I'm looking for a capital partner to help me roll up and acquire smaller companies in my industry.

Yes. What you’re describing is typically an independent-sponsor / acquisition-entrepreneur model: you identify a platform company, raise equity for the acquisition, then use additional capital and debt to execute a buy-and-build strategy.

There are capital providers specifically built around this model. For example:

• CapitalPad — typically invests $1M–$2.5M alongside independent sponsors, with target companies generally around $1M–$7M EBITDA.
• PROX Search Capital — minority equity of roughly $500K–$2.5M, generally for U.S. businesses with $1M–$5M EBITDA.
• Riviera Capital — works with independent sponsors, self-funded searchers and other entrepreneurial acquisition structures, with an emphasis on business services.
• Smash.vc — provides equity for self-funded searches, independent sponsors and search funds acquiring established, cash-generating SMBs.
• Praxess — has an independent-sponsor program targeting $5M–$25M of equity alongside sponsors in lower-middle-market transactions.
• Capitala Group — provides debt and equity capital to independent sponsors across the U.S. lower middle market and describes a particular focus on flexible capital structures.

The important distinction

If your plan is “buy one company and then acquire 5–20 smaller competitors/add-ons”, I would not approach this as simply looking for someone to finance individual acquisitions. You want a partner who understands a platform + add-on acquisition strategy and is willing to support subsequent acquisitions.

Your investor pitch should therefore answer:

1. What industry?
2. Why is it fragmented?
3. What is the ideal platform? — revenue, EBITDA, geography, ownership profile.
4. What size add-ons are you targeting?
5. What is the acquisition thesis? — e.g., geographic expansion, cross-selling, purchasing synergies, professionalizing operations.
6. How much equity do you need for the platform?
7. How much additional capital could you need for the first 3–5 acquisitions?
8. What operating role will you personally play?
9. What is your relevant industry/operator/M&A experience?
10. What ownership and economics are you offering the capital partner?

The industry is the biggest missing piece. If you tell me (a) your industry, (b) approximate EBITDA/revenue of the companies you want to acquire, (c) the size of the first acquisition, and (d) how much equity capital you need, I can build you a target list of capital partners that specifically fit your roll-up, including their investment criteria, typical check sizes, and how to approach them.

Finding the right capital partner for a roll-up strategy (often called a buy-and-build strategy) is all about matching your sector, target deal size, and growth thesis with an investor who understands the mechanics of consolidation.

Here are the primary types of capital partners you should consider, along with how to approach them:

• Private Equity (PE) Lower-Middle Market Firms specialize in partnering with operators to execute roll-ups. They typically bring both the equity check and operational backing. Look for firms with a stated "buy-and-build" mandate in your specific industry.
• Search Fund / ETA (Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition) Investors focus on backing individual operators or small teams to acquire a platform company and subsequently bolt on smaller competitors. Institutional search fund investors or self-funded search accelerators can be ideal if you plan to lead the operations yourself.
• Family Offices often have a higher tolerance for longer holding periods and flexible deal structures compared to traditional PE. Many family offices actively look for industry veterans to spearhead a roll-up strategy in a sector they already know well.
• Specialty Debt Providers and Mezzanine Lenders come into play once you have secured a platform company. They provide the leverage needed to fund subsequent add-on acquisitions without diluting your equity too early.

To help narrow down the best type of partner and where to look, could you share:

• What industry are you targeting?
• What is the average size (revenue/EBITDA) of the target companies you want to acquire?
• Do you already own a platform company , or are you starting from scratch?

Absolutely. What you’re describing is essentially an independent-sponsor / buy-and-build strategy: you provide the industry expertise and acquisition thesis, while a capital partner supplies equity (and often helps arrange debt), allowing you to acquire a platform company and then roll up smaller competitors.

The good news is that this is a well-established capital market in 2026. A recent study of 846 independent-sponsor transactions found a 23.8% median gross IRR and 2.1x median invested-capital return, which is strong evidence that sophisticated investors are actively interested in the model.

