Turning Your Dream into a Business

At Doherty & Associates, we believe that the core of any successful business is an exceptional group of people. When Doherty & Associates meets an exceptional team of people with a market-driven opportunity, we make it our goal to provide the necessary resources and constant support needed to transform those ideas and aspirations into a successful and profitable business.

Michael P. Doherty - Founder

Mike Doherty, the founder of Doherty & Associates, has a long history of business development, strategy and planning. Mike has launched and managed several ventures personally, so he understands the challenges of managing day-to-day operations while remaining focused on growth opportunities and the bottom line. He has also worked as an investor and a lender and therefore recognizes the demands and expectations these parties bring to the mix. Mike’s clients benefit from both perspectives.

Mike has an extensive background in corporate investments, including the evaluation and underwriting of over $100 million in venture debt financing for emerging growth companies. Prior to Doherty & Associates, he was a director at Third Coast Capital, a venture lending organization that committed more than $125 million in venture debt investments. Mike was one of the first employees when Third Coast was established in 1996 with an initial investment by Cargill, Inc., the largest privately-held company in the United States. His focus was originating and underwriting venture staged debt products.

In 1998, the group sold Third Coast Capital to DVI, Inc., (NYSE “DVI”). Mike continued on as a director through 2002. During Mike’s tenure at Third Coast, the company grew to become the 4th largest provider of venture debt in the United States. The portfolio included 60 investments in 17 states and returned a time weighted gross IRR of 33.2%. This performance level is in the top quartile of all venture funds for cumulative vintage year composite performance (upper quartile minimum 30.2%).

Prior to Third Coast Capital, Mike was a principal of Southport Systems, Inc., a consulting firm advising clients on asset management, leasing operations and credit underwriting. In addition, he has served as portfolio manager for numerous leasing portfolios.

Mike has BS in Commerce from DePaul University in Chicago.  In addition, Mike is an Alumnus of the 1997 Class of the Venture Capital Institute (VCI) and the 2006 Class of Leadership San Francisco (LSF).  Currently, Mike serves on the boards of the Golden Gate Business Association (GGBA) and the SF Small Business Network (SBN).  

In addition, Mike writes The Art of Doing Business - our blog on the trials and tribulations of being a small business owner.

View my page on FITbiz

Liza Sibley

Liza brings a unique blend of professional and life experience. She spent 20 years being a homemaker, raising two children and three Guide Dogs for the Blind puppies. Most recently, Liza had been working in both the medium and maximum security county jails as a literary outreach and high school teacher.

Born in Rochester, New York, Liza attended Skidmore College and the University of South Carolina where she received a B.S. in Chemistry with a math minor. She moved to California (where she always knew she should be) in 1975 to attend graduate school at UC Berkeley. She graduated with a Master’s of Science studying organo-actinide chemistry.

¹ Thomson Venture Economics/National Venture Capital Association, "Venture Economics" Private Equity Performance Index through 9/30/02.