The state of Ohio is booming. Its favorable tax and regulatory environment has made it a corporate relocation magnet and an amazing place to do business. Ohio’s reasonable cost of living is another major draw. Cleveland’s central location makes prominent business markets easily accessible and readily available. Its multidimensional economy has enabled it to become a hub for crucial industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and industrials. Cleveland’s proximity to Columbus has made it a great place for technological firms and startups to set up shop.
1. Peppertree Capital Management
Overview: Peppertree Capital Management is a privately held investment firm focused on the telecommunications infrastructure sector. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, the firm has deployed over $5 billion in capital across more than 150 investments. Peppertree primarily backs companies developing, owning, and operating wireless infrastructure assets such as cell towers, distributed antenna systems (DAS), small cells, and data centers. The firm invests globally, with a focus on North America, Latin America, and select international markets, leveraging deep industry relationships and sector expertise.
Focus: Peppertree Capital provides flexible capital solutions, including equity and structured investments, to early-stage and growth-stage companies in wireless infrastructure. The firm partners with experienced management teams and entrepreneurs to support asset development, platform scaling, and M&A opportunities. Its strategy emphasizes long-term asset ownership, cash flow generation, and infrastructure-led value creation, targeting durable demand drivers in the mobile data and digital connectivity ecosystem.
2. Blue Point Capital Partners
Overview: Blue Point Capital Partners is a Cleveland-based private equity firm specializing in control investments in lower middle-market companies. Founded in 1990, the firm manages over $1.5 billion in committed capital and operates from offices in Cleveland, Charlotte, Seattle, and Shanghai. Blue Point targets North American businesses with revenues between $30 million and $300 million, emphasizing value creation through operational improvement, strategic growth, and global expansion—particularly leveraging its in-house capabilities in China for international sourcing and market entry.
Focus: Blue Point focuses on partnering with entrepreneur- and family-owned companies across the industrial, business services, consumer, and distribution sectors. The firm employs a hands-on investment approach centered on strategic planning, professionalization, and operational optimization. Core value levers include add-on acquisitions, talent enhancement, digital transformation, and global sourcing. Blue Point distinguishes itself through its Global Reach program, data analytics toolkit, and commitment to ESG principles, creating long-term value through collaborative, growth-oriented partnerships.
3. Primus Capital Partners
Overview: Primus Capital is a growth-oriented private equity firm based in Cleveland, Ohio, with a focus on investing in high-growth companies within the healthcare, software, and technology-enabled services sectors. Founded in 1984, Primus has over four decades of experience and has invested in more than 130 companies across North America. The firm typically targets equity investments of $25 million to $100 million in companies with proven business models and strong growth trajectories.
Focus: Primus Capital partners with founder-led and management-owned businesses to support growth through strategic investment, operational scaling, and M&A execution. The firm takes a collaborative, long-term approach, helping portfolio companies accelerate expansion, enhance go-to-market strategies, and optimize organizational infrastructure. Primus emphasizes a data-informed, relationship-driven philosophy and seeks to add value through active board involvement, domain expertise, and deep industry networks within healthcare IT, SaaS, fintech, and tech-enabled services.
4. Align Capital Partners
Overview: Align Capital Partners is a growth-oriented private equity firm headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, with an additional office in Dallas, Texas. Founded in 2016, the firm manages over $1.5 billion in committed capital and focuses on investing in lower middle-market companies. Align targets control investments in businesses with $3 million to $15 million in EBITDA, partnering with founders and management teams to accelerate growth and professionalize operations.
Focus: Align Capital Partners specializes in business services, niche manufacturing, and specialty distribution sectors. The firm employs a buy-and-build strategy, supporting organic growth and executing add-on acquisitions to scale platforms. Align brings operational resources, functional expertise, and a strong emphasis on cultural alignment to each partnership. Its value creation approach includes talent development, commercial strategy, digital enablement, and operational improvement, with a focus on long-term growth and sustainable performance.
5. Morgenthaler Private Equity Partners
Overview: MPE Partners (Morgan, Preston & Evans) is a private equity firm based in Cleveland, Ohio, with an additional office in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1998, MPE focuses on lower middle-market buyouts, recapitalizations, and growth equity investments. The firm manages over $1.6 billion in committed capital and targets North American companies with EBITDA between $5 million and $20 million. MPE is known for its collaborative approach and deep sector specialization.
