AVANA Capital's Team

Since founding AVANA Companies 22 years ago, Sundip has cultivated a family of seven world-class lending and asset management brands. Each brand is committed to AVANA's mission: Delivering Capital for a Better Tomorrow, with a keen eye on social and environmental impact.

The AVANA Family of Companies supports businesses, communities, investors, and stakeholders through innovative financial solutions in private credit, fintech, small business lending, clean energy, and more:

• AVANA Companies: Holding company recognized as an Inc. 5000 company with $1.7B in assets, creating over 5K global jobs
• AVANA CUSO: The US's leading CUSO, offering full-service commercial real estate loans

Fintech Platforms
• LendThrive: Lending platform providing frictionless capital to small businesses across America
• EqualSeat: Fractional loan investment platform offering individual access to private credit investments

Regulated Entities:
• AVANA Capital: Licensed and regulated lending entity specializing in hotels and diverse commercial real estate properties
• AVANA Fund: SEC-registered fund for accredited investors and institutional investors for private credit opportunities in the US
• EZDAHER FINANCE Company: SAMA-licensed and regulated lender in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Sundip's passion for social impact stems from his experience immigrating from Zambia as a child. His commitment to financial equity fuels his desire to uplift individuals, families, and communities.

In addition to being a seasoned entrepreneur, Sundip holds a MSc Social Business degree from London School of Economics and Political Science & a MBA from the University of California, Irvine. He also holds both CPA and CMA licenses in California.

Sundip balances his time between Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, India and Phoenix, Arizona. He founded the Giggle Foundation to support underprivileged children and is an active member of young presidents organization (YPO).

A frequent speaker on investing, lending, social and environmental purpose-driven businesses, fintech, and technology, Sundip's leadership continues to inspire and shape the financial landscape.

A veteran of the commercial banking industry with over 25 years of experience, Sanat Patel is the Chief Lending Officer of AVANA Companies, as well as a Co-founder of our legacy company, AVANA Capital.

In his position as Chief Lending Officer, Sanat oversees credit and risk administration, as well as the origination and syndication of commercial debt. Sanat excels at navigating the complexities of commercial debt management, as well as creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to realize their dreams and create wealth for their businesses to thrive.

Prior to AVANA, Sanat served in various functions of commercial banking, supporting clients across segments of corporate banking within Wells Fargo Bank, Citibank, and JP Morgan. His competitive drive resulted in him being ranked in the top 10% of bankers nationwide within these institutions.

Sanat earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a dual major in finance and management science, and a minor in economics, from California State University, Fullerton. In 2008, Sanat completed the Banking Degree offered by Pacific Coast Banking School, held at the University of Washington. Currently, Sanat is pursuing an Executive MBA at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.

Sanat was a founding member of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Arizona and served as its President from 2014-2016. He also served as a Board Member for Make-A-Wish in Arizona and is the current President of the Phoenix chapter of Pratham USA.

Strategic Financial and Operations Leader with an impressive track record of driving success and transformation through effective utilization of people, processes and technology. Deep expertise in accounting, budgeting, financial modeling and analytics, controls, process and tax. Passionate about utilizing agile change methodologies for continuous improvement and developing a controlled, financially sound operating model. Excellent communication skills that capture the trust and confidence of both subordinates and fellow officers and inspire the entire team to deliver positive bottom-line results.

• Business Strategy and Leadership. C-Suite leader who provides data driven insight on business operations and finance through analytics and metrics. Chair of Management Committee driving business direction, finance, new business opportunities and M&A.
• Strong Controllership, Operations and Systems Mindset. CFO/COO with a demonstrated ability to drive significant impact on early stage to mature businesses, enhancing existing process, systems and people. Assess and control risk across the business, vendors and service providers. Identify and implement best in class capability at a global and private business level.
• Process Improvement Proficiency. Certified Black Belt in Six Sigma/ LEAN. Trained in redesign of processes to improve operating effectiveness. Led strategy for global process improvement and system implementations.
• Asset Management Leader. Deep experience across public and private asset classes in 40 Act and alternative funds. Innovative self-starter and architect for multiple fund launches across many jurisdictions.

Matt Hunt is the son of a banker and began his own career as a teller at age 17. He has remained in the industry ever since and now has more than 22 years of experience in commercial banking.

Matt joined AVANA Capital in 2015 as Chief Credit Officer. He advises small business owners on how to grow their businesses through real estate ownership, and he guides them through the process.

Prior to joining AVANA Capital, Matt was Senior Vice President and Director of National Real Estate for Zions Bank. In that role, he oversaw the bank’s nationwide commercial real estate lending platform with a primary focus in SBA 504 lending. During his 16 years at Zions Bank, the National Real Estate Group originated over $10 billion in commercial real estate loans, including nearly $5 billion in SBA 504 1st mortgage loans.

