Your first call
after signing
an LOI.

Searchers and independent sponsors, you are our client. We invest equity and draw on our extensive network and experience to get your deal done.
One equity investment of $300-400k each month.
Submit your deal

Partners

As investors, operators, vendors, and publishers, Minds Capital’s principals are deeply embedded in the searcher & independent sponsor ecosystems.
Will Smith
Will Smith
Host of the podcast Acquiring Minds, a leading media platform that reaches thousands of searchers & sponsors every month.
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Niklas James
Niklas James
Executive Chairman at Service Star Brands, an HVAC roll-up platform. Previously acquired a SaaS company. HBS & Bain alumnus. Norwegian.
LinkedIn icon
Max Lummis
Max Lummis
Founded LCS in 2012 to provide financial due diligence and post-transaction CPA services for 80-100 SMB deals per year.
LinkedIn icon

Minds Capital:
The Story

Listen to the principals announce Minds Capital on an episode of the Acquiring Minds podcast.
Listen to the Interview
Cover art to Acquiring Minds episode with Niklas James, Max Lummis, and Will Smith

For Searchers & Sponsors
with an LOI

We invest in a well-defined profile of business & searcher.
If your deal aligns with our criteria,
please connect using the form below.

Target Company

Predictable revenue stream(s)
History of profitability
Minimum $1m adj. EBITDA
No industry headwinds
Limited vendor/customer concentration
Seller has legitimate cause to exit
Sustainable margins

Buyer Profile

Strong credentials and references
Credible strategy for IRR >30%
Skin in the game
Preferred returns for investors
Mature, realistic expectations
Excellent investor relations skills
Robust governance plan

Recent Investments

Jeff Reamer

,‎‎‎
DVG Partners

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.

Bart Macdonald

,‎‎‎
Bloom Equity Partners

Bart Macdonald

,‎‎‎
Bloom Equity Partners

Bloom Equity Partners, led by Bart Macdonald, acquired GRC International in a take-private transaction. GRCI is an international governance, risk mgmt., and compliance company focusing on cyber security.  Bart leads a team of savvy and sharp dealmakers, and Bloom specializes on hairy transactions, which enables them to acquire quality assets at competitive valuations. They have a best-in-class team to take GRCI to the next level.

Yan Vinarskiy

,‎‎‎

Yan Vinarskiy

,‎‎‎

Yan Vinarskiy has acquired Floorguard, a manufacturer of premium concrete floor coatings. Yan is an outstanding operator with deep vertical niche expertise,  and Floorguard is a trailblazer within a product group experiencing strong growth from increased mainstream adoption. Yan assembled an incredible governance team of industry experts and will be hands-on in taking Floorguard to the next level.

Testimonials

Thoughts on working with Minds Capital with some of the sponsors and LPs we've partnered with.

“Having had the privilege of partnering with Minds Capital as a sponsor, I can unequivocally state they redefine the role of capital allocator. What sets Minds apart is their clear and helpful communication, an encyclopedic grasp of market dynamics, and a collaborative spirit that's nothing short of invigorating. I was particularly impressed by the caliber of questions they ask when considering an investment, it was clear that they take their role...

Jeff Reamer
Position, DVG Partners
Read more

“Having had the privilege of partnering with Minds Capital as a sponsor, I can unequivocally state they redefine the role of capital allocator. What sets Minds apart is their clear and helpful communication, an encyclopedic grasp of market dynamics, and a collaborative spirit that's nothing short of invigorating. I was particularly impressed by the caliber of questions they ask when considering an investment, it was clear that they take their role...

