Tampa has emerged as a thriving hub for private equity firms, attracting top-tier investment talent across diverse sectors. Ballast Point Ventures, and Florida Funders represent the city’s dynamic investment landscape, leveraging Tampa’s strategic location and robust business ecosystem. These firms specialize in technology, healthcare, and growth-stage investments, driving innovation and economic development. Join our community of forward-thinking investors and entrepreneurs at alexejpikovsky.com/community.
Ballast Point Ventures
Investment Style: Ballast Point Ventures specializes in providing growth equity to rapidly growing private companies in the healthcare, technology-enabled business services, and consumer sectors.
Portfolio Companies: Ballast Point’s portfolio includes YPrime (eClinical solutions), MolecularMD (precision oncology testing), and TissueTech (regenerative medicine).
Founding Date: 2002
Number of Investment Professionals: Around 10
Assets Under Management: Approximately over $550 million
Key Investment Professionals:
- Robert F. Ferman, Managing Partner: Plays a key role in shaping investment strategies and guiding the growth of portfolio companies.
- William S. Lickson, Partner: Focuses on investments in technology and healthcare sectors.
- Matt Rice, Partner: Specializes in the consumer and business services sectors, providing strategic direction for portfolio companies.
Recent Exits: Successful exit from MolecularMD following its acquisition by ICON plc, a leading provider of clinical development services.
Recent Investments: Recent investment in PowerDMS, a compliance and policy management software company.
Office Locations:
- Tampa (Headquarters): 401 East Jackson Street, Suite 2300, Tampa, FL 33602
Website: www.ballastpointventures.com
Quote: “We partner with dynamic management teams to create long-term value through strategic guidance and growth capital.” – Robert F. Ferman, Managing Partner
Florida Funders
Investment Style: Florida Funders combines venture capital with a crowdfunding model to invest in early-stage technology companies. They focus on driving innovation and supporting tech startups across various sectors.
Portfolio Companies: Their portfolio includes companies like Peerfit (corporate wellness), Rentivity (real estate technology), and PickUp (logistics platform).
Founding Date: 2014
Number of Investment Professionals: Approximately 20
Assets Under Management: Around $50 million (venture fund)
Key Investment Professionals:
- Tom Wallace, Managing Partner: Oversees Florida Funders’ investment strategies and fosters community partnerships.
- Saxon Baum, Partner: Engages in identifying promising tech startups and facilitating their growth.
- Marc Blumenthal, General Partner: Focuses on early-stage technology investments and ecosystem development.
Recent Exits: Peerfit was acquired by FitOn, showcasing Florida Funders’ role in scaling innovative health-tech solutions.
Recent Investments: Recent funding in companies like NeuroFlow (healthcare tech) and GR0 (digital marketing).
Office Locations:
- Tampa (Headquarters): 1311 North Westshore Boulevard, Suite 101, Tampa, FL 33607
Website: www.floridafunders.com
Quote: “Our unique model leverages the power of community to identify and support the next generation of tech innovators in Florida.” – Tom Wallace, Managing Partner
Convergent Capital Partners
Investment Style: Convergent Capital Partners focuses on real estate and private equity investments. They work on acquiring, repositioning, and developing commercial properties along with strategic investments in operating businesses.
Portfolio Companies: In addition to their real estate holdings, they invest in companies like Pegasus Transtech (transportation solutions) and Squaremouth (insurance technology).
Founding Date: 2008
Number of Investment Professionals: Approximately 10
Assets Under Management: Over $500 million
Key Investment Professionals:
- Santosh Govindaraju, CEO: Leads the firm’s investment strategies and real estate development projects.
- Michael P. Trentalange, Partner: Focuses on private equity and real estate investments, driving the firm’s acquisitions and growth.
Recent Exits: Successful exit from Pegasus Transtech through its sale to a leading transportation logistics company.
Recent Investments: Acquired a premier office building in downtown Tampa as part of their real estate investment strategy.
Office Locations:
- Tampa (Headquarters): 2502 North Rocky Point Drive, Suite 1050, Tampa, FL 33607
Website: www.convergentcap.com
Quote: “Our investment philosophy combines deep industry knowledge with an entrepreneurial spirit to identify unique opportunities for growth.” – Santosh Govindaraju, CEO
Weatherford Capital
Investment Style: Weatherford Capital is a private investment firm focusing on growth equity investments in technology, healthcare, and business services. They seek to partner with exceptional management teams to build industry-leading companies.
Portfolio Companies: Their portfolio includes companies like Nextech (healthcare software solutions), Homee (on-demand property maintenance), and PactSafe (contract acceptance platform).
