$16m Buyout to $55m Exit in 18 Months
Kevin Ramsier's bought his first company for $60,000 and exited it for $77 million - growing EV by more than 1,000x! He also shares the story about a $55m exit, only 18 months after acquiring it for $16m. With a silky voice and sharp insights, Kevin explains how hiring strong operators drives scale and protects his family from constant relocations. A proud evangelist of the deal-by-deal model, he candidly reflects on striking out on 18 consecutive LOIs over the past year.
Kevin Ramsier, founder of Sier Capital in North Carolina, shares how he turned a $60,000 acquisition into a $77 million exit. He also breaks down a $55 million sale that followed a $16 million acquisition just 18 months earlier. In the early days, Kevin operated each business himself, relocating his family for every deal.
Today, he stays rooted by partnering with strong operators, often executives or incumbent management teams who never had the chance to own a business. He gives them equity and operational control, which allows his investment firm to scale without direct operational involvement. He calls these leaders "execuneurs" and sees them as essential to building sustainable companies.
Kevin is a clear advocate of the deal-by-deal model. He prefers its focus, discipline, and flexibility over the rigid timelines of traditional funds. Each deal must stand on its own, and investor trust is earned deal by deal. He also teaches this model to students at Duke.
He shares what gives him an edge: a background in sales, a disciplined approach to sourcing, and a reputation built by consistently backing best-in-class managers. While his team has delivered standout exits, Kevin is candid about the challenges too, including missing on 18 consecutive LOIs over the past year.
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