Top Research & Consulting Services Independent Sponsors with Recent Private M&A Activity

1,473

Active Firms

33,452

TTM Deal Inquiries

$3M-$15M

Core Revenue Range

$600K-$3M

Core EBITDA Range

Top States by Activity

Florida 13%

Texas 12%

California 11%

New York 7%

New Jersey 4%

Key Attributes

Focus: Control Investments | Capital Source: Deal-By-Deal Financing | Operating Approach: Scale & Exit

Forge Holdings, LLC

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Forge Holdings, LLC is focused on acquiring, growing and managing founder and family-owned businesses. We aim to provide an attractive exit opportunity for business owners who are seeking liquidity but who also care greatly about what a sale means for their customers, suppliers and employees. We have the ability to own companies forever and take a prudent approach towards the use of debt. Our primary focus is Midwest- and Southeast-based companies generating $1-$5 million in EBITDA, but we will opportunistically pursue larger companies across the continental US.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Runway Holdings

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Hey i'm Matt Stein, VP of Business Development at Runway Holdings. Runway Holdings is a Toronto based permanent capital investment partnership. We invest our own capital to acquire mission critical business built to withstand the test of time. We have no fund, no LPs, and no exit timelines. A unicorn buyer with patient capital committed to doing right by the owners, communities, and legacies we partner with.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Delvern Capital Investments, LLC

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Delvern Capital is a Charlotte-based private investment firm specializing in acquiring founder-owned businesses in the U.S.At Delvern Capital, we understand how important your business is to you and your employees. We also know the decision to sell your business is incredibly difficult. You’ve spent a great deal of time, money, and energy building your business from the ground up.Our mission is to be a dedicated partner to management teams and employees that have been instrumental in building successful companies.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Harbor Street Capital LLC

Actively Sourcing Deals

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At Harbor Street Capital our mission is simple - to acquire a great American company and continue the seller's legacy. As founders with a family history of entrepreneurship, we, too, know the sweat, the passion, and the unwavering commitment it takes to build something from scratch. We are not a private equity firm seeking short-term profits at the expense of employees and the communities they serve. We are operators and entrepreneurs that will safeguard the essence of your legacy. Together, we'll build upon this strong foundation, propelling your company to even greater heights.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Robert Rose Capital

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Robert Rose Capital (“RRC”) is a private investment firm with a mission to build strong companies by leading with intention. RRC makes control investments in companies seeking an ownership succession or with strong leadership teams interested in recapitalizing the business to accelerate it’s growth trajectory. Our investment strategy is to employ a buy-and-build approach with companies in fragmented industries with significant tailwinds. RRC believes through diligent discipline, companies can achieve transformational growth by utilizing an appropriate capital structure and financial…

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

NorthCrest Capital

Actively Sourcing Deals

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NorthCrest Capital is the investment vehicle of founder Kevin Laleyan and is supported by a team of entrepreneurs and investors focused on acquiring one business to personally operate and grow. We are here to provide a succession plan to an owner/operator who cares about the future of their business. Our goal is to work with an owner to structure a transaction that preserves your business legacy. We will assume day-to-day company management creating value for the seller, employees, and community.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

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ClearPort Capital

Actively Sourcing Deals

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20+ years in commercial real estate (acquisitions, development, leasing, management), preceded by business development roles at publicly traded tech and media companies including Expedia and Live Nation. I also grew an acquired CRE blog into a multi-city publication (5x readers, 8x revenue) before exiting. I now represent equity partners acquiring an established, Southern California-operable business with recurring revenue and an existing customer base, ideally in equipment rental or services to commercial clients like schools and government. Target purchase price up to $12 million, able to…

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

BluePlus Co

Actively Sourcing Deals

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We are an operator-minded buyer seeking to acquire and actively lead a small service-based business. Our primary areas of interest include government contracting, professional services, staffing, training, IT/cyber, program support, and related B2B services. We bring nearly two decades of hands-on experience in government contracting, with a focus on the work that matters most in smaller service businesses: leading teams, managing client relationships, overseeing contract delivery, supporting proposals and recompetes, coordinating staffing needs, protecting customer trust, and keeping…

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Brunstetter Capital

Actively Sourcing Deals

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I am an experienced operator who has acquired and managed a business previously. Well capitalized personally and via debt and equity investor relationships. I'm looking for the next opportunity. Industry agnostic.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Impact Invest Corp

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Impact Invest Corp is a private equity firm dedicated to making control investments in established companies that deliver significant social impact. The firm strategically targets sectors that align with its mission to generate both profitability and positive societal effects. By leveraging its expertise in finance and investments, Impact Invest Corp seeks to achieve true alpha, combining financial returns with sustainable growth. With a focus on creating deep positive impact throughout society, the firm has successfully built a portfolio of over 20 companies, underscoring its commitment to…

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Stonegate Commercial Partners