Jeff Reamer
Position, DVG Partners
Read more
“Having had the privilege of partnering with Minds Capital as a sponsor, I can unequivocally state they redefine the role of capital allocator. What sets Minds apart is their clear and helpful communication, an encyclopedic grasp of market dynamics, and a collaborative spirit that's nothing short of invigorating. I was particularly impressed by the caliber of questions they ask when considering an investment, it was clear that they take their role...
Jeff Reamer
Position, DVG Partners
Read more

“Having had the privilege of partnering with Minds Capital as a sponsor, I can unequivocally state they redefine the role of capital allocator. What sets Minds apart is their clear and helpful communication, an encyclopedic grasp of market dynamics, and a collaborative spirit that's nothing short of invigorating. I was particularly impressed by the caliber of questions they ask when considering an investment, it was clear that they take their role...

Jeff Reamer
Position, DVG Partners
Read more

Having had the privilege of partnering with Minds Capital as a sponsor, I can unequivocally state they redefine the role of capital allocator. What sets Minds apart is their clear and helpful communication, an encyclopedic grasp of market dynamics, and a collaborative spirit that's nothing short of invigorating. I was particularly impressed by the caliber of questions they ask when considering an investment, it was clear that they take their role seriously. They don't merely invest; they forge alliances, infusing ventures with strategic acumen and a powerhouse network that catapults growth beyond all expectations.

Minds Capital isn't just experienced; they're a compendium of solutions. Whether you're navigating choppy market waters or seeking the perfect contact, they've either been there or know someone who has. I'd leap at the chance to collaborate with Minds again and wholeheartedly recommend them to any entrepreneur craving a partner who transcends the typical investor mold.

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Alexander Corbett
Managing Partner, Sachem Capital
Read more

I’m continually impressed by Minds Capital. They have a rigorous vetting process and seem to have found a great set of sponsors and businesses to build out their portfolio.

The general partners are incredibly communicative and accessible to LPs within the fund. Quarterly meetings are held to review the investment criteria and pipeline of new deals, an offering that I have not seen with other funds. And for LPs who are interested in deploying additional capital, Minds also works to provide co-investment opportunities in its portfolio companies when there is room on the cap table.

I’m looking forward to seeing how Minds continues to grow and develop.

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Jordan Zlotoff
President, New Terrain Capital
Read more

I could not recommend Minds Capital highly enough! Niklas, Max, and Will were pivotal in getting my deal across the closing line. Not only did they invest in my independent sponsor deal, but they made several introductions that were key to my deal’s success. Both the law firm and lender I used were introductions from Minds Capital and the rates I was offered by both firms were significantly better than what I could get as a new independent sponsor. I was able to leverage the stellar reputation of the Minds team to be treated like a more seasoned independent sponsor despite this being my first deal.

The Minds Capital team was also a joy to work with during my equity raise and accelerated my funding efforts by at least a month. I was on a tighter timeline, and they were able to accommodate by being very responsive and coming to an investment decision within a little over a week. But more importantly, they sent out my deal teaser to their group of interested investors and two additional groups invested in the deal because of their email blast. If you’re an independent sponsor, don’t hesitate to partner with Minds Capital!

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Yan Vinarskiy
CEO of Floorguard
Read more

I, my partners and our fund have been investors in and with Minds Capital. The reason we chose to invest was the initial attraction to the main street marketplace where we saw an incredible opportunity to invest in companies that are very similar to those currently owned by our clients. We have seen over the past decade dozens of circumstances where legacy owners have sold for reasonable mulitples just to see those companies grow, expand and then be sold to larger strategic companies at much higher valuations. Having witnessed this process over and over, investing was a no brainer.

We continue to invest and are excited to do so because of the quality of team that has been assembled along with extensive opportunities for collaboration with very smart and talented people. It is very easy to assume that if Minds is invested in something then we want to be there with them.

Button Text
John Ledford
CEO, Fortress Wealth Group
Read more

The partners at Minds Capital are investors in several of our platforms. We have had a great experience working with them and consider them an early call as we are evaluating new opportunities. They are true professionals, lower middle market specialists, AND they have personally bought, grown, started, and run successful small companies. Their experience as operators, investors, and service providers in the lower middle market gives them a unique perspective on opportunities that enables them to consistently ask detailed, challenging, and on-point questions. Their input often improves our diligence and leads to better investment outcomes.

