercial Banker, Investor since 2020

"When I left my role as a Partner at a national accounting firm to start Borgman Capital in 2017, someone jokingly suggested I'd need to 'pass a hat around' to raise capital. That phrase became more than a quip—it embodied our mission to make institutional-quality investments accessible. We've grown from 27 investors in our first deal to a network of more than 400 today, proving that collaborative investing isn't just a strategy, it's a movement. Pass the Hat represents our core philosophy: building wealth through transparent, relationship-driven investment opportunities that empower investors beyond traditional market constraints."

Reimagining Access to Institutional-Grade Investments

SEQUOYA BORGMAN
FOUNDER AND CEO

Our Core Beliefs

  • Our team of investment professionals scrutinize more than 1,000 deals per year, with only a handful gaining Borgman Capital’s seal of approval. When you invest in a deal you see on Pass the Hat, you are investing alongside our principals who commit their personal capital while wholeheartedly backing the deal.

  • We believe private markets can offer an unparalleled opportunity for return potential, outperforming traditional assets over time. For investors who quality and understand the risks, alternative investments can be an attractive portfolio diversifier.

  • While interest in alternatives is increasing, access has historically been limited to institutions and the ultra-wealthy. Our deals are open to accredited investors in the United States, typically with a $50,000 minimum commitment.

  • Our direct investment model offers investors the flexibility to diversify across the industries and asset classes that fit their goals. Furthermore, investors have options when it comes to how they invest (e.g. as an individual, through a trust, with a self-directed IRA, and more).

  • We simplify the private market investment process through our online platform and white glove service, so you can make an informed decision, get invested, and easily monitor your investments.

Investing with Pass the Hat means investing alongside our principals.

  • Sequoya Borgman

    Sequoya Borgman

    FOUNDER AND CEO
    BORGMAN CAPITAL

    Before founding Borgman Capital, Sequoya was a partner and practice leader at RSM US LLP, a leading multi-national public accounting firm. Throughout his career, Sequoya has advised on complex transactions for both large public companies and small private firms, nationally and globally. He has been involved in hundreds of mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, and financing transactions. He brings extensive expertise in structuring, planning, and due diligence.

  • Brent Adam

    Brent Adam

    MANAGING DIRECTOR AND SHAREHOLDER
    BORGMAN CAPITAL

    Brent has 20+ years of finance and accounting experience focusing on mergers and acquisitions, with many of those years spent at Ernst & Young. Brent then joined a venture capital firm and eventually became CFO of one of its portfolio companies, guiding it to a successful exit to a publicly traded company. He has been involved in hundreds of M&A transactions, with deals ranging from $1 million to $6 billion in enterprise value.

  • Michael Pepke

    MANAGING DIRECTOR AND SHAREHOLDER
    BORGMAN CAPITAL

    Prior to joining Borgman Capital, Mike practiced corporate law at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. for 41 years. Over his career, Mike has provided legal counsel to a wide range of companies involved in various industries. He's also served as general counsel to privately-owned companies, with a focus on acquisitions and succession planning. Mike’s extensive experience allows him to contribute practical, real-world advice on complex legal and business matters.

MEET OUR TEAM

Media Coverage

“Expanding my private placement network to include Borgman Capital was one of the easiest and best investment decisions I have made. There were really four simple factors: First, this team is comprised of professionals with exceptional backgrounds and integrity. Second, great deal flow is critical and they clearly have that covered. Third, I have been thrilled with the way they structure deals to align the incentives of Borgman, the investors, and the portfolio management teams. Finally, follow-through and communication. Borgman is actively managing the investments in a manner that provides me with great confidence. Since my initial investment, I have been a big fan and am happy to report that they are a representing an increasing share of my invested dollars.”

-Anne F., Endodontist, Investor since 2021