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Stonegate Commercial Partners is an operator-led holding company focused on acquiring and growing lower middle market businesses in the Southeast. We target businesses with strong customer relationships, recurring revenue characteristics, and opportunities for operational and commercial improvement. Our background includes executive leadership in revenue management, analytics, commercial strategy, and operational transformation across complex corporate carve-outs, integrations, and growth environments. We are focused on long-term ownership and partnership-oriented transitions with founders…

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

BSCG

Actively Sourcing Deals

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We are a business acquisition company focused on buying and growing established, profitable businesses in the tri-state area. We look for companies with strong customer relationships, recurring demand, capable employees, and opportunities to improve operations and expand over time. Our goal is to preserve what the owner has built, support the existing team, and operate the business for the long term rather than quickly resell it.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Good Ground

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Good Ground was founded in 2013 to source, acquire, develop and consult on multifamily, mixed-use, hospitality, industrial and out of home media assets, often partnering with and investing alongside select sponsors with local and asset-specific expertise. We bring strong data science tools, underwriting, project management and capital raising abilities to each of our projects and partnerships.We also actively invest in, advise and provide consulting services to early stage technology companies, with a focus on proptech. Over the years, we have been lucky enough to build strong relationships…

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

84|90

Actively Sourcing Deals

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84|90 is an investment, partnership, and philanthropy platform at the intersection of health, manufacturing and community.We back founders and operators we believe in, acquire and build businesses worth building, and direct time and capital toward initiatives that create real impact in the communities and sectors we care about.We work with people where we can go deep — founders, operators, and institutions focused on doing something that matters. If that describes you, we'd welcome the conversation.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Strive Holdings

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Strive Holdings is a technology-driven holding company bringing a modern, operational approach to micro-cap and lower middle market buyouts. We are family-officed financed and built through flexible platform roll-ups and long-term holds, acquiring established owner-operated businesses where technology, operational execution, and people unlock meaningful value. Full acquisitions or equity rollovers. Founder-friendly. We move with convictionTransaction Size: $3M – $50M | EBITDA: $1M – $5M | Nationwide | Control AcquisitionsIndustries: Services, Distribution,…

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Blackfalt

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Mandaro Group works with a select group of investors to deploy capital into the best and brightest private American companies. We acquire those businesses and commit to owning and operating them for the long term.Our approach pairs the discipline of a capital allocator with the instincts of an operator who has actually met payroll, managed a team, and grown a business. After close, we invest in people, strengthen operations, and grow steadily. We partner with a small, aligned group of investors who share that long-term view.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Seed Holdings LLC

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Seed Holdings LLC is a private holding company dedicated to acquiring and managing essential manufacturing and service businesses for the long term. With a focus on sustainable growth and stewardship, Seed Holdings targets key sectors to create lasting value. The company operates with a strategic approach to acquisitions, ensuring that its portfolio aligns with its commitment to long-term development and industry impact.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

The Decatur Group

Actively Sourcing Deals

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The Decatur Group is a private equity firm principally focused on the lower end of the middle market, which we define as companies valued under $100 million. We seek to acquire companies in partnership with management by investing capital on behalf of the firm and our investors. While we are not limited to investing in any particular industry, we are focused on situations requiring a catalyst for growth, or the re-positioning of a company's operations or balance sheet. We seek opportunities where our capital, our strategic input and management's leadership can have a meaningful impact on the…

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Jason Pello

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Former public company (NYSE: NRDY) CFO who took a tutoring startup through a $1.7B de-SPAC IPO, doubled revenue and delivered EBITDA profitability. Twenty-four years of progressive experience spanning public companies, VC/PE-backed environments, and Big 4 public accounting. Proven ability to navigate capital markets, exhibit innovative thinking, shape strategy, and consistently execute at a high level. Actively looking to acquire a business.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Timberview Capital

Actively Sourcing Deals

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Timberview Capital helps busy professionals to create new paths toward financial independence by investing alongside us in Real Estate.We started as a small group of physicians investing together. Today, our network has grown exponentially because busy professionals need solid wealth-building investments that reliably replace their active income with passive income.

Recent Transactions

This member has no reported closed transactions.

Firms in the Research & Consulting Services Independent Sponsors 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 Research & Consulting Services Independent Sponsors is $3M-$15M, with a core EBITDA range of $600K-$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.

Relevant Business Services experience can be an important consideration when evaluating a firm. Familiarity with the sector can provide a stronger understanding of its business models, market dynamics, valuation considerations, and transaction environment. The 1,473 firms included in this directory provide a starting point for identifying firms with relevant experience and activity in Business Services.

Not necessarily. Many firms are active across multiple industries, so inclusion in the Research & Consulting Services Independent Sponsors directory reflects relevant experience or activity in Business Services, rather than an exclusive sector focus. Individual profiles provide additional context on each firm’s areas of focus and activity within the sector.

When comparing Independent Sponsors with experience in Business Services, consider factors such as size range, geographic reach, and recent transaction activity. These characteristics vary across the 1,473 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 Research & Consulting Services Independent Sponsors directory, you can request information here.

Top Research & Consulting Services Independent Sponsors

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