If you are an independent sponsor looking for smart, proactive, and value add investors, I would encourage you to reach out to Minds. They are authentic, reliable, informed, professional, and very smart. In short, they are great partners.

Button Text
Jeff Reamer
Managing Partner, DVG Partners
Read more

Minds Capital brings forth the perfect trifecta of deal-sourcing leadership. First, you have Will Smith, the #1 podcaster in the SMB acquisition space – this will provide endless deal flow. Second, there is Niklas James, a 10x SMB purchaser who has honed his craft of deal sourcing and deal evaluation. And third, there is Max Lummis who has mastered the science and art of Quality of Earnings deal evaluations.

As passive individual investors, my husband and I are not privy to every business deal on the market. Thankfully, Will, Niklas, and Max are keyed into the right SMB networks, and have an uncanny ability of finding perfect business investment opportunities. The quality of deal flow is much better through Minds Capital than could ever be achieved as an individual investor.

Now that Fund 1 has closed, in addition to sending out email announcements as business opportunities arise, the Minds Capital leadership team holds quarterly meetings for all Fund 1 investors. The meetings are organized, thoughtful, descriptive, detailed, and succinct. They summarize the deal flow with their multi-point inspection quantitative checklist while still evaluating the qualitative soul of the deal and the searcher. Investing in these deals is making two bets, one on the searcher, the other on the deal itself. Minds Capital does an exceptional job vetting both the searcher and the business.

We believe being a Minds Capital Investor will be an amazing opportunity for us to passively grow our portfolio and wealth.

Button Text
Jackie Hirsch
Founder, Crowne Atlantic Business Brokers
Read more
Button Text

Having had the privilege of partnering with Minds Capital as a sponsor, I can unequivocally state they redefine the role of capital allocator. What sets Minds apart is their clear and helpful communication, an encyclopedic grasp of market dynamics, and a collaborative spirit that's nothing short of invigorating. I was particularly impressed by the caliber of questions they ask when considering an investment, it was clear that they take their role seriously. They don't merely invest; they forge alliances, infusing ventures with strategic acumen and a powerhouse network that catapults growth beyond all expectations.

Minds Capital isn't just experienced; they're a compendium of solutions. Whether you're navigating choppy market waters or seeking the perfect contact, they've either been there or know someone who has. I'd leap at the chance to collaborate with Minds again and wholeheartedly recommend them to any entrepreneur craving a partner who transcends the typical investor mold.

Alexander Corbett
Alexander Corbett
Managing Partner, Sachem Capital
Read more
Button Text

I’m continually impressed by Minds Capital. They have a rigorous vetting process and seem to have found a great set of sponsors and businesses to build out their portfolio.

The general partners are incredibly communicative and accessible to LPs within the fund. Quarterly meetings are held to review the investment criteria and pipeline of new deals, an offering that I have not seen with other funds. And for LPs who are interested in deploying additional capital, Minds also works to provide co-investment opportunities in its portfolio companies when there is room on the cap table.

I’m looking forward to seeing how Minds continues to grow and develop.

Jordan Zlotoff
Jordan Zlotoff
President, New Terrain Capital
Read more
Button Text

I could not recommend Minds Capital highly enough! Niklas, Max, and Will were pivotal in getting my deal across the closing line. Not only did they invest in my independent sponsor deal, but they made several introductions that were key to my deal’s success. Both the law firm and lender I used were introductions from Minds Capital and the rates I was offered by both firms were significantly better than what I could get as a new independent sponsor. I was able to leverage the stellar reputation of the Minds team to be treated like a more seasoned independent sponsor despite this being my first deal.

The Minds Capital team was also a joy to work with during my equity raise and accelerated my funding efforts by at least a month. I was on a tighter timeline, and they were able to accommodate by being very responsive and coming to an investment decision within a little over a week. But more importantly, they sent out my deal teaser to their group of interested investors and two additional groups invested in the deal because of their email blast. If you’re an independent sponsor, don’t hesitate to partner with Minds Capital!

