About Second Oar, LLC
Based in San Francisco, Second Oar, LLC (“Second Oar”) was founded to provide financial advisory services to a broad range of clients across a variety of industries. Second Oar has extensive experience working directly with senior management of companies, entrepreneurs, and investment professionals at institutional funds and family offices. Second Oar has advised companies across all stages of the corporate lifecycle (pre-revenue, early-stage, growth, mature, distressed, etc.) and is available to advise your company or investment firm.
Second Oar works side-by-side with management teams to accomplish the client’s goals while providing strategic advice based on nearly ten years of industry experience in mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, strategic finance, and cash management. The resulting work product creates value for Second Oar clients both during the engagement and also post-engagement, frequently through tools such as financial models that can be used on an ongoing basis.
Areas of Expertise
Renewable Energy
Data Centers & Hosting Services
Telecom & Wireless Spectrum
Cellular and Radio Towers
Consumer Products
Mobile Applications
Insurance
Radio & TV Broadcasting
Collateralized Debt Obligations
About The Founder
Second Oar, LLC (“Second Oar”) was founded by Kent Johnson after he witnessed a need for specialized financial assistance within companies ranging from startups to mature organizations. His experience in investment banking, private equity, venture capital, and corporate strategy led him to work with companies that were in times of flux. During these times companies frequently needed additional internal assistance to aid with financial planning, financial strategy, communicating with prospective or current investors, preparing the company for a financing or liquidity event, etc. Realizing that these companies only need part-time help, Mr. Johnson set out to provide these services through Second Oar.
Prior to founding Second Oar, Mr. Johnson spent three years at MVP Capital, LLC (“MVP”), a boutique San Francisco-based investment bank focused on technology, telecom, renewables, and media. During his time at MVP, Mr. Johnson completed mergers, acquisitions, capital raises, and valuations across each of the firm’s areas of practice.
Previously, Mr. Johnson completed his M.B.A. after spending three years at Bear, Stearns, & Co. Inc. (“Bear Stearns”). While at Bear Stearns, he completed over 25 Collateralized Debt Obligation (“CDO”) securitizations with a total value exceeding $15 billion. Following his CDO role, Mr. Johnson worked in Bear Stearns’ Corporate Strategy group where he aided development efforts for a Bear Stearns retail bank. Additionally, he helped develop presentations for potential acquirers of Bear Stearns, ultimately leading to its sale to JPMorgan in 2008.
During business school, Mr. Johnson spent several months with Meritage Funds, a venture capital firm focused on network-enabled service businesses. During his time with Meritage, he was involved in a variety of transactions, including raising debt for a wireless tower company.
Mr. Johnson earned his A.B. from Dartmouth College and his M.B.A., with an emphasis in finance, from the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia.
