Discover Tampa's Leading Private Equity Firms in 2025

Tampa’s central location in the sunshine state has uniquely positioned it as an incredibly popular city for corporate relocation. The sunshine state’s favorable tax and regulatory environment has elevated Tampa as a city conducive to capital deployment and substantial equity growth. Today we are spotlighting the top ten private equity firms in Tampa and their specializations.

1. Weatherford Capital

Overview: Weatherford Capital is a private investment firm that targets opportunities across the Technology, Financials, and Business & Consumer Services sectors. The firm emphasizes companies operating in business-to-business (B2B), business-to-government (B2G), and other highly regulated industries. Weatherford typically provides equity checks ranging from $10 million to $30 million, with the ability to go above $75 million through co-investment.

Focus: The firm focuses on growth equity, mid-to-late-stage venture, and recapitalizations, seeking companies where its experience and network can accelerate growth. Weatherford emphasizes value creation through active support in business development, market entry, public sector navigation, corporate strategy, M&A alignment, and governance best practices. Its competitive edge lies in strategic relationships and long-term partnerships that help unlock proprietary opportunities, drive informed diligence, and execute transformative growth strategies.

2. KLH Capital

Overview: KLH Capital is a U.S.-focused private equity firm providing both majority and minority equity investments in lower middle-market businesses. It targets companies with $4–20+ million in EBITDA and has experience executing recapitalizations, management buyouts, family successions, and growth capital transactions. The firm is known for its ability to navigate complex ownership structures and operational challenges such as customer concentration and sticky ownership situations.

Focus: KLH specializes in value-added distribution, niche manufacturing, and specialty services. Its portfolio spans industries such as industrial services, infrastructure, environmental compliance, packaging, lighting, and telecommunications, with investments tailored to end markets including energy, utilities, education, defense, healthcare, and transportation.

3. Osceola Capital Management

Overview: Osceola Capital is a private equity firm based in Tampa, Florida, with a foundational commitment to transparency, trust, and relationship-driven investing. The team brings deep operational and transactional experience, having led over 100 corporate finance transactions across various business sectors. Osceola emphasizes strong partnerships with business owners and management teams, distinguishing itself through a collaborative, hands-on approach and a philosophy centered on long-term business building. The firm specializes in lower middle market investments and leverages a flexible, tailored deal-making toolkit to create meaningful value. Their micro private equity strategy turns bolt-on acquisitions into standalone platforms with strategic and brand differentiation.

Focus: Osceola targets companies with $1–10M in EBITDA and $5–75M in revenue, deploying up to $25M in equity capital with co-investment capabilities. It seeks majority equity stakes, often with follow-on acquisition potential, in sectors like business services, healthcare, tech-enabled services, and industrial services. Ideal candidates have strong management, a defensible value proposition, and low customer/vendor concentration. Osceola values cultural fit and shared vision, prioritizing trust with business owners. The firm tailors deal structures around seller preferences—whether continuity or exit—and partners closely post-closing to accelerate growth. Their network of intermediaries and advisors plays a key role in sourcing proprietary opportunities.

4. HealthEdge Investment Partners

Overview: HealthEdge Investment Partners is a lower middle-market private equity firm dedicated exclusively to the healthcare sector. Since 2005, it has raised four funds and completed over 90 healthcare transactions representing more than $10 billion in total transaction value. The firm is led by experienced healthcare investors and operators, many of whom have served as CEOs, COOs, and CFOs, giving them a unique ability to partner effectively with founders and management teams. Their approach blends capital with deep operational expertise to facilitate transformational growth in portfolio companies.

Focus: HealthEdge targets recapitalizations and growth equity investments in U.S.-based healthcare companies with $10–75 million in revenue and $2–10+ million in EBITDA. The firm invests across several healthcare segments, including specialty medical products and devices, outsourced services, healthcare IT, supply chain and distribution, and provider services. They are currently deploying capital from their fourth committed fund and emphasize deep industry insight, value creation, and collaborative partnership with business owners.

5. Mangrove Equity Partners

Overview: Mangrove Equity Partners is a Tampa-based private equity firm focused on the lower middle market. With over a century of combined experience, the firm is known for being a collaborative, fair, and flexible partner to business owners and managers. Mangrove sponsors a range of ownership transitions—including management buyouts, buy-ins, recapitalizations, and industry consolidations—and brings both the capital and operational expertise needed to close transactions efficiently and build long-term value. Its approach emphasizes character, partnership, and a commitment to helping companies thrive.

