Self Funded Searchers
Don’t Go It Alone.
It is this simple
We passively invest alongside you with the goal of maximizing your chances of success.
We love supporting and investing alongside talented, hard-working people who are buying and running small businesses.
Unlike institutional capital, we invest like individuals in your friends & family network and do not seek onerous controls or deal structures.
What We Do and Don’t Do
Our goal is to work with the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) crowd that is looking to own and grow a business (hopefully for the long term). First time acquirers are welcome to reach out.
What We Do
We take minority positions (you’re taking the risk and you should have the vast majority of the equity). We’re flexible on deal structure as long as there is a reasonable return and payback period.
What We Don’t Do
We don’t participate in search funds or deals with institutional type private equity investors. We aren’t writing large, impersonal checks. Rather, we’d prefer to be the friendly individuals with (hopefully) some useful experience that invest alongside your grandma, father-in-law, and other friends/family.
Why? Because that is what we are and that is what we’ve done. We’re in multiple investments with close, trusted friends. And we’re managing investments and building businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do you have a minimum/maximum investment size?
No. We’re willing to write pretty small checks and it is important to us to find a place that fits with your needs and those of your other investors (if any). If the equity needed is more than we are willing to provide we are happy to introduce you to additional people who would be excited about investing with us in your business.
What kind of control do you want?
We aren’t interested in running your business. This is usually a conversation as the deal is coming together, but our intent is not to mandate onerous conditions.
Generally we want to be “friendly” capital that comes in at more agreeable terms than institutional capital. We’ll invest alongside your other friends & family.
Will you work with first time acquirers?
Yes. First time acquirers are welcome to get in touch.
Will you run the business/acquisition for us?
No. Think of us as a trusted friend investing in/with you. There are definitely ways we can help, but at the end of the day we run our businesses and expect you to run yours. .
If the deal is financed with an SPA, will I be the one guaranteeing the loan?
Yes. Our structure is working alongside searches/entrepreneurs that want to buy a business either using an SBA loan or other financing.
In each instance, we want to avoid putting controls on the operator. You’re the buyer, manager, and guarantee of any loan. That said, we are here to support you through any tough times and together we stand a better chance of weathering them.
What kind of assistance will you provide?
We have experience making these investments, managing various types of businesses, and generally working with syndicated investments.
Our background is in investing, law, and management. The goal is to be alongside you the entire way as a sounding board and advisor, but only to the extent you find it helpful.