Focus: MPE Partners invests in high-growth industrial and commercial services companies, with particular focus areas including engineered products, value-added distribution, specialty chemicals, and outsourced business services. The firm pursues control investments and seeks to build scalable, resilient businesses through organic initiatives and strategic add-on acquisitions. MPE emphasizes operational excellence, management team development, and long-term strategic planning, leveraging in-house resources and a robust network of industry advisors to drive value creation.
6. Edgewater Capital
Overview: Edgewater Capital Partners is a Cleveland-based private equity firm focused on investing in lower middle-market performance materials and specialty industrial businesses. Founded in 1998, the firm manages over $1 billion in regulatory assets under management and brings deep domain expertise across chemistry, materials science, and life sciences. Edgewater targets companies headquartered in North America and seeks to partner with management teams to drive long-term, sustainable growth.
Focus: Edgewater Capital employs a thematic investment strategy, concentrating on businesses within specialty chemicals, advanced materials, life sciences, and engineered components. The firm targets companies with strong technical differentiation, defensible market positions, and EBITDA between $3 million and $15 million. Edgewater provides strategic and operational support across commercial strategy, R&D, global expansion, and human capital development. Its collaborative, hands-on approach is rooted in sector knowledge and long-term value creation through both organic growth and targeted acquisitions.
7. Resilience Capital Partners
Overview: Resilience Capital Partners is a Cleveland-based private equity firm focused on investing in middle-market companies undergoing transformation or facing operational and financial challenges. Founded in 2001, the firm has raised over $1 billion of capital across its funds and targets businesses primarily in North America. Resilience specializes in complex situations including corporate carve-outs, turnaround opportunities, distressed assets, and special situations. The firm partners with management teams to reposition and grow companies through operational improvements, strategic repositioning, and disciplined execution.
Focus: Resilience Capital employs a control-oriented investment strategy targeting industrial and business services companies with revenues between $25 million and $250 million. The firm leverages deep operational expertise and a flexible investment mandate to unlock value in underperforming or non-core businesses. Its hands-on approach includes active board involvement, operational enhancement, and long-term strategic planning—prioritizing capital preservation, downside protection, and value creation.
8. Kirtland Capital Partners
Overview: Kirtland Capital Partners is a Cleveland-based private equity firm founded in 1977, making it one of the more established firms in the lower middle market. The firm specializes in control-oriented investments in privately held businesses across North America. With over four decades of experience and more than 50 platform investments completed, Kirtland focuses on long-term partnerships with management teams to drive sustainable growth and operational improvement.
Focus: Kirtland Capital targets companies with EBITDA between $4 million and $10 million in the business services, niche manufacturing, and value-added distribution sectors. The firm employs a hands-on, collaborative investment approach and supports portfolio companies through strategic planning, operational enhancements, and M&A execution. Kirtland emphasizes cultural alignment and management continuity, leveraging its experience and network to accelerate growth and build long-term value.
9. MCM Capital Partners
Overview: MCM Capital Partners is a Cleveland-based private equity firm focused on investing in lower middle-market businesses. Founded in 1992, MCM targets control investments in niche manufacturing, value-added distribution, and business services companies across North America. The firm typically partners with founder- and family-owned businesses and has a long track record of helping portfolio companies scale through strategic and operational initiatives.
Focus: MCM Capital seeks platform investments in companies with $2 million to $10 million in EBITDA and revenues generally under $75 million. The firm emphasizes growth through a combination of organic initiatives and add-on acquisitions, while maintaining a collaborative, management-friendly approach. MCM applies a thematic sourcing strategy and focuses on defensible market positions, recurring revenue, and strong customer relationships. Its value creation model includes professionalizing operations, enhancing sales strategy, expanding leadership teams, and implementing KPI-driven performance tracking.
10. CW Industrial Partners
Overview: CW Industrial Partners (formerly known as CapitalWorks) is a Cleveland-based private equity firm specializing in control investments in lower middle-market industrial businesses. Founded in 1999, the firm has raised multiple funds and targets North American companies with strong engineering capabilities, defensible market positions, and opportunities for operational enhancement. CW Industrial Partners focuses on building long-term value through deep sector knowledge, strategic partnerships, and hands-on operational support.
Focus: The firm invests in niche manufacturing, value-added industrial services, and engineered products companies with EBITDA typically between $4 million and $15 million. CW Industrial Partners follows a long-term, buy-and-build strategy, leveraging its in-house operating resources and network of industry executives. The firm emphasizes cultural alignment, operational excellence, and management continuity. Key value levers include lean manufacturing, commercial strategy, supply chain optimization, and disciplined M&A, aiming to transform founder- and family-owned businesses into scalable platforms.
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