About Ninth Wave
Why Ninth Wave exists.
Given a financing, Ninth Wave identifies the lenders most likely to engage now, explains the reason for fit, and introduces the two sides only after both opt in.
Why we built it
Private credit depends on relationships.
The information needed to find the right lender is spread across conversations and changes over time.
On the lender side
Lenders repeat the same mandate to dozens of brokers.
On the broker side
Brokers lose time on coverage that is stale by the next deal.
What Ninth Wave does
Mandate to deal, on criteria. With a reason.
Brokers discuss a deal once. Lenders review and correct how their strategy is understood. Ninth Wave matches mandate to deal on criteria, explains why a lender could fit, and lets lenders act from email. Introductions require recipient approval and lender interest.
Follow one deal, start to finish- 01DealThe broker discusses the deal once.Broker
- 02ScreenIt is screened against every lender mandate.Ninth Wave
- 03FitEvery match comes with its reason.Ninth Wave
- 04ApproveThe broker approves every recipient.Broker
- 05ConnectThe lender replies from email. Then the introduction.Lender
The operating principles
Five rules the network runs on.
- 01
Credible fit only
Recommend lenders only when there is a credible fit.
- 02
Permission first
Get permission before sharing an opportunity.
- 03
A reason every time
Explain each recommendation.
- 04
Current mandates
Keep lender mandates current.
- 05
Their decision
Leave decisions with the professionals involved.
Boundaries
What Ninth Wave does not do.
- No directory
- Ninth Wave does not publish a lender, broker, or member directory.
- No guarantee
- It does not guarantee financing.
- Not underwriting
- It does not replace underwriting.
- No unapproved outreach
- It does not send outreach that bypasses recipient approval.
Who is behind it
Built by a credit investor. Run personally.
Charlie Madden spent more than a decade at Barclays and Colbeck Capital, across leveraged finance syndication and special situations credit underwriting.
Lender mandates are nuanced and change with the portfolio. Deal information arrives in inconsistent formats. Ninth Wave organizes both so a broker can choose the first calls well, without giving up control of the relationship. Founding participants work directly with Charlie.
Ninth Wave also works directly with independent sponsors, small private equity funds and lower middle market companies on specific financings. For sponsors and companies
- Leveraged finance
- Barclays
- Special situations
- Colbeck Capital
- In credit markets
- 10+ years
Request access. Join the founding cohort.
Ninth Wave is not a broker-dealer. It makes introductions only and does not negotiate or handle funds. Matching is not underwriting, and a potential fit is not a financing commitment.