Built on Care, Driven by Vision
We operate with discipline, lead with a genuine spirit of service, and approach opportunities with steady entrepreneurial energy, combining family-office commitment and professional rigor to deliver lasting value in every relationship and investment.
Our Approach
Stella Maris is a family office built from an assembly of companies in the Security, IT and Financing sectors. We bring the personal commitment of a family-owned organization together with the stability and resources of a larger firm.
Size of Investments
LP Equity: $500k to $10M Platform EBITDA: $500k to $4.0M
Primary Role
Primarily majority owner; will entertain minority investment opportunities; often first-time institutional capital
Transaction Types
Buyouts, Growth Equity, Recapitalizations and Private Equity Funds
Investment Periods
Flexible: 5 years to indefinite
Company Characteristics
Target Sectors
Security (Physical) · IT (MSP & Cyber) · Professional Services · Niche Manufacturing · Medical Back-Office Support · Financing
Geography
Midwest, Southeast, Southwest
Company Profile
Values driven, strong management team, growth opportunity, steady cash flow
Core values→ strategic planning→ systems processes & back-office→ industry expertise→ M&A
Critical Enablers
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- Create industry specific model based upon available peer data or market research
- Test on one location and modify as necessary
- Review on quarterly basis and at board meetings
- Establish critical job functions that are necessary at the location level versus those that will be centralized via shared services
- Training & application of Culture Index to ensure the right people are in the right seats at each location
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- Find association to become a member of that offers data
- Compile from available public market resources
- Obtain from PE & IB in the space
- Utilize for location driven model, staffing, budgeting etc.
- Learn market multiples from Investment Banking transaction history
- Insights from subject matter experts to stress test competitive data received from various M&A processes
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- Cash resource of portfolio companies
- Line of Credit
- Other financing partnerships
- Ability to obtain outside investors that match SMFO’s core values
- No hold period associated within the Investment Thesis
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- Create target acquisition guidelines (i.e., location, size, etc.)
- Develop marketing plan within network
- Entrepreneurial Operating System, “EOS”, creates focus on the most important thing with one, three, and ten-year target goals
- Sales channels from existing customers across the Midwest via current OpCos
- Revenue generation with the right numbers in mind. Not just selling to sell
- Ability to develop new products
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- Port co structure
- SMFO back-office services (Accounting, HR, IT, Insurance, Legal, Marketing)
- Board structure
- M&A & due diligence performed at the Family Office level so the Company can continue to operate
- Third-Party key vendors on standby to assist with all functions of the business
Let's talk — partnership or questions
Whether you’re thinking about selling your business, looking for an investment partner who values your legacy, or simply interested in our philanthropic work — we’d love to connect with you.