ORIX USA announced the continued expansion of ORIX Ventures, the business unit dedicated to supporting high growth companies. With record performance in 2014 and continued success in 2015, ORIX Ventures has expanded further with a new healthcare-focused team, additional hires on the West Coast and an increase in venture equity investments to complement its core venture debt franchise.

During the past two years, ORIX Ventures has significantly grown its portfolio by doubling its size in total outstanding commitments. In addition, ORIX Ventures has seen successful exits from a number of portfolio companies, including Virtustream, Workforce Software, TOA and Acclaris.

“ORIX Ventures has always prided itself on being a long-term, patient partner to high growth companies,” said William Bishop, Co-Head of ORIX Ventures. “It is always rewarding to see our companies achieve a successful exit after we supported them from their initial loan through increases into larger debt facilities and, then, an exit.”

In September, ORIX Ventures welcomed back Managing Director David Orlandella after he spent two years at Fifth Street Asset Management. While there, he was responsible for origination and direct investments for the firm’s Technology Lending Group in his role as Managing Director. Orlandella will focus primarily on the healthcare sector, working on new deal origination and strategic business development.

“ORIX Ventures has been successful in the healthcare vertical, and we felt the time was right to launch a team dedicated solely to this compelling and growing industry,” said Jeff Bede, Co-Head of ORIX Ventures.

ORIX Ventures is also expanding its West Coast team. Director Joel Gragg and Associate Director Laura Johnson were recently hired to augment the company’s West Coast investment efforts, particularly in San Francisco and the Silicon Valley region.

Gragg brings more than 13 years of successful middle-market lending and private equity investing experience to ORIX Ventures, as well as an expertise in the technology sector. Most recently he served as Business Line Manager for Bridge Bank's Technology division, covering San Francisco and the Pacific Northwest.

Before joining the ORIX Ventures team, Johnson was the Manager of FP&A and Strategy at RichRelevance, a SaaS company serving the online retail industry. Prior to her time at RichRelevance, Johnson served as a Senior Associate at Medley Capital, where she supported the underwriting and origination of direct middle-market deals for the firm’s BDC and private opportunities funds.

“Joel and Laura will greatly enhance our efforts in Silicon Valley and build on our strong momentum in this critical market,” said Bede.

ORIX Ventures specializes in designing highly customized financing solutions for high growth companies with investments starting around $5 million and growing to $50 million. The team has committed over $1 billion to more than 100 companies. ORIX Ventures is a business unit of ORIX USA, a Dallas-based financial services firm known for providing innovative capital solutions that clients need to propel their business to the next level.