After 130 SPACs and 140 DESPACs Here's What I've Learned with Brandon Sun

After 130 SPAC IPOs and 140 de-SPACs — the most of any banker he knows of — Brandon Sun shares what 13 years at the center of the blank check market actually teaches you.In this episode, Michael Blankenship sits down with Brandon Sun, Head of SPAC Investment Banking at Cohen & Company Capital Markets. With 130+ SPAC IPOs raising $45B+ in equity capital and 140 de-SPAC transactions representing $210B+ in combined enterprise value, Brandon is one of the longest-serving and most prolific SPAC bankers on Wall Street. A decade at Deutsche Bank followed by three and a half years at Cohen & Company — through the 2021 boom, the 2022–2023 collapse, and the 2025 resurgence — gives him a vantage point few practitioners have. Essential listening for SPAC sponsors, PIPE investors, de-SPAC target founders, and capital markets professionals.🎯 What We Cover:Why the SPAC offers certainty when the IPO window closes — and why 1,000 filed S-1s are currently stuckThe real advantage of SPACs vs. traditional IPOs and direct listings todayWhy every major quantum computing company went public via SPAC — IonQ, Rigetti, D-Wave, Xanadu, Terra QuantumThe public-private arbitrage driving rare earths, SMR nuclear, and deep tech to SPAC transactionsWhy cross-border listings are flowing to US exchanges as foreign markets lose liquidityWhat separates target management teams that close from the ones that walk awayThe #1 opportunity cost SPAC sponsors underestimate when evaluating targetsHow to think about valuation, structure, and story as one integrated pitchWhat the rest of 2025 looks like for SPAC deal flow across sectors🤝 Connect with Brandon Sun:🌐 https://www.cohencm.com/brandon-sun💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonsun/📩 Connect with Michael Blankenship:💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeblankenship/🌐 https://www.thespacpodcast.com/📩 Connect with Joshua Wilson:💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/🌐 https://www.thespacpodcast.com/🎙️ Follow The SPAC Podcast:🌐 https://www.thespacpodcast.com/▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@thespacpodcastDisclaimer: Michael J. Blankenship is a licensed attorney and partner at Winston & Strawn LLP. Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The content of this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, or compliance advice. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of any regulatory agency, law firm, organization, or employer. Listeners should consult their own legal counsel, compliance teams, or financial advisors to ensure adherence to applicable regulations, including SEC, FINRA, and other industry-specific requirements. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeblankenship/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/ To Contact Us, Please Visit: https://www.TheSPACPodcast.com/contact/