Empowering Entrepreneurs
Globally
Private Equity & Search Fund Investor
ABOUT US
AIJ Global, formerly known as AI Global, is a family-owned, independent investment firm boasting a diverse portfolio across multiple asset classes. Our investments span Search Funds, private equity (encompassing growth capital and equity investments), real estate, and late-stage ventures on a global scale. Our unique position as an entity utilizing our own funds affords us operational freedom, devoid of external or third-party Limited Partners' involvement.
Our firm is steadfast in its commitment to value creation, nurturing a collaborative spirit with our partners throughout every phase of a venture or investment lifecycle. At each critical juncture, AIJ Global taps into its vast international network of seasoned experts and