The capital partners I'd target

Depending on the size of your targets, there are several groups worth approaching:

• capitalpad.com — invests roughly $1M–$2.5M of equity per transaction, generally in companies with $1M–$7M of EBITDA. They specifically back independent-sponsor acquisitions.
• proxsearchcapital.com — particularly interesting if your initial acquisition is around $1M–$5M EBITDA; they typically invest $500K–$2.5M as minority equity.
• smash.vc — explicitly invests in SMB acquisitions, independent sponsors, self-funded searches and buy-and-build situations.
• tiff.org — an institutional investor that has been backing independent sponsors since 2014 and recently closed a $300M fifth fund focused on the lower end of the lower-middle market.
• capitalagroup.com — provides debt and equity capital to independent sponsors and recently closed a $1B fund.
• prospectstreet.com — particularly relevant once you're looking at businesses with roughly $5M+ EBITDA; it finances independent-sponsor platform and add-on acquisitions.

There are also specialist groups and family offices that can be a better fit than conventional PE if your strategy is highly industry-specific.

More importantly: package the opportunity correctly

I would not approach investors with simply:

"I want to buy a bunch of small companies in my industry." I'd build an investment thesis around:

1. Platform acquisition Identify the first company that becomes the foundation of the roll-up.

2. Fragmented market Demonstrate how many potential acquisition targets exist and why they're available.

3. Acquisition economics Show the typical revenue, EBITDA, valuation multiple and owner profile of the targets.

4. Synergies Explain exactly what happens after acquisition: centralized administration, purchasing, sales, geographic expansion, cross-selling, elimination of duplicate overhead, etc.

5. Your unfair advantage This is critical. Why you? Industry relationships, operating experience, proprietary sourcing, reputation, technical knowledge, customer relationships, or an existing management team.

6. Exit thesis The investor needs to see how a collection of small businesses eventually becomes a substantially more valuable company.

For example:

Acquire a $3M EBITDA platform at 5x = $15M EV Add 5 businesses producing $1M EBITDA each at 4x = $20M EV Integrate them to produce $8M+ consolidated EBITDA Eventually sell the larger platform at 7x = $56M EV That's much more compelling than pitching a vague "roll-up."

I can help you find the right capital partner

If you give me these 5 numbers, I can narrow this down considerably and build you a targeted investor list:

1. Industry
2. Typical target-company revenue
3. Typical target EBITDA
4. Purchase price you're targeting for the first acquisition
5. How much equity capital you want the partner to provide

And, importantly, tell me whether you already own/run a company in this industry or whether you're entering the industry through the first acquisition.

With those details, I can research 20–30 specific PE firms, family offices, independent-sponsor capital providers, and search-fund investors that actually fit your deal size and industry, rather than giving you a generic list.

1. Platform acquisition Identify the first company that becomes the foundation of the roll-up.

2. Fragmented market Demonstrate how many potential acquisition targets exist and why they're available.

3. Acquisition economics Show the typical revenue, EBITDA, valuation multiple and owner profile of the targets.

4. Synergies Explain exactly what happens after acquisition: centralized administration, purchasing, sales, geographic expansion, cross-selling, elimination of duplicate overhead, etc.

5. Your unfair advantage This is critical. Why you? Industry relationships, operating experience, proprietary sourcing, reputation, technical knowledge, customer relationships, or an existing management team.

6. Exit thesis The investor needs to see how a collection of small businesses eventually becomes a substantially more valuable company.

For example:

Acquire a $3M EBITDA platform at 5x = $15M EV Add 5 businesses producing $1M EBITDA each at 4x = $20M EV Integrate them to produce $8M+ consolidated EBITDA Eventually sell the larger platform at 7x = $56M EV That's much more compelling than pitching a vague "roll-up."

I can help you find the right capital partner

If you give me these 5 numbers, I can narrow this down considerably and build you a targeted investor list:

1. Industry
2. Typical target-company revenue
3. Typical target EBITDA
4. Purchase price you're targeting for the first acquisition
5. How much equity capital you want the partner to provide

And, importantly, tell me whether you already own/run a company in this industry or whether you're entering the industry through the first acquisition.

With those details, I can research 20–30 specific PE firms, family offices, independent-sponsor capital providers, and search-fund investors that actually fit your deal size and industry, rather than giving you a generic list.

Finding the right capital partner for an industry roll-up strategy depends heavily on the scale of your initial platform acquisition, your background, and how much equity or control you intend to keep.

