Ed DeShields is the founder, president and CEO of HYCA, LLC, an investor in a variety of companies in the financial services, information technologies, and real estate industries.

Since 2002, HYCA has made direct investments in financing structures for distressed residential real estate. HYCA’s Community Empower Master Fund is an investment grade, Moodys-reviewed issuer of residential mortgage–backed securities. HYCA's unique Community Empower Lease-to-Own home financing program is available nationally through many popular real estate brands.

HYCA's software companies serve the credit and mortgage markets. CE Analytics, Inc., is one of three commercial consumer credit scoring companies in the world. Its technology has received many recognitions, including having been named worldwide data analytics software product of the year for its science in consumer credit and as a Top 17 most innovative new company worldwide. CE Analytics continues to innovate in data analytics for mortgage portfolio finance and in real estate financing structures having dispositioned more than $3 billion in distressed loan portfolios and assisting 800,000 consumers in credit education cases in 2009.