Investing in the
Lower Middle Market

Our Limited Partners are accredited investors looking to invest personal capital in this asset class, which is known for competitive returns but is difficult for non-institutional investors to access. If that’s you, Fund II is open now.

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Minds Capital Around the World

Minds investments and LPs are distributed across North America (and beyond)

Fund I Portcos
Fund II Portcos
Investors
Podcast Guests

We also have investors in:

SVG map of the US.
Aaron Stahl
Guest(s):
Aaron Stahl
Location:
Fayetteville, AR
Alex de Pyffer & Ross Porter
Guest(s):
Alex de Pfyffer & Ross Porter
Location:
New York, NY
Alex Swanston & Corbin Cook
Guest(s):
Corbin Cook, Alex Swanston
Location:
Carrollton, TX
Andrew McDonald
Guest(s):
Andrew McDonald
Location:
Dallas, TX
Azhar Quader
Guest(s):
Azhar Quader
Location:
New York, NY
Ben Hughes
Guest(s):
Ben Hughes
Location:
Dallas, TX
Bobby Sheth
Guest(s):
Bobby Sheth
Location:
Boston, MA
Bruce Lipian
Guest(s):
Bruce Lipian
Location:
Newport Beach, CA
Chandos Mahon
Guest(s):
Chandos Mahon
Location:
Miami, FL
Chris Breaux
Guest(s):
Chris Breaux
Location:
Washington, DC
Chris Eichman
Guest(s):
Edwin Burke, Chris Eichmann
Location:
Lake Worth, FL
Christian Seale
Guest(s):
Christian Seale
Location:
Miami, FL
Cory Sandrock
Guest(s):
Cory Sandrock
Location:
Chicago, IL
Craig Dupper
Guest(s):
Craig Dupper
Location:
Park City, UT
Dana Robinson & Alan Baca
Guest(s):
Alan Baca, Dana Robinson
Location:
San Diego, CA
Dan Chetrit
Guest(s):
Dan Chetrit
Location:
Montreal, QC
Dan Tamkin
Guest(s):
Dan Tamkin
Location:
Los Angeles, CA
David Acharya
Guest(s):
David Acharya
Location:
New York, NY
Doug Song
Guest(s):
Doug Song
Location:
Nashville, TN
Edoardo Maggini
Guest(s):
Edoardo Maggini
Location:
New York, NY
Edward Crawford
Guest(s):
Edward Crawford
Location:
Dallas, TX
Edwin Burke
Guest(s):
Edwin Burke, Chris Eichmann
Location:
Greenwich, CT
Erik Miller
Guest(s):
Erik Miller
Location:
New York, NY
Eugene Polevoy
Guest(s):
Eugene Polevoy
Location:
Toronto, Canada
G. R. Kearney
Guest(s):
G. R. Kearney
Location:
Chicago, IL
Ian Reynolds
Guest(s):
Ian Reynolds
Location:
Houston, TX
James Bohannon
Guest(s):
James Bohannon
Location:
New York, NY
Jason Faucett
Guest(s):
Jason Faucett
Location:
Dallas, TX
Jay Fuquay
Guest(s):
Jay Fuquay
Location:
Dallas, TX
Jeff Goldstein
Guest(s):
Jeff Goldstein
Location:
Los Angeles, CA
Jim Bolduc
Guest(s):
Jim Bolduc
Location:
Baltimore, MD
Jimmy Watson
Guest(s):
Jimmy Watson
Location:
Dallas, TX
Jim Tapp
Guest(s):
Jim Tapp
Location:
Atlanta, GA
Jory Caulkins
Guest(s):
Jory Caulkins
Location:
Dallas, TX
Justin Turner
Guest(s):
Justin Turner
Location:
Seattle, WA
Kevin Ramsier
Guest(s):
Kevin Ramsier
Location:
Charlotte, NC
Kevin Wong
Guest(s):
Kevin Wong
Location:
Dallas, TX
Leah Berend
Guest(s):
Leah Berend
Location:
Minneapolis, MN
Logan Walters
Guest(s):
Logan Walters
Location:
Houston, TX
Lou Grabowsky
Guest(s):
Lou Grabowsky
Location:
Dallas, TX
Luis Reyes
Guest(s):
Luis Reyes
Location:
Barcelona
Marc Cabrera
Guest(s):
Marc Cabrera
Location:
Telluride, CO
Matt Bodnar
Guest(s):
Matt Bodnar
Location:
Nashville, TN
Michael Kornman
Guest(s):
Michael Kornman
Location:
Dallas, TX
Michael Sutton
Guest(s):
Michael Sutton
Location:
Charlottesville, VA
Mike Healy
Guest(s):
Michael Healy
Location:
New York, NY
Nathan Chandrasekaran
Guest(s):
Nathan Chandrasekaran
Location:
Seattle, WA
Neal Doshi
Guest(s):
Neal Doshi
Location:
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Neel Bhargava
Guest(s):
Neel Bhargava
Location:
New York, NY
Nick Haschka
Guest(s):
Nick Haschka
Location:
Los Gatos, CA
Nick Huber
Guest(s):
Nick Huber
Location:
Athens, GA
Nicolás Luli
Guest(s):
