Top Chicago Search Funds with Recent Private M&A Activity

130

Active Firms

1,942

TTM Deal Inquiries

$3M-$14M

Core Revenue Range

$800K-$3M

Core EBITDA Range

Top Sectors by Activity

Industrials 44%

Healthcare 12%

Business Services 11%

Technology 8%

Consumer Goods 8%

Key Attributes

Focus: Acquiring One Business | Capital Source: Investor-Backed or Self-Funded | Operating Approach: Stewardship & Growth

Hope Street Capital

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Chicago-based traditional search fund focused on business services, consumer services, SaaS, and healthcare services opportunities. We are geographically agnostic but would prefer to acquire a business headquartered in the Midwest or Northeast.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Cowrie Holdings

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Cowrie Holdings is a diversified holding company with focus on venture, enterprise and advisory services. The firm is committed to accelerating sustainable growth by forming strategic partnerships with visionary founders & seasoned operators. With a focus on addressing infrastructural gaps, Cowrie employs a patient capital approach, investing at both the seed level and growth phase of stable enterprises that have untapped potential.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Heritage Clay Partners

Actively Sourcing Deals

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I’m a full-time searcher focused on acquiring and operating one exceptional business. As a former teacher turned strategy consultant at Deloitte and Bain, I bring a unique combination of strategic rigor and leadership experience.I’m looking to partner with a seller who cares about legacy, employee wellbeing, and long-term growth. I’m not a financial engineer, I’m a hands-on operator committed to continuing what’s been built and growing it with care.I’m especially interested in businesses with $1mm - $5mm of EBITDA in the education and blue-collar services industries, but will…

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Scoville Capital

Actively Sourcing Deals

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At my current company, I was a key leader in scaling the business nearly 100x: from 2,000 to 250,000 orders per week. In my current role as CTO, I lead a team of ~75 people, and oversee the technical infrastructure required to support ~$650M in annual revenue.I am currently exploring the next chapter of my career through the acquisition of a stable SMB in the Chicagoland area. My goal is to leverage my extensive background in enterprise-level strategy and organizational leadership to manage and grow a local business. I offer a sophisticated understanding of data-driven decision-making and…

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

CTC Legacy Acquisitions LLC

Actively Sourcing Deals

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CTC Legacy Acquisitions is a privately-held investment firm with committed capital aimed at acquiring and actively managing companies. With a commitment to long-term growth, CTC Legacy Acquisitions seeks to drive sustainable success and profitability.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Astoria Growth Partners

Actively Sourcing Deals

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The company is a private equity fund specializing in the lower middle market. It focuses on strategic investments and is committed to fostering growth and value creation in its portfolio companies. With a robust investment strategy, the firm targets a diverse range of industries, seeking opportunities where it can leverage its expertise to drive operational improvements and financial performance. The firm is dedicated to building long-term partnerships with management teams and stakeholders, ensuring alignment of interests and sustainable success.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

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NM2109 LLC

Actively Sourcing Deals

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I’m an operator looking to acquire a founder-owned food or beverage wholesale distributor or manufacturing business, typically $750k–$10M in EBITDA. I would also be very interested in a category-defining food manufacturer or quick service restaurant group with an eternally relevant product and strong brand or reputation moat.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Ilia Malinovskii

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Am looking for investment opportunities through acquisition of small/mid sized operating business in sand/gravel/stone aggregate production (i.e. quarry, mine), manufacturing (e.g. processing of minerals or metals), b2b service (e.g. contract service like hauling/crushing or IT/digital related to mining/metals or relevant manufacturing). My primary location of interest is Great Lakes but am open to consider other location also.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Passant Capital LLC

Actively Sourcing Deals

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My name is Ken Kranz. I’m an MBA graduate from Chicago Booth and formerly with JP Morgan Private Bank. I’m pursuing the acquisition of a small, owner-operated business as a long-term owner-operator, not a financial buyer.At a high level, I’m focused on profitable, stable B2B businesses with recurring or repeat customer demand. I’m particularly interested in essential products or services, including areas such as specialty distribution or business services, though I’m open to adjacent categories that fit the profile below.Broad criteria:B2B-focused businesses with defensible…

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Fare Capital

Actively Sourcing Deals

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I am exclusively looking to buy a water and fire remediation business. I’m a mechanical engineer, and I just finished my MBA at UChicago. I have experience scaling operations at Videojet in Elk Grove Village. Videojet is the largest industrial printing company in the world, and I was running strategic projects for all of North America’s ink cartridge supply. I want to get into restoration, because you are helping people when they need it most. When I retooled a machine and made my Videojet plant $2M a year, I didn’t make half the impact I could by doing good work and treating my…

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

YBridge Capital LLC

Actively Sourcing Deals

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YBridge Capital is a self-funded acquisition firm led by operator-investor Yash Baheti, focused on acquiring and operating one exceptional U.S. based business in the lower middle market. We target founder led companies with $500K–$1.5M in EBITDA, strong recurring revenue, and defensible market positions, with a particular focus on facility services, industrial services, and B2B technical services.I began my career in the field as a Project Engineer and Manager at Turner Construction (national general contractor), leading teams on complex, high-stakes projects and working directly with…

