Straylight provides an alternative path for founder-led, B2B technology companies.
Straylight is a growth equity firm based in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan. We invest in growth-stage B2B technology companies that aren't served by the traditional systems of venture capital or private equity. We accelerate growth that's balanced and sustainable, and we partner with companies to create optionality without venture-style risk–so that after achieving a liquidity event, our founders can stay involved or go sit on a beach all day.
You bring the talent, we'll bring the resources, let's write the playbook together.
What we look for
We're exclusively focused on the early growth stage, and our unique experience, resources, and networks are purpose-built for companies at this scale.
Success looks different for every founder. Rather than following a traditional growth-at-all-costs path, we work alongside our companies to follow a more balanced and sustainable growth trajectory. More importantly, we know the right ways to support founders on that path.
We invest only in B2B software and tech-enabled services companies. This dedicated focus ensures that we bring the right resources and expertise to best support our founders and management teams.
What we provide
We've supported exit processes and liquidity events for more companies than you can count on two hands. At the same time, we know that a win is different for every founder. We'll help you maximize your options and plan how to get there; no IPO-or-bust, raise-and-burn hamster-wheel-of-death exit plans here.
We love big outcomes, but we don't believe in the traditional mindset of "moonshot or bust." We support founders and teams located between the coasts of North America who have aligned, commonsense views on optionality and outcomes.
We think it's important to tailor our investment to a company's needs and what success looks like for the founding team. We've built bespoke solutions for companies in all situations— including organic growth initiatives, acquisition financing, founder/angel liquidity, and corporate carve-outs. Our check sizes typically range from $5M to $25M.
How we partner
Unlike later-stage private equity firms, we don't hand over a one-size-fits-all playbook and expect it to work for you. Instead, we work together, starting during the due diligence process, to pinpoint your company's unique needs, and we offer to help when and where you need it.
We don't subscribe to the seagull management approach (if you know, you know) to serving on boards. We take our responsibilities to our founders and management teams seriously, and we grind to help solve the tactical and strategic challenges faced by our portfolio companies. Like the founders who lead our companies, we understand what grit means.
We've curated a network of industry-leading operating expertise that we bring to bear as board members, advisors, sounding boards, or part-time superheroes.
The Straylight Team
Jeff is a partner and cofounder of Straylight. He acts as the firm's chief operating officer and serves on the firm's investment and valuation committees.
Jeff's background includes management consulting, growth investing, and general "cat herding," and he brings an analytical mindset to everything he does.
His superpowers include navigating complex transactions, owning multiple pairs of red pants, paying extreme attention to detail, and having a hyper-efficient communication style.
Brook is a partner and cofounder of Straylight, co-leads the execution team, and also serves on the firm's investment and valuation committees.
Brook has spent nearly his entire career in private equity and venture capital, and he loves finding the gaps and inefficiencies in the hyper-efficient global alternative investments food chain.
His superpowers include navigating complex capital markets, overusing sports metaphors regardless of applicability, engaging in storytelling, and mastering overly complicated board games.
Michelle is a vice president and cofounder of Straylight, and she is a member of the firm's execution team.
Michelle has a background in marketing and operations, brings structure and process to all aspects of the firm, and serves as the "center-mid" of the execution team.
Her superpowers include helping Straylight's management teams source and execute add-on acquisitions, planning intense backcountry backpacking trips, managing rigorous investment diligence processes, and systematically evaluating all the nachos offered at Michigan's best breweries.
Kathleen is a principal and cofounder of Straylight, co-leads the execution team, and also serves on the firm's investment and valuation committees.
Kathleen's background includes investment banking, various operational roles at high-growth technology companies, and debt and equity investing.
Her superpowers include bringing operational best practices to Straylight and its portfolio companies, crafting creative investment solutions, enjoying road cycling as a weekend warrior, and having a passion for all things execution.
James is the director of accounting and finance and a cofounder of Straylight. He also serves on the firm's valuation committee.
James brings deep expertise in finance, operations, and portfolio management across venture capital and private equity, and he manages all financial aspects for the firm and its funds.
His superpowers include developing fund management strategies, homebrewing complex dark beers, implementating market-leading infrastructure and processes, and having a deep love for University of Michigan athletics.
Claire is an analyst and cofounder of Straylight, and she is a member of the Firm's execution team.
Claire brings experience as the cofounder of her university's first student-led venture fund and was a two-time intern at Straylight's predecessor firm.
Her superpowers include sourcing and performing due diligence for new investment opportunities, always adding new hobbies to her roster, and serving as the firm's PowerPoint and design ninja while supporting the execution team at every level.
Kevin is a partner and cofounder of Straylight, leads the value creation team, and also serves on the firm's investment committee.
Kevin is a capital "O" operator at heart, having successfully built and exited a portfolio company for one of Straylight's predecessor funds. Kevin is both a skilled engineer and wildly interpersonal, making him a unique asset to Straylight's portfolio companies and management teams.
His superpowers include possessing deep product and architecture expertise, cooking things with fire, having founder empathy, and having "a guy" for literally everything.
Caroline is an associate and cofounder of Straylight, and she is a member of the firm's execution team.
Caroline brings experience in corporate finance and operations, as well as expertise in implementing systems that make the entire firm run more smoothly.
Her superpowers include sourcing and performing due diligence for new investment opportunities, making incredible pastries and baked goods, and acting as a Swiss Army Knife for the firm and its portfolio companies.
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