Focus: Mangrove invests in stable and profitable service companies, manufacturers, and value-added distributors based in the U.S. or Canada. It targets businesses with pre-tax profits between $2 million and $10 million and revenues from $10 million to $100 million, with typical deal sizes ranging from $15 million to $75 million. The firm seeks companies with diverse customer bases, strong market positions, and meaningful growth potential, whether organic or through strategic acquisitions.

6. SI Private Capital

Overview: This private equity firm is a family office-backed fund manager with over 135 years of combined experience in operations, ownership, banking, and investing. For over two decades, its team has partnered with management teams of lower middle market businesses to enhance operations and optimize capital structure. The firm has a successful track record across diverse industries and is primarily focused on the Southeastern U.S., while remaining open to opportunities nationwide. It provides both equity and debt capital—structured to align with business needs—and invests with patience and flexibility.

Focus: The firm targets well-positioned middle market companies with normalized EBITDA between $2–10 million and minimum investments starting at $5 million. It is open to a range of deal types including performing, distressed, and dislocated situations. Preferred industries include financial services, business services, healthcare, distribution, food & beverage, industrials, consumer products, and technology. The ideal portfolio companies exhibit proven business models, scalable advantages, and can benefit from strategic and operational support.

7. Cavu Capital

Overview: CAVU Capital is a Tampa-based private investment firm founded in 2020, led by experienced technology executive Barry Shevlin. The firm provides flexible private capital solutions to emerging and mid-market technology companies across the U.S., with an emphasis on growth equity and active partnership with management teams. CAVU’s name is derived from an aviation acronym meaning “Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited,” reflecting its mission to support companies with clear paths to expansion.

Focus: CAVU targets founder-owned businesses with revenues between $10M and $50M and EBITDA of at least $2M, particularly in the Southeast. The firm invests in IT services, SaaS, digital transformation, and other tech-enabled sectors, offering capital for growth, acquisitions, management buyouts, shareholder liquidity, and corporate financing. CAVU’s hands-on approach aims to help companies scale through strategic planning and operational support.

8. Canopy Capital Partners

Overview: Canopy Capital Partners is a lower middle-market private equity firm focused on building collaborative partnerships that deliver long-term value. The firm emphasizes accountability, integrity, and decades of operational and investment experience to help portfolio companies strengthen their market positions. Canopy works closely with business owners and management teams to implement operational improvements, drive strategic growth initiatives, and position companies for successful exits.

Focus: Canopy targets U.S.-based companies, with a preference for those headquartered in Florida and the Southeastern U.S., generating $2M–$20M in EBITDA and valued between $5M–$100M. The firm prefers majority equity stakes but is open to minority investments on a case-by-case basis. Ideal candidates include market niche leaders with defensible positions, consistent financials, and internal or consolidation-driven growth potential. Preferred sectors include business services, logistics, niche manufacturing, and distribution. Canopy supports a range of transactions including management buyouts, generational transfers, and growth capital deployments.

9. Silverview Credit Partners

Overview: Silverview Credit Partners is a Tampa-based alternative investment manager specializing in opportunistic credit strategies. Founded by a team of seasoned credit investors, the firm provides flexible capital solutions across the credit spectrum, ranging from structured debt to special situations. Silverview’s approach is rooted in fundamental analysis, downside protection, and opportunistic sourcing, allowing it to navigate across market cycles. With a focus on capital preservation and consistent returns, the firm caters to institutional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals seeking exposure to differentiated credit opportunities.

Focus: Silverview invests in middle-market companies across the U.S., targeting situations where traditional financing may be limited or unavailable. Its strategies include direct lending, distressed and dislocated debt, and structured equity solutions. The firm emphasizes risk-adjusted returns and often partners with private equity sponsors, business owners, and management teams to provide tailored capital. Preferred sectors include business services, consumer products, industrials, and healthcare, though Silverview remains opportunistic in identifying value across industries.

10. Ballast Point Ventures

Overview: Ballast Point Ventures (BPV) is a growth equity firm headquartered in Tampa, Florida, with more than two decades of experience backing rapidly growing companies in underserved markets. Founded in 2001, BPV has raised multiple funds totaling over $550 million in capital commitments. The firm partners with entrepreneurs and management teams to accelerate expansion and institutionalize businesses while maintaining founder-led cultures. BPV is particularly known for its regional focus on the Southeastern U.S. and Texas, where it leverages deep local networks to identify high-quality opportunities.

Focus: Ballast Point Ventures targets growth equity investments of $5–$20 million in companies generating $5–50 million in revenue. It focuses on capital-efficient, high-growth businesses in software/SaaS, healthcare, and business services. The firm’s strategy is to provide not just capital but also strategic guidance, board-level leadership, and access to its network of operators and investors. BPV emphasizes collaborative partnerships with founders and management teams, tailoring its approach to each company’s stage of growth and long-term vision.

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