Our Team

Brad Wittwer

Founder, Managing Partner

Drawing upon both operating and investing experience, Brad founded Arete in 2026. Most recently, Brad served as a co-founder at Evergreen, where the team reached $1.6B in revenue across 150 acquisitions in eight years. He was responsible for selecting CEOs, leading boards, driving organic growth, and voting on the investing committee. Prior, Brad built the corporate development / investing function at Scaleworks. He was the first employee at Xenon Partners, where he then became CEO of CloudApp and then Qualaroo. He likes reading, dogs, and just about any activity in nature.

brad@areteinvestor.com

Testimonials

There is absolutely no better partner or investor that I would choose to have backing me than Brad Wittwer. He's supported me in two separate ventures as a Board Lead and mentor. He brought exceptional judgment, deep operational fluency, and a disciplined, long-term approach.

But, what differentiates Brad is how he supports CEOs. He shows up as a genuine thought-partner, not a passenger or a Monday-morning quarterback. He brings incisive guidance that is clear, pragmatic, and grounded in compounding actual value and building enduring businesses.

— Dylan Lee, CEO of M1 Technology

Brad has been an instrumental mentor, partner, investor, and coach throughout my career. Cedar, nor I, would not be where we're at today if not for his consistent thought-partnership and business acumen.

From providing helpful insights in my earlier chapters, to investing in and partnering with me as CEO of Cedar Solutions Group, Brad can be counted on to balance the short-term and long-term considerations in whatever he's trying to help figure out. I couldn't be more grateful to have Brad in my corner, and I couldn't recommend a partner more highly.

— Adam Jones, CEO of Cedar

I met Brad during the sale of LS&S in 2021, and he immediately distinguished himself from the other private equity bidders. From the outset, he demonstrated a genuine commitment to the long-term success of both our leadership team and his investors. Taking the time to understand us as people, not just as a business.

Brad’s guidance, strategic insight, and steady partnership proved instrumental to our continued growth and performance. He maintained exactly the right balance of engagement and empowerment: present when it mattered most, yet trusting our team to execute.

Having been through multiple ownership transitions over more than forty years in the industry, I can say with confidence that Brad stands apart. Any operator, founder, or investor would be well served partnering with him in any capacity.

— Todd Frager, CEO of LS&S

As the Chief Talent Officer at Alpine, I have seen firsthand how Brad shows up for his operators and investors. It's hard not to smile when working with Brad - his kindness and empathy, curiosity and creativity, and exceptional integrity and work ethic are just a few of the things I appreciated about working with him over 6 years. Partnering with Brad on people-related challenges was truly a joy - he brought a unique way of thinking about problems, and a deep deep care for the humans behind them. He also cared about me as a colleague and friend, and made me laugh when I needed to most. All truly valuable traits in any partner, and I would gladly partner with him again!

— Tal Lee Anderman, Chief Talent Officer of Alpine Investors

I had the privilege of working with Brad for nearly three years as a first-time CEO, and his mentorship was transformative, driving our company to doubling in size in three years.

Brad met me exactly where I was in my journey. Early on, he provided hands-on support as I found my footing. As I grew, he taught me to balance operational details with strategic perspective, showing me how to see both the trees and the forest.

What set him apart was his patience and long-term vision. He encouraged me to make investments before results were visible, consistently believing these seeds would bear fruit. On difficult days when my confidence wavered, his was unwavering. He made himself genuinely available, adapting to what I needed in each conversation.

Perhaps most valuable was his ability to spot opportunities and challenges years ahead, helping me develop my own strategic thinking. Any first-time CEO would be fortunate to work with Brad."

— Kristen Sage, CEO of Western Computer

Leading growth, operations, and change across a complex portfolio would overwhelm most people. Brad he did it while remaining deeply present, accessible, and committed to people. I’ve seen Brad inspire a room full of MBAs to want to build alongside him. I was one of them. Meeting Brad and hearing him speak about his vision, values, and approach to building companies gave me the conviction to step into an operator role with confidence. That decision changed the trajectory of my life.

What truly sets Brad apart, though, is his personal dedication to others. No matter how full his plate was, he always made time to advise, to problem-solve, to support in moments that mattered. His ability to show up everywhere, for everyone, while carrying an extraordinary level of responsibility often felt superhuman.

Brad doesn’t fit neatly into the categories of investor, operator, or entrepreneur. He is a rare blend of all three — someone who can dissect a business, understand its true drivers, and then design and execute a plan that brings both the company and the operator to their full potential.

— Manuel Moreno, CEO of ETHOSystems

It’s tough to find investors who truly understand what it takes to build a successful business. Brad does — because he’s done it. What sets him apart isn’t just the experience, but how effectively he translates it into insight that’s actually useful.

He’s the kind of thought-partner who comes in a few steps ahead, asks the hard questions that move the business forward, and has the energy (and self-awareness) to dig in with you when he doesn’t have all the answers. He’s deeply grounded in the numbers and obsessed with fundamentals. Pretty much exactly the kind of partner and investor most founders would be lucky to have on their team.

— Ignacio Semerene, Co-Founder of Bags

I’ve known Brad for nearly 15 years—as a friend, mentor, collaborator, and one of the first believers in what we were building at Metamora. From the earliest days of our business, he’s consistently shown up with a rare blend of creativity, intellect, and relentless work ethic, all grounded in deep humility.

For example, I came to brad with a complex investment opportunity that few saw clearly at the outset. Brad not only helped us think about the opportunity in new ways but also brought additional investors and partners to the table—fueling what has since become a highly successful investment and company. I’m so grateful Brad is an investor and more importantly partner in our corner.

— Ali Evan, CEO of HCIM & Metamora

Brad has been one of the most influential professional relationships in my career and has played a meaningful role in shaping how I think about operational strategy and problem-solving. He consistently makes himself available as a thought partner, helping me work through complex challenges with clarity, discipline, and intellectual honesty. Brad has a rare ability to quickly identify the core of an issue and push conversations toward practical, high-impact solutions.

What truly sets Brad apart is the way he engages. He asks thoughtful questions, challenges assumptions constructively, and brings both experience and humility to every discussion. His perspective has strengthened my decision-making and confidence as a leader. Any founder or operator would be fortunate to have Brad as an investor and advisor, and I would jump at the chance to work with him again.

— Casey Fullman, EVP of LAC Federal

I have had the pleasure of working with Brad for several years and have consistently been impressed by his leadership and strategic insight. Brad has an exceptional ability to identify and develop top talent—so much so that I would confidently support hiring any individual he endorses.

In addition, he is a highly effective collaborator who partners seamlessly across teams and organizations, helping businesses develop and execute plans that drive sustained, market-leading growth.

— Jana Miller Schmidt, CEO of Pine

I've known Brad for several years, and in that time he has proven himself to be much more than an investor or advisor; he's a trusted partner in every sense of the word. What distinguishes Brad is that he truly understands what it's like to be in your shoes as an operator and he shows up consistently to every conversation ready to help.

Brad also very much understands how to find the right people for the right opportunities. He sees potential where others may not and he is rigorous in his approach of finding the right team to run the right business. He then inculcates a culture of trust and transparency to drive great returns.

Anyone partnering with Brad would find that they have someone on their side genuinely invested in their success and someone who will be a champion of theirs throughout their career.

— Divya Konuru, CEO of Lodestar

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Brad to build teams, close acquisitions, coach/develop companies, and mentor emerging leaders. Brad brings a unique blend of optimism, intensity, and “in the trenches” support – always a text or call away. Countless times, I have seen Brad believe in others more than they believe in themselves. And countless times, I’ve seen it deliver results and build up exceptional leaders.”