Venture Banking

Combining industry expertise, technical innovation and unparalleled customer focus.

Live Oak Bank’s Venture Banking team serves the innovation economy by providing banking and financing solutions that create long-term value for high-growth companies and their investors.

Live Oak’s mission is to create an unprecedented banking experience through service and technology. Venture banking fits naturally within our DNA. We believe deeply in personal service and focus on taking care of our customers throughout the relationship. As a uniquely positioned technology and financial company, we understand how banks, fintechs and venture capital fit together to drive success and growth.

Our team can help venture-backed early and expansion-stage companies grow to the next phase.

Why Choose Live Oak?

Our venture banking team leverages their extensive industry knowledge with Live Oak’s world-class model, strong credit culture, patient lending philosophy and proven ability to successfully grow businesses. Let us be your banking partner.

National Focus

We believe in supporting great businesses being built across the country.

Industry Expertise

Fintech, HCIT, HC Service and B2B Software

Targeted Facility Size

$1 million – $25 million

Business Checking Your Way

Live Oak simplifies business banking with robust checking solutions designed for high growth businesses. Make payments, manage collections on the go, set employee permissions, and access multiple businesses with a single login.

No minimum balance requirements
External transfers
Mobile deposits
Quickbooks integration
Permission and access controls
Dedicated service
Available to businesses nationwide

Learn More

Our Team Understands Your Business

For all venture banking inquiries, reach out to Evan Travis at 919.452.0075 or evan.travis@liveoak.bank.

Evan Travis
Managing Director, Venture Banking

Evan Travis

Managing Director, Venture Banking

Evan joined Live Oak Bank in July 2019 to help launch the venture banking practice at Live Oak. Prior to joining Live Oak, Evan spent nearly 10 years in various roles at a leading venture-focused bank. Evan completed his MBA at the University of Tennessee Knoxville concentrating in finance and entrepreneurship and received a BA in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Evan lives in Durham, NC with his wife, Kelly, and two sons.
Alex ter Wee
Managing Director, Venture Banking

Alex ter Wee

Managing Director, Venture Banking

Alex joined Live Oak’s venture group in late 2023. Prior to Live Oak, Alex spent 7 years a top venture-focused bank lending to startups in the Bay Area. Most recently, Alex was in an operating role, acquiring single-family real estate on behalf of Divvy Homes, a venture backed technology startup. Alex’s current obsessions center mostly around the kitchen — espresso, cooking, and buying carbon steel knives and pans he doesn’t need. Alex lives in Raleigh with his wife and their spoiled pug, Axel.
Evan Shaw
Director, Venture Banking

Evan Shaw

Director, Venture Banking

Evan joined Live Oak Bank in September 2023 as part of the healthcare venture banking team at Live Oak. Prior to joining Live Oak, Evan spent over eight years in various healthcare and tech venture lending roles. Evan is a big sports fan and lover of all things UNC (Go Heels!) and Arsenal (let me know if you know what "COYG" means). Evan received a BA in economics and global studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Evan lives in Raleigh, NC with his wife, Ginger.
Stephen Sistrunk
Director, Venture Banking

Stephen Sistrunk

Director, Venture Banking

Stephen joined Live Oak Bank in 2024 and serves on the technology venture banking team. Prior to joining Live Oak, Stephen invested in growth stage technology companies at a private equity firm in Birmingham, Alabama. He also spent three years launching and scaling a North American distributorship for a portfolio company. Stephen started his career as an attorney advising clients on securities and IP-related matters. Stephen lives in Wilmington, NC, and enjoys hanging out with his family and surfing in his free time.
Gatlin Thompson
Associate Director, Venture Banking

Gatlin Thompson

Associate Director, Venture Banking

Gatlin joined Live Oak Bank in 2021 and is responsible for business development and portfolio management for the Live Oak’s venture banking technology portfolio. Prior to joining Live Oak, Gatlin worked in the Global Markets Division at a leading financial institution where he focused on business strategy and initiatives across various lines of business and global regions. Gatlin holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He currently resides in Wilmington, NC.
Nick DeFrancesco
Senior Venture Banking Officer

Nick DeFrancesco

Senior Venture Banking Officer

Nick joined Live Oak’s venture banking team in July 2022 after graduating from UNC Wilmington with a degree focusing on finance and economics. In his current role, he is responsible for assisting in the evaluation of new opportunities, meeting with Company management and investors and management of existing relationships.
Gilly Niez
Venture Banking Officer

Gilly Niez

Venture Banking Officer

Gilly joined Live Oak Bank in August 2021 as a Business Analyst for the small business banking group. In October of 2022, he transitioned to the venture banking team to support new and existing client relationships. In his current role, he is responsible for underwriting, portfolio management, relationship building and meeting with company management teams and investors. Gilly graduated from UNCW with a degree in communication studies before returning to earn his MBA with a focus in data analytics.