The primary pathways and capital structures available for executing an acquisition roll-up include:

• Independent Sponsors (The "Fundless" Sponsor Model): You find, negotiate, and structure the deals first, then go to a dedicated network of family offices, private equity (PE) backers, or high-net-worth individuals to fund each transaction on a deal-by-deal basis. This allows you to retain a high percentage of upside without managing a traditional blind pool fund.
• Traditional Search Funds: You raise a small initial pool of capital from investors strictly to fund a 24-month search phase, find the initial platform company, and then return to those same investors to finance the acquisition and subsequent add-on roll-ups. Check resources and community advice on platforms like Searchfunder to connect with experienced search investors.
• Lower-Middle-Market Private Equity: Partnering with an established micro-cap or lower-middle-market PE firm that explicitly loves a "buy-and-build" thesis. In this setup, they provide the institutional capital backend and an active line of equity for add-ons, though they typically take majority control and install governance oversight.
• Family Offices: Direct family offices often look for proprietary industry operators who know a specific niche (HVAC, specialized software, veterinary clinics, industrial services) inside and out. They have long time horizons and are increasingly fond of roll-up plays if you bring the operational blueprint.

To help narrow down which type of capital partner fits best, tell me:

• What is your industry and the approximate size (EBITDA/revenue) of the target companies?
• Do you already have a first platform acquisition lined up, or are you starting from scratch?
• Are you looking to run day-to-day operations as CEO, or act purely as the deal-maker/strategist?

Yes. What you’re describing is typically structured as an independent sponsor / buy-and-build strategy: you source the platform company and add-on acquisitions, while an equity partner provides some or all of the acquisition capital.

There is an active capital market for this model. A 2026 study of 846 independent-sponsor transactions found a 23.8% median gross IRR and 2.1× median invested-capital multiple, which helps explain why family offices and institutional investors continue to participate.

Where I’d look

• capitalpad.com — specifically backs independent-sponsor acquisitions, typically investing $1M–$2.5M of equity per transaction. Its stated sweet spot is companies with roughly $1M–$7M EBITDA and $5M–$30M enterprise value.
• capitalagroup.com — provides debt/equity capital to independent sponsors in U.S. lower-middle-market transactions.
• prospectstreet.com — works with independent sponsors on platforms, add-ons, refinancings and growth financings.
• smash.vc — focused on acquisition entrepreneurs buying profitable SMBs and explicitly considers independent-sponsor and search transactions.
• sbia.org — useful for getting in front of a broader network of lower-middle-market investors and capital providers; its 2026 programming includes pre-vetted one-on-one meetings between sponsors and capital providers.

But I wouldn't pitch yourself as simply "looking for money"

The stronger pitch is:

"I'm building the leading company in [industry] through a disciplined buy-and-build strategy. I'm looking for a capital partner who can fund the initial platform acquisition and subsequent add-ons while I lead sourcing, integration and operations." Investors will want to understand four things immediately:

1. Your industry expertise — why you have an edge finding and operating these companies.
2. The acquisition profile — revenue, EBITDA, valuation, geography, owner profile, etc.
3. The roll-up thesis — why acquiring multiple smaller companies creates more value than buying one larger company.
4. The economics — how much equity you expect to contribute, how much you want the partner to contribute, and how ownership/promote will work.

The fact that you intend to roll up multiple smaller companies is particularly important. I'd approach capital partners differently depending on whether you already have a platform target under LOI versus you're still assembling the acquisition strategy.

If you give me your industry, approximate target-company revenue/EBITDA, geographic focus, and whether you already have a target identified, I can build you a targeted list of 15–25 capital partners that are actually appropriate for your strategy, including what they invest and how I'd approach each one.

Embarking on a roll-up strategy (industry consolidation) requires the right flavor of capital partner, depending on whether you are an industry insider looking to act as an operating CEO, or if you already have a foundational platform company and need a sponsor to fund add-on acquisitions.

The primary pathways and capital structures for a roll-up include:

• Lower Middle-Market Private Equity (PE): Firms like Sentinel Capital Partners specialize in industry consolidations and partnering with management teams. If you pitch a PE firm a thesis, they can acquire a "platform" company and back you (or bring you in) to execute subsequent add-on acquisitions ("bolt-ons").
• Search Funds / Sponsored Search: If you are looking to find, acquire, and build a platform from scratch via an Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) model, traditional search fund investors or accelerators can provide initial search capital followed by acquisition capital.
• Family Offices: Many family offices look for direct co-investment or proprietary consolidation plays in specific niches they understand well. They often have a longer time horizon than traditional 5-to-7-year private equity funds, which fits roll-ups nicely.
• Independent Sponsor (Finders/Sponsors): You find the targets and build the thesis first, then go deal-by-deal to raise equity from dedicated independent sponsor capital providers or family offices who fund the purchase on a case-by-case basis.

