We spent our careers building the kinds of companies that we now back.
Most companies in our target zone could significantly drive growth and enterprise value by acquiring businesses in their market, but lack the in-house expertise to do so. We source, diligence, negotiate and, most importantly, help integrate. We have done this more than a dozen times.
The technology foundation of a company is a living, breathing entity that needs constant evolution and investment. We have modernized infrastructure, executed platform rewrites and consolidation, migrated customers, built teams, established offshore strategies, implemented AI internally and in product, and will help guide you through these or other challenges you face.
Founder-led businesses reach a point where the informal version of everything - reporting, hiring, pricing, the sales process, the close - stops working. We thrive on helping companies overcome these challenges at any level of depth that you need.
Growth often depends on finding the right capital on the right terms. We have raised and structured debt and equity, financed acquisitions with private credit, and worked directly with lenders, investors, and advisers to build capital structures that support the company's strategy.
We have led successful business sales from inside the company for more than twenty years. That includes preparing the business to go to market, selecting and managing investment banks and advisers, shaping the positioning and buyer strategy, navigating diligence and negotiations, and keeping the company performing through closing.
We invest in businesses that are great at what they do but have reached the limits of how they continue to grow. The next stage may require an M&A strategy, modernized technology, a more disciplined operating structure, the right capital, and eventually a well-run exit.
We recognize those moments because we spent twenty-five years working through them as founders and operators, buyers and sellers. We have built, acquired, integrated, financed, modernized, and sold businesses across a range of industries.
We have raised and structured capital, hired and managed investment banks and other advisers, and led successful sale processes from preparation and positioning through diligence, negotiation, and closing.
Baseline and Talent Systems are two examples. We built and sold Baseline twice, and assembled Talent Systems through seven acquisitions before selling a majority stake to RedBird Capital Partners and StepStone Group.
Between us, we have led nearly every part of an operating company. That breadth is the model for this firm: no handoff from a deal team to an operating group.
We keep our portfolio intentionally small. When a CEO calls, one of us answers, ready to help in any capacity.
The leading casting and audition platform for film, television, commercials and theatre. Built by acquiring seven separate companies and then rewriting the core technology from the ground up. Majority stake sold to RedBird Capital Partners and StepStone in 2022; we remain shareholders.
Assembled fromCasting Networks, Spotlight, Cast It Systems, Casting Frontier, eTribez Casting, Staff Me Up, Tagmin.
talentsystems.comInterpretation, translation and deaf services for hospitals, school districts, courts and government agencies. Five regional providers consolidated onto a single platform, with machine translation layered over the human network. Founder-led by Josh Daneshforooz; we are minority investors alongside Mucker Capital.
Assembled fromTranslation & Interpretation Network, Language Partners, Equal Access Interpreting, Affordable Language Services, Lango Deaf/HoH.
lango.coWholesale plant and tree sourcing for commercial landscapers. An industry that still runs on phone calls and PDF catalogues, being moved onto a marketplace. Founder-led by Marc Elliott; we are minority investors alongside Mucker Capital.
gomaterials.comSingle-family rental property for individual investors - sourcing, purchase, tenanting and ongoing management on one platform. A category that has always run on local brokers and fragmented property managers, being consolidated and automated. We are minority investors alongside Mucker Capital.
doorvest.comTutoring, test preparation and admissions counselling for students from secondary school through graduate programmes. Nine specialist brands brought together under one group, each strong in its own niche, sharing infrastructure and referral flow across the whole. We are minority investors.
Assembled fromSummit Educational Group, Applerouth Education, ESM Prep, College MatchPoint, Reach Cambridge, mbaMission, Accepted, Launch Precollege Labs, Guidewell Global.
guidewelleducation.comThe definitive information platform for the film and television industry, built out through acquisition over sixteen years. Sold to The New York Times Company, reacquired, recapitalized with ABRY Partners, and sold to Tribune Media Company in 2014.
AcquiredStudio System (from UBM), Filmtracker, ScriptShark, Screenline (Germany).
Joint venture formed with WME-IMG, connecting brands and agencies to product integration opportunities in film, television and digital programming.
Talent Systems · Lango · Baseline · Doorvest · Guidewell Education
Lango · Doorvest
Talent Systems · Lango
Baseline · Talent Systems
EZPZ Pizza · YuzuCo
We are usually not the only institution on the cap table, and we are comfortable in either seat.
Alex started his career at 20th Century Fox and MGM Television, then co-founded the Baseline film and television information platform. At Talent Systems he was co-CEO and led product, technology, sales, marketing and client service. UCLA.
Rafi spent four years at Credit Suisse First Boston on M&A and corporate financings, then ran Baseline StudioSystems as President from 1999 to 2008, including through its years inside The New York Times. At Talent Systems he was co-CEO and led corporate development, M&A, investor relations, legal and finance. UCLA.
