Five Elms is a venture capital firm that invests $1 – 10 million in high-growth businesses.
We provide growth equity to entrepreneurs who have proven their business model and are at a crossroads:
“go it alone” and maintain a lifestyle business, or
bring in a partner to accelerate growth and become an industry leader.
How We Are Different
Our Sweet Spot is Investing $1 – 10 million:we are one of the few growth equity or venture capital investors who will invest $1 – 10 million and spend meaningful time helping entrepreneurs grow their business. Our partner companies have often been approached by larger firms, but don’t immediately need $10 – 20 million or the equity dilution that goes along with it.
Targeting the Middle U.S.:while we will invest anywhere in the United States, we have a preference for investing in the middle of the country given our central location and the low cost, high standard of living available to entrepreneurs.
IT-Enabled and Web-Enabled Services: we spend most of our time investing in service-based businesses. We find the common denominator of most high-growth service businesses is the use of technology and the internet to improve value propositions, lower infrastructure costs, accelerate sales, and disrupt incumbents.
Non Control: we are not control investors and prefer to invest in companies where management continues to control, operate, and maintain a significant financial stake in their business.
Flexible with Capital Usage: our capital is typically used to fund working capital, sales and marketing, and expansion of the team, but we are also comfortable providing liquidity for shareholders.
We Add Value: the Five Elms team has a vast network built over years of experience in private equity, venture capital and on Wall Street, spanning a wide number of industry verticals within the service-based economy. We help solve the growing pains common to companies in high-growth mode.
Transparent Style: we have a very transparent working style. Our partners know where we stand and how we make decisions. Most of our investments bring transparency to their market as well.