To point you toward the most relevant types of capital partners, could you tell me:

• What industry are you targeting for this roll-up?
• What is your current stage? (e.g., Do you already own a platform company, or are you starting from scratch with a thesis?)
• What size targets (revenue/EBITDA) are you looking to acquire?

Finding the right capital partner for a roll-up strategy—often a private equity (PE) firm , a search fund investor , or a family office —requires targeting groups that specifically specialize in "buy-and-build" strategies rather than standalone investments.

To help you narrow down the best fit, here is a breakdown of the primary capital structures available for roll-ups, what investors look for, and where to start your search.

Types of Capital Partners for Roll-Ups

• Micro-Cap and Lower-Middle-Market PE Firms: These firms specialize in an initial platform acquisition followed by rolling up add-on acquisitions (smaller competitors in the same space). They typically provide the majority of the equity and have dedicated dry powder for subsequent buyouts.
• Search Fund / ETA (Entrepreneurship through Acquisition) Investors: If you are an individual operator looking to buy a platform company and systematically roll up competitors, institutional search fund backers or self-funded search investors can provide the initial equity and debt advisory.
• Family Offices: Many independent family offices prefer long-term, non-control or control investments in specific sectors and are uniquely patient with roll-up timelines compared to traditional 10-year PE funds.
• SBIC Funds (Small Business Investment Company): Government-backed funds in the U.S. that provide flexible junior capital/debt specifically tailored for smaller roll-up strategies.

What Capital Partners Expect to See

• The Playbook: A clear thesis on why consolidation works in your specific industry (e.g., highly fragmented, localized mom-and-pop shops with high tech/operational efficiency upside).
• Pipeline of Targets: Evidence that you already have a proprietary pipeline of initial targets or a realistic sourcing strategy.
• Your Background: Track record in the industry, operational expertise, or M&A experience.

To help me point you toward the most relevant PE firms, family offices, or intermediaries, could you share:

• What industry or sector are you targeting for this roll-up?
• Are you looking to acquire your first platform company right now, or do you already own a business and want capital for add-ons?
• What is the rough revenue or EBITDA size of the targets you have in mind?

Absolutely. What you’re describing is typically structured as an independent-sponsor / searcher-backed buy-and-build strategy: you identify a platform company, raise acquisition equity from a capital partner, close the first deal, and then use additional capital/debt for add-ons.

The good news is that there is an active market for this. A 2026 study of 846 independent-sponsor transactions found a 23.8% median gross IRR, versus 18.5% for comparable lower-middle-market buyouts.

The capital partners I’d target

A few current groups specifically advertise capital for independent sponsors:

• capitalpad.com — Typically $1M–$2.5M per transaction; targets established lower-middle-market businesses, generally $1M–$7M EBITDA.
• boringbusinessfund.com — Provides roughly $500K–$2M of LP equity for sponsor-led acquisitions.
• impel.capital — Particularly interesting if you're in the Mid-Atlantic/Southeast; it invests in companies with roughly $2M–$5M+ EBITDA and explicitly partners with independent sponsors.
• prospectstreet.com — An established capital provider that works with independent sponsors on platforms, add-ons, refinancings and growth financings.
• pamircapitalpartners.com — Targets $1M–$15M EBITDA businesses and explicitly describes a buy-and-build/operational partnership approach.

The right investor depends heavily on your industry, target EBITDA, acquisition size, geography, and your own operating/acquisition track record.

More importantly, I'd package your pitch around the roll-up thesis

A capital partner generally doesn't want to hear simply:

“I want money to buy some smaller companies.” You want to present:

1. Industry thesis Why is your industry fragmented? How many potential targets exist?

2. Platform strategy What size company will you acquire first, and why is it the right platform?

3. Add-on strategy What characteristics make a target attractive? For example: geography, customer overlap, recurring revenue, margins, owner demographics, cross-selling opportunities.

4. Your unfair advantage Why can you source, acquire and operate these companies better than another sponsor?

5. Capital structure For example: senior debt + seller financing + investor equity + your own rollover/co-investment.

6. Economics Illustrate what happens to investor returns after the platform acquisition and, say, 3–5 add-ons.

7. Alignment Be prepared to explain exactly how much of your own money, time, and/or equity you're putting at risk.

If you tell me (a) your industry, (b) roughly what the target companies generate in revenue/EBITDA, (c) how much you expect the first acquisition to cost, (d) your geography, and (e) your acquisition/operating experience, I can identify 20–30 specific capital partners that fit your strategy, rank them, and give you a suggested outreach strategy and pitch.

