Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square is an impact-driven, minority-owned investment platform that confronts critical societal challenges with capital and services in three core areas: housing, jobs, and financial inclusion. Founded in 2020 by Damien Dwin, the firm operates as a private credit firm lending capital to growing middle market companies in working-class places that have been traditionally overlooked by traditional financial institutions.

The company uses a data-first approach through its technology platform to identify investment opportunities and provide enhanced managerial assistance to portfolio companies. Lafayette Square believes that working-class people and places represent an attractive investment opportunity subject to conservative underwriting, hands-on strategic guidance, and technology-driven insights. The firm has set ambitious Goal2030 targets to support 100,000 working-class jobs, invest 50% of capital in working-class communities, and curate benefits for 50% of its portfolio companies.

As a direct lending platform, Lafayette Square primarily invests in senior secured or unsecured loans, subordinated loans, mezzanine loans, and equity-related securities in middle market companies across the United States. The company has deployed $872.7 million in capital and currently employs 54 investments supporting approximately 31,230 workers through its portfolio companies.