Martin Sumichrast

Entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of American Capital Partners, Martin Sumichrast has spent more than 35 years building and scaling companies across finance, consumer products, wellness, and technology on three continents. He is the co-founder of cbdMD, Inc. (NYSE: YCBD), founder of Global Capital Partners (NASDAQ: GCAP), and author of the upcoming book Getting Sheared.

About Martin Sumichrast

Martin Sumichrast was born and raised in Washington, D.C., the youngest son of Eastern European immigrants whose work ethic shaped his approach to business. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he has founded and led companies across finance, real estate, consumer products, and wellness — from pioneering Eastern European real estate development in Prague in the early 1990s, to founding the NASDAQ-listed investment bank Global Capital Partners, to co-founding and leading cbdMD, Inc. into one of the best-known wellness brands in the country. Today, Martin is co-founder of American Capital Partners and Managing Director of Washington Capital, LLC, where he advises founders, executives, and boards on capital structure, growth strategy, and scaling operations. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and four children.

Career Highlights

cbdMD, Inc. (NYSE: YCBD) — Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO from 2015–2023. Took the company public in 2017, raised over $100 million in capital, and grew cbdMD into a nationally recognized CBD wellness brand with a peak market cap near $400 million and more than $250 million in aggregate sales. Adara Acquisition Corp — Co-Founder and CEO. Led the company's $115+ million NYSE IPO in February 2022 and its $600 million acquisition of Alliance Entertainment. Global Capital Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: GCAP) — Founder, Chairman, and CEO from 1993–2002. Built the investment bank from a startup into a global operation managing over $1 billion in assets across 27 offices with 500+ employees. Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund — Independent Trustee and Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee, 2012–2022, for a fund platform managing more than $330 billion in assets. American Capital Partners, Inc. — Co-Founder since 2020, advising founders and boards on capital raising, market entry, and brand expansion strategy.

Getting Sheared — The Book

Getting Sheared is Martin Sumichrast's candid, behind-the-scenes account of building — and defending — businesses at the highest levels of American finance. Co-authored with veteran journalists Don Yaeger and Jason Cole, the book draws on Martin's experience managing Stone Street Capital and investigates one of the most extensive and enduring Ponzi schemes in North Carolina history, alongside real-life lessons from his career navigating public markets, private equity, and corporate crises. Getting Sheared is set for release and available soon wherever books are sold.

Latest News & Media

Martin Sumichrast continues to write and speak on entrepreneurship, capital markets, and the challenges facing founders today. Recent commentary includes "Guilty Until Proven Innocent: Debanking in America," a firsthand account of how financial institutions close customer accounts without due process, and "Everyone Has the Right to Their Day in Court — If They Can Afford It," which examines the barriers everyday litigants face in the U.S. court system. Martin has been featured in outlets including MSN, TechBullion, and Medium, and shares regular updates on his work at American Capital Partners across LinkedIn, X, YouTube, and Facebook.

Beyond the Boardroom: Travel, Marathons & Giving Back

Outside the office, Martin is an avid traveler and endurance athlete — he has completed the TCS New York City Marathon and regularly runs races around the country. He and his family also make time for live music and shared experiences, from Oasis's 2025 reunion tour to Formula 1 and PGA Tour events. Giving back is a constant thread through his work: he is passionate about mentoring young entrepreneurs and supporting youth development causes, drawing on his own path from an immigrant family in Washington, D.C. to building companies across finance, wellness, and technology.

Martin at the finish line of the TCS New York City Marathon.