7. Alignment Be prepared to explain exactly how much of your own money, time, and/or equity you're putting at risk.

If you tell me (a) your industry, (b) roughly what the target companies generate in revenue/EBITDA, (c) how much you expect the first acquisition to cost, (d) your geography, and (e) your acquisition/operating experience, I can identify 20–30 specific capital partners that fit your strategy, rank them, and give you a suggested outreach strategy and pitch.

Finding a capital partner for a roll-up strategy (often called a buy-and-build strategy) requires investors who understand private equity, M&A, and industry consolidation. Depending on the size of your target acquisitions and your current traction, you have a few distinct paths to explore.

• Private Equity (PE) Firms: Traditional lower-middle-market PE firms often back experienced operators or industry executives as "searchers" or CEOs-in-residence to execute a roll-up strategy. They provide the majority of the equity capital and strategic backing.
• Search Funds / ETA (Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition): If you are looking to acquire a single platform company first and then do add-on acquisitions, traditional or self-funded search fund investors are a strong fit. You can explore communities and resources via Searchfunder.
• Family Offices: Many independent family offices look for direct co-investment opportunities or operational partners to lead sector-specific consolidation strategies without the strict 5-to-7-year fund lifecycle of traditional PE.
• Independent Sponsors / Search-ers: You partner with boutique investment banks or find high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) deal-by-deal to finance the initial platform and subsequent roll-ups. Platforms like Axial are frequently used by independent sponsors to connect with capital providers and deal flow.
• Venture Debt / Specialty Lenders: Once you have a cash-flow-positive platform company, specialized lenders can help finance subsequent smaller tuck-in acquisitions using leverage rather than diluting your equity.

To help narrow down the best capital partners for you, could you share:

• What is your target industry?
• What is the average size (revenue/EBITDA) of the companies you want to acquire?
• Do you already have an initial platform company under contract, or are you starting from scratch?

If you’re looking to roll up smaller companies in your industry, you’re essentially looking for a capital partner for an acquisition platform. The right investor depends heavily on your stage: whether you have a first target identified, an operating track record, and the size of the acquisitions you’re pursuing.

A few common routes:

1. Independent sponsor / acquisition entrepreneur capital

This is often the best fit for a roll-up strategy. You typically bring:

• Industry expertise and deal sourcing
• The acquisition thesis
• Operating plan
• Management capability

The capital partner provides:

• Equity for acquisitions
• Help with financing
• Institutional credibility
• Sometimes board-level support

Firms and groups that focus on independent sponsor deals include:

• CapitalPad — invests alongside independent sponsors in lower-middle-market acquisitions, typically through deal-by-deal structures.
• accesscappartners.com — advises independent sponsors and family offices on raising debt and equity capital for acquisitions.
• oronocap.com — provides M&A and capital advisory services for independent sponsors and business owners.

2. Lower-middle-market private equity firms

If your target acquisitions are larger (for example, $5M+ EBITDA businesses or a platform with meaningful scale), traditional PE firms may partner with you as:

• Executive sponsor
• Industry operating partner
• CEO/Chairman of a roll-up platform

Many firms prefer a platform + add-on acquisition model rather than funding isolated small acquisitions.

3. Family offices

Family offices can be excellent partners for roll-ups because they often:

• Have longer investment horizons
• Like founder/operators
• Can be flexible on structure
• May invest alongside you repeatedly

4. Search fund / ETA investors

If you’re buying very small companies (often under ~$5M EBITDA), search-fund-style investors may be relevant, especially if you plan to personally operate the first acquisition.

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To find the right partner, you’ll want a concise investment thesis that answers:

1. What industry?
2. What geography? (local, regional, national?)
3. What size companies? (revenue/EBITDA range)
4. How many acquisitions do you envision? (3–5 vs. 20+)
5. Your role: CEO/operator, deal sponsor, or both?
6. Do you already have a target company or LOI?
7. How much capital do you need initially? ($1M, $10M, $50M+)

If you share those details, I can help you identify the most likely types of capital partners and build a target investor list for your specific roll-up thesis.