Matt earned an M.B.A. from the University of Utah in 2010. He also graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from University of Utah in 1998. In 2005, he also completed a master’s level extension program at the University of Washington’s Pacific Coast Banking School.

Cathy Ellsworth is the Executive Vice President of Investor Relations for AVANA Companies, a private credit/CRE investment manager with approximately $1B in assets. At AVANA, she is responsible for the firm’s fundraising efforts in the United States, working with both retail and institutional investors, including family offices, endowments, foundations, RIA firms, pension funds, insurance companies and investment consultants. Cathy has over 30+ years of experience creating, implementing and managing strategic sales and business plans for a variety of investment products and programs, ranging from long-only equity/fixed income portfolios to alternative investments. Additionally, she has a due diligence background evaluating investment managers of mutual funds, separate accounts and variable insurance products. Cathy’s fundraising experience encompasses investment firms of varying sizes, ranging from under $1B to over $40B aum. Her previous employment includes JPMorgan Chase (Chase Manhattan Bank), Kidder Peabody, EF Hutton and Nordea Investment Management. She is a graduate from Hood College with a B.A. in Business Administration and Political Science.

Payal Bhatia is a finance professional with 5 years of experience in credit analysis, SME lending, internal audit and risk management. As a Relationship Manager with AVANA Capital, the key goal of her position is managing the credit risk associated with commercial real estate lending guiding Client’s throughout the origination, underwriting and closing processes. She has in-depth knowledge of Hotel, Construction and other CRE financing with a focus on SBA lending. Payal has underwritten transactions totaling over $150MM.

She previously worked with Ernst & Young as a Consultant. As part of the Risk Advisory Services team, she worked with real estate and government-sector clients. She undertook various internal audit and risk assessment assignments on projects and schemes implemented and funded by the government as well as by international funding agencies, such as World Bank, UNDP & DFID.

Payal is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM). She earned a Master of Finance from the University of Glasgow, U.K. and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Manipal University, India.

Trevor has been working in financial services for ten years. Currently, Trevor a Vice President at AVANA Companies and is responsible for commercial real estate loan originations.

Prior to joining AVANA, Trevor worked at Genworth Financial, focusing on commercial real estate originations. Throughout his career, Trevor has been involved in +$1 billion in CRE loan origination.

Trevor has a Master’s in Business Administration from the Simon School at the University of Rochester and a Bachelor of Science from Susquehanna University in Finance.

Chrystelle Mae Quioyo has over 6 years of combined experience in financial due diligence reviews, business valuations, financial feasibility studies and audit covering various sectors. Chrystelle’s key function is to analyze credit risk mainly through carrying out due diligence reviews on AVANA Capital’s deals. She is also involved in underwriting, processing and closing of loans.

Prior to joining AVANA Capital, Chrystelle worked with Grant Thornton in Bahrain as a Senior Consultant under the Advisory Department, and Isla Lipana & Co. (a PwC member firm) in Philippines as a Senior Associate under the Deals and Corporate Finance Department.

Chrystelle is a Certified Public Accountant. She graduated Cum Laude from Ateneo de Davao University in Philippines with Bachelor of Science in Accountancy. She also passed the Certified Financial Consultant examination.

Lori Bernhardt is a banking professional with over 30 years of experience. As an administrative/closing officer with AVANA Capital, her key functions are to organize information flow from multiple sources, handle closing loan transactions, conduct post follow-ups to ensure compliance and timely reporting of data with various lenders, and assist ongoing service of client loan portfolios when needed.

Lori began building her 30-year career while still in high school. She worked first at Valley National Bank, which became BankOne, and then JP Morgan Chase.

As a Portfolio and Closing Assistant, Ailleen handles administrative tasks and serves as office manager for the Bahrain office. She works closely with Mr. Sundip Patel and the AVANA team to service the current portfolio of loans and institutional investors in the MENA region.

Between 2011 and 2016, Ailleen worked with Bahrain Airport Company’s Quality, Health and Safety department, providing assistance to the QHSE Director on compliance with audit procedures and international commercial standardization as well as providing assistance to the CEO executive office on the Airport Modernization Project.

Previously, Ailleen served as executive secretary to the Managing Partner of Grant Thornton Audit Firm and worked as an Office Manager for Symmetry Global’s office in Bahrain.

Ailleen brings to AVANA Capital, seven years of extensive administrative and customer service experience.

Ailleen received her Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Communication with a focus on Broadcast Media at the University of the Philippines earning a University Scholar distinction award.