Nicolás Lulli
Location:
Lima, Peru
Nikolay Dimitrov
Guest(s):
Nikolay Dimitrov
Location:
Bulgaria
Peter Lehrman
Guest(s):
Peter Lehrman
Location:
New York, NY
Project Apollo
Sponsor:
Steven McGrath
Acquisition:
Project Apollo
Location:
Atlanta, GA
Project Atlas
Sponsor:
Joseph Wisniewski
Acquisition:
Project Atlas
Location:
Las Vegas, NV
Project Cable
Sponsor:
Stenning Schueppert
Acquisition:
Project Cable
Location:
Asheboro, NC
Project Celsius
Sponsor:
Jeff Goldstein
Acquisition:
Project Celsius
Location:
Pittsburgh, PA
Project Christmas
Sponsor:
Mike Sutton
Acquisition:
Project Christmas
Location:
College Station, TX
Project Clip
Sponsor:
Ben Rollins
Acquisition:
Project Clip
Location:
Pittsburgh, PA
Project Coating
Sponsor:
Yan Vinarskiy
Acquisition:
Project Coating
Location:
Chicago, IL
Project Commodore
Sponsor:
Rick Apple
Acquisition:
Project Commodore
Location:
Jersey Shore, PA
Project Dawn
Sponsor:
CiCi McMullen
Acquisition:
Project Dawn
Location:
Tampa, FL
Project Diamond
Sponsor:
Sequoya Borgman
Acquisition:
Project Diamond
Location:
Columbus, IN
Project Grace
Sponsor:
William Boffa & Darren Fultz
Acquisition:
Project Grace
Location:
Dallas, TX
Project Home
Sponsor:
Ryan Manacheril
Acquisition:
Project Home
Location:
Arcadia, CA
Project Hudson
Sponsor:
Jeffrey Reamer
Acquisition:
Project Tourism
Location:
Tucson, AZ
Project Leo
Sponsor:
Daniel Khazzam & Ben Rapaport
Acquisition:
Project Leo
Location:
Pittsburgh, PA
Project Michigan
Sponsor:
Stenning Schueppert
Acquisition:
Project Michigan
Location:
Detroit, MI
Project Omar
Sponsor:
Erik Scott
Acquisition:
Project Omar
Location:
Dallas, TX
Project Opex
Sponsor:
Mike Sutton
Acquisition:
Project Cost
Location:
Fayetteville, AR
Project Pet
Sponsor:
Kevin Brady
Acquisition:
Project Pet
Location:
Nashville, TN
Project Rewind
Sponsor:
Thomas Ince
Acquisition:
Project Rewind
Location:
Rochester Hills, MI
Project Seed
Sponsor:
Bart MacDonald
Acquisition:
Project Cyber
Location:
New York, NY
Project Spotless
Sponsor:
Mike Samek
Acquisition:
Project Spotless
Location:
Old Bridge, NJ
Project Tropical
Sponsor:
Chris Kirsch & Ian Reynolds
Acquisition:
Project Tropical
Location:
San Juan, PR
Project TrueNorth
Sponsor:
James Zubok
Acquisition:
Project TrueNorth
Location:
Northbrook, IL
Project Waste
Sponsor:
Chandos Mahon
Acquisition:
Project Waste
Location:
Thief River Falls, MN
Quinten Griffiths
Guest(s):
Quinten Griffiths
Location:
Calgary, AB
Ramiro Alfaro
Guest(s):
Ramiro Alfaro
Location:
Guatemala
Renaud Beçanson
Guest(s):
Renaud Besançon
Location:
Paris
Richard Baum
Guest(s):
Richard Baum
Location:
White Plains, NY
Rick Apple
Guest(s):
Rick Apple
Location:
Nashville, TN
Rob Casper
Guest(s):
Rob Casper
Location:
Houston, TX
Robert Graham
Guest(s):
Robert Graham
Location:
Dallas, TX
Robert Koven
Guest(s):
Robert Koven
Location:
New York, NY
Ryan Sullivan
Guest(s):
Ryan Sullivan
Location:
Chicago, IL
Sam Turner
Guest(s):
Sam Turner
Location:
Ampthill, UK
Sarkaw Aziz
Guest(s):
Sarkaw Aziz
Location:
Boston, MA
Sequoya Borgman
Guest(s):
Sequoya Borgman
Location:
Milwaukee, WI
Stenning Schueppert
Guest(s):
Stenning Schueppert
Location:
Austin, TX
Steven McGrath
Guest(s):
Steve McGrath
Location:
Atlanta, GA
Ted Kramer
Guest(s):
Ted Kramer
Location:
Indianapolis, IN
William Boffa
Guest(s):
Bill Boffa & Darren Fultz
Location:
Houston, TX
Zack Miller
Guest(s):
Zachary Miller
Location:
New York, NY

The Opportunity

Niklas James, Max Lummis, Will Smith

Minds Capital was founded in 2023 by Niklas James, Max Lummis, and Will Smith, three partners embedded in the world of independent sponsors (also known as "entrepreneurial private equity"). The partnership combines deep dealmaking expertise and financial diligence horsepower with a popular media platform.