Founding Date: 2015
Number of Investment Professionals: Around 8
Assets Under Management: Approximately $350 million
Key Investment Professionals:
- Will Weatherford, Managing Partner: Drives the firm’s strategic direction and investment activities.
- Sam Bell, Partner: Specializes in technology and healthcare investments, focusing on growth strategies.
Recent Exits: PactSafe was successfully acquired by Ironclad, enhancing their capabilities in digital contract management.
Recent Investments: Invested in Sentry Data Systems, a healthcare analytics company, to support its growth and technology development.
Office Locations:
- Tampa (Headquarters): 302 Knights Run Avenue, Suite 1225, Tampa, FL 33602
Website: www.weatherfordcapital.com
Quote: “We are dedicated to partnering with companies that have the potential to redefine their industries through innovation and leadership.” – Will Weatherford, Managing Partner
Lovett Miller & Co.
Investment Style: Lovett Miller & Co. focuses on growth-oriented investments in early-stage technology companies, particularly in the healthcare and software sectors.
Portfolio Companies: Notable investments include AHS (healthcare staffing) and Veriforce (compliance and risk management software).
Founding Date: 1998
Number of Investment Professionals: Approximately 6
Assets Under Management: Around $200 million
Key Investment Professionals:
- Robert D. Lovett, Managing Partner: Leads the firm’s investment strategies and focuses on tech and healthcare sectors.
- Donald E. Miller, Partner: Specializes in nurturing early-stage companies to achieve sustainable growth.
Recent Exits: Veriforce was acquired by PEC Safety, demonstrating Lovett Miller’s ability to scale software companies.
Recent Investments: Invested in a digital healthcare platform to enhance its product offerings and market reach.
Office Locations:
- Tampa (Headquarters): 1511 North Westshore Boulevard, Suite 750, Tampa, FL 33607
Website: www.lovettmiller.com
Quote: “Our strength lies in our ability to identify and nurture promising technology companies at the early stages of their growth trajectories.” – Robert D. Lovett, Managing Partner
Gulfshore Capital Partners
Investment Style: Gulfshore Capital Partners specializes in private equity investments in lower middle-market companies with a focus on growth and buyout opportunities across diverse industries.
Portfolio Companies: Their portfolio includes companies like Path-Tec (logistics and supply chain solutions) and OnSite Waste Technologies (medical waste disposal).
Founding Date: 2003
Number of Investment Professionals: Around 4
Assets Under Management: Approximately $100 million
Key Investment Professionals:
- Michael E. O’Donnell, Managing Partner: Focuses on identifying investment opportunities and providing strategic direction.
- Christopher Gries, Partner: Specializes in enhancing operational efficiency and growth strategies for portfolio companies.
Recent Exits: Successfully exited Path-Tec through a strategic acquisition by a leading supply chain management company.
Recent Investments: Investment in a regional healthcare technology company to expand its product range and market footprint.
Office Locations:
- Tampa (Headquarters): 500 East Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 300, Tampa, FL 33602
Website: www.gulfshorecapital.com
Quote: “Our value creation strategy is centered on leveraging our deep industry expertise to drive operational improvements and growth.” – Michael E. O’Donnell, Managing Partner
VenVest Capital
Investment Style: VenVest Capital focuses on investing in scalable businesses within the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services industries. They aim to drive growth through operational improvements and strategic market expansion.
Portfolio Companies: Their portfolio includes entities like Air Pros USA (HVAC services) and Authority Brands (home service franchises).
Founding Date: 2011
Number of Investment Professionals: Around 5
Assets Under Management: Approximately $120 million
Key Investment Professionals:
- John R. VenVest, Founder and Managing Partner: Oversees strategic development and investment operations.
- Charles White, Partner: Specializes in operational excellence and market growth strategies for portfolio companies.
Recent Exits: Successfully exited Air Pros USA through a sale to a strategic acquirer in the HVAC industry.
Recent Investments: Invested in expanding the franchise model of a leading plumbing services company.
Office Locations:
- Tampa (Headquarters): 5401 West Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 100, Tampa, FL 33609
Website: www.venvestcapital.com
Quote: “Our mission is to empower businesses in the home services sector to achieve operational excellence and market leadership.” – John R. VenVest, Founder and Managing Partner
Tampa’s private equity landscape continues to evolve, presenting exciting opportunities for savvy investors and entrepreneurs. The region’s dynamic ecosystem of PE firms demonstrates remarkable potential for strategic growth and value creation. As the market matures, we can expect more sophisticated investment strategies and increased collaboration among local and national firms.
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