Arete funds operators and investors. For us, it’s all about galvanizing aspiring talent. Target investments include majority and minority stakes in search funds, holding companies, and start-ups. At this time, all capital is single-source and permanent.

We seek out phenomenal people endeavoring to buy a business or businesses, or even start one from scratch. More so than industry, we start with capable individuals with exceptional motivation. We then enable them to take the leap.

Arete can serve as an engaged board, providing partnership and guidance, when desired. Drawing from direct holding company and SMB investing & operations experience, Arete can be in the entrepreneur’s corner for support.

Private Equity

Short-term thinking
Under pressure to deploy
Incentive to collect fees via AUM
Immediate returns > value creation & employees
Brutal and controlling board

  Venture Capital

  Only care about one home run, write off the rest
Under pressure to deploy
Incentive to collect fees via AUM
Stratospheric growth and returns expectations
Not focused on cashflow fundamentals

  Arete

  Long-term orientation
No pressure to deploy; only when sensible
No incentive to raise capital to amass fees
Focused on fundamentals, building, and people
Supportive board, engaged when you want