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Slate LLC

Actively Sourcing Deals

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I’m a Harvard Business School graduate who’s ready to transition out of a successful 20 year corporate finance career in Fortune 500 companies into my own company. I’m self funded, and looking for service businesses (ideally commercial) that generate $300-$1,000k in SDE annually. Ideally, this business would be located in Chicagoland or Charlotte/Raleigh-Durham, and have an experienced staff who will continue with the company. An option to acquire real estate as part of the deal is a plus.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Archean

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Archeon-AE will be a search fund built to acquire, operate, and grow one exceptional client-facing business. After 30+ years in institutional fixed-income and capital markets — navigating credit cycles, building trusted relationships, and deploying disciplined capital — I'm channeling that foundation into a deliberate next chapter.The mandate: find a business with strong fundamentals, a loyal customer base, and meaningful upside. Then build it into something that endures.Sectors of focus include education, environmental services, recycling, ecological restoration, and demolition and…

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Kostecki

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Entrepreneur dedicated to buying one business from a founder/owner who is ready to move on and wants a successor they can trust to honor what they have built. Dedicated to preserving and growing prior owner’s legacy and team. Prior experience investing in and managing middle market businesses.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

SJW1

Actively Sourcing Deals

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I am a Real Estate Broker with up to 2.5 million I can put down. Looking to purchase a profitable blue collar business from someone looking to retire. I do not need any income and am happy to reinvest most of the money back into the company in order to grow it as much as possible. I am looking to not only modernize/ grow the company, but expand through strategic acquisitions.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

SAM Industries

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Sam Industries is a private investment firm focused on acquiring and operating stable, service-based businesses with strong fundamentals and long-term growth potential. We target lower middle-market companies where ownership is seeking a transition, and where we can preserve legacy while driving operational excellence.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

RWF Ventures

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Marketing executive with a proven track record of building and scaling high-growth ventures by leveraging deep expertise inconsumer marketing from world class organizations with entrepreneurial leadership. Built Aligned Modern Health from a singleclinic startup, to a multi-location, high-growth healthcare brand. Fueled growth through transforming consumer insights intostrategies to drive revenue, customer acquisition leveraging performance based marketing, and evolving business model to scaleexpansion.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Legacy Pursuit, LLC

Actively Sourcing Deals

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For business owners who want to preserve their LegacyLegacy Pursuit was founded to help you craft your succession plan and transition to your next chapter while ensuring your business, people, and customers remain in good hands.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

In-G-Co, LLC

Actively Sourcing Deals

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I am a seasoned Growth Executive with 20 years of experience scaling B2B entrerprise services and digital solutions. Having spent my career optimization and engineering repeatable sales engines for premium service firms, I am looking to acquire and personally operate a single B2B or commercial services business in the lower-middle market.Unlike traditional private equity, I am a self-funded individual operator backed by committed capital and a top-tier advisory board. My objective is to transition the day-to-day operations seamlessly from a retiring owner, preserve their legacy, and deploy…

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Bowen Falls Capital, LLC

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Bowen Falls Capital is an investment firm focused on acquiring best-in-class arbor care businesses and investing in their long-term growth and development.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

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Firms in the Chicago Search Funds directory are ordered based on recent deal activity on Axial. The default order reflects observed market signals rather than a subjective ranking of firm quality.

Each profile provides information about the firm’s areas of focus, transaction criteria, and relevant activity on Axial’s M&A platform. Together, these details provide a clearer view of where a firm is active and the types of companies and opportunities most relevant for it.

Based on activity on Axial’s M&A platform, the core revenue range for Chicago Search Funds is $3M-$14M, with a core EBITDA range of $800K-$3M. Company size can be an important indicator of fit, as firms often concentrate their experience, resources, and transaction activity within particular segments of the market.

Location can be an important consideration, but it does not necessarily define where a firm is active. Firms based in Chicago may bring regional knowledge, local relationships, and experience with businesses in the area, while many also pursue opportunities across a broader geographic footprint. Geography is best considered alongside sector focus, company size, and relevant transaction activity.

Not necessarily. A firm’s location does not always define its geographic reach. Many Search Funds based in Chicago are active across multiple regions, while firms based elsewhere may also participate in the Chicago market. Location can provide useful context, but it should not be interpreted as a firm’s geographic boundary.

When comparing Search Funds in Chicago, consider factors such as sector focus, size range, and recent transaction activity. These characteristics vary across the 130 firms included in the directory and can help identify firms that align with your needs.

Axial can help you identify and connect with firms based on your objectives and what you are looking to accomplish. The process varies depending on your role and transaction needs. If you are interested in connecting with firms in the Chicago Search Funds directory, you can request information here.

Top Chicago Search Funds

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