The firm‘s investment strategy focuses on gap equity for independent sponsor-led acquisitions of businesses in the lower middle market. High-quality, high-volume deal flow enables Minds Capital to invest in a dozen such acquisitions each year. For accredited investors who join Minds Capital as limited partners, this is an opportunity to invest in a diversified basket of acquisitions in a fast-growing sector of private equity where returns are considerably higher than PE overall.

Track Record

Minds Capital Fund I began deploying capital in early 2024 at a pace of roughly one commitment per month. Investments have spanned industries, from healthcare to business services to software to manufacturing.

As of December 1st, 2025, Fund I has committed to 17 deals. The average EBITDA at close across these acquisitions is $4.2m, while the average valuation is 5.1x.

Learn More: Track Record

Recent Investments

DVG Partners, led by Jeff Reamer, closed on Madden Media, a digital marketing agency servicing local tourism boards (i.e., Visit Colorado). The long-time CEO of Madden contacted Jeff, who specializes on positioning veterans as business operators, to buy out the former owners. We have known Jeff for several years and are hugely impressed with him. On this deal we loved that Madden owns its niche and that the already-successful CEO is the driver behind this acquisition.

Jeff Reamer
,
DVG Partners

DVG Partners, led by Jeff Reamer, closed on Madden Media, a digital marketing agency servicing local tourism boards (i.e., Visit Colorado). The long-time CEO of Madden contacted Jeff, who specializes on positioning veterans as business operators, to buy out the former owners. We have known Jeff for several years and are hugely impressed with him. On this deal we loved that Madden owns its niche and that the already-successful CEO is the driver behind this acquisition.

Jeff Reamer
,
DVG Partners

DVG Partners, led by Jeff Reamer, closed on Madden Media, a digital marketing agency servicing local tourism boards (i.e., Visit Colorado). The long-time CEO of Madden contacted Jeff, who specializes on positioning veterans as business operators, to buy out the former owners. We have known Jeff for several years and are hugely impressed with him. On this deal we loved that Madden owns its niche and that the already-successful CEO is the driver behind this acquisition.

Jeff Reamer
,
DVG Partners

DVG Partners, led by Jeff Reamer, closed on Madden Media, a digital marketing agency servicing local tourism boards (i.e., Visit Colorado). The long-time CEO of Madden contacted Jeff, who specializes on positioning veterans as business operators, to buy out the former owners. We have known Jeff for several years and are hugely impressed with him. On this deal we loved that Madden owns its niche and that the already-successful CEO is the driver behind this acquisition.

Jeff Reamer
,
DVG Partners
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Mike Samek

Project Spotless is a healthcare environmental services business providing specialized cleaning services to hospitals and health systems, led by independent sponsor Mike Samek of Vetta Growth Partners. The company operates across 15 states with highly recurring revenue and long-standing customer relationships, with growth focused on professionalizing the platform and expanding through tuck-in acquisitions.

Mike Samek
,
Vetta Growth Partners
Stenning Schueppert (Cable)

Project Cable is a specialty fiber cabling contractor providing design, installation, maintenance, and repair services across inside-plant and outside-plant fiber networks. The business benefits from recurring maintenance work layered on top of project-based installs, and its end-to-end service model makes it sticky with customers like municipalities, utilities, universities, and enterprises. Growth is tied to geographic expansion and continued data center build activity rather than aggressive pricing or financial engineering.Sponsor:

Stenning Schueppert (Cable)
,
Evolution Strategy Partners
Sequoya Borgman

Project Diamond is an Indiana-based specialty concrete cutting, sawing and drilling contractor serving highway and infrastructure projects, led by independent sponsor Sequoya Borgman of Borgman Capital. The business has a strong position in its local market, with demand supported by ongoing road and bridge maintenance.

Sequoya Borgman
,
Borgman Capital
James Zubok

Project TrueNorth is a global fleet telematics and AI-enabled fleet management platform, led by independent sponsor James Zubok of Respida Capital Partners. The business provides recurring software solutions that help fleets manage operations, compliance and vehicle performance.

James Zubok
,
Respida Capital Partners
Rick Apple

Project Commodore is a Pennsylvania-based railroad materials recovery and services business, led by independent sponsor Rick Apple of Upside Growth Partners. The company specializes in recovering, processing and selling railroad materials, while also providing on-track services to rail operators.

Rick Apple
,
Upside Growth Parners
Three men wearing sunglasses walk and chat outdoors near bocce ball courts on a sunny day.

What Our Investors Say

Hear our investors share their experiences investing with Minds Capital as limited partners.

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Fund II

Building on the momentum of Fund I, Minds Capital will open its second fund in the back half of 2025. The gap-equity strategy will remain the same, though the check size of investments will grow. Deal flow has grown since launch in 2024, and we expect that to continue as awareness of our value proposition spreads among the community of independent sponsors.

How to join

If you are an accredited investor interested in learning how to participate as a limited partner with Minds Capital, register for Fund II. We will follow up with more information.