Yan Vinarskiy
Yan Vinarskiy
CEO of Floorguard
Read more
Button Text

I, my partners and our fund have been investors in and with Minds Capital. The reason we chose to invest was the initial attraction to the main street marketplace where we saw an incredible opportunity to invest in companies that are very similar to those currently owned by our clients. We have seen over the past decade dozens of circumstances where legacy owners have sold for reasonable mulitples just to see those companies grow, expand and then be sold to larger strategic companies at much higher valuations. Having witnessed this process over and over, investing was a no brainer.

We continue to invest and are excited to do so because of the quality of team that has been assembled along with extensive opportunities for collaboration with very smart and talented people. It is very easy to assume that if Minds is invested in something then we want to be there with them.

John Ledford
John Ledford
CEO, Fortress Wealth Group
Read more
Button Text

The partners at Minds Capital are investors in several of our platforms. We have had a great experience working with them and consider them an early call as we are evaluating new opportunities. They are true professionals, lower middle market specialists, AND they have personally bought, grown, started, and run successful small companies. Their experience as operators, investors, and service providers in the lower middle market gives them a unique perspective on opportunities that enables them to consistently ask detailed, challenging, and on-point questions. Their input often improves our diligence and leads to better investment outcomes.

If you are an independent sponsor looking for smart, proactive, and value add investors, I would encourage you to reach out to Minds. They are authentic, reliable, informed, professional, and very smart. In short, they are great partners.

Jeff Reamer
Jeff Reamer
Managing Partner, DVG Partners
Read more
Button Text

Minds Capital brings forth the perfect trifecta of deal-sourcing leadership. First, you have Will Smith, the #1 podcaster in the SMB acquisition space – this will provide endless deal flow. Second, there is Niklas James, a 10x SMB purchaser who has honed his craft of deal sourcing and deal evaluation. And third, there is Max Lummis who has mastered the science and art of Quality of Earnings deal evaluations.

As passive individual investors, my husband and I are not privy to every business deal on the market. Thankfully, Will, Niklas, and Max are keyed into the right SMB networks, and have an uncanny ability of finding perfect business investment opportunities. The quality of deal flow is much better through Minds Capital than could ever be achieved as an individual investor.

Now that Fund 1 has closed, in addition to sending out email announcements as business opportunities arise, the Minds Capital leadership team holds quarterly meetings for all Fund 1 investors. The meetings are organized, thoughtful, descriptive, detailed, and succinct. They summarize the deal flow with their multi-point inspection quantitative checklist while still evaluating the qualitative soul of the deal and the searcher. Investing in these deals is making two bets, one on the searcher, the other on the deal itself. Minds Capital does an exceptional job vetting both the searcher and the business.

We believe being a Minds Capital Investor will be an amazing opportunity for us to passively grow our portfolio and wealth.

Jackie Hirsch
Jackie Hirsch
Founder, Crowne Atlantic Business Brokers
Read more

Partnering with Minds

We need to ensure that your deal satisfies our core criteria before we can jump on it.
1. You are already under LOI.
2. Minimum $1m SDE/EBITDA.
3. The Target Company aligns with our criteria:
Predictable revenue stream(s);
history of profitability;
minimum $1m adj. EBITDA;
no industry headwinds;
limited vendor/customer concentration;
seller has legitimate cause to exit;
sustainable margins
4. The Sponsor (you) aligns with our criteria:
Strong credentials and references;
credible strategy for IRR >30%;
skin in the game;
preferred returns for investors;
mature, realistic expectations;
excellent investor relations skills;
robust governance plan
Once you can confirm that your deal satisfies these criteria, begin the process of speaking to us about an investment by filling out the form below.

We will follow up with next steps.

Submit Your Deal

Let us know about your deal, and we will respond personally ASAP.
Thank you.

We've received your submission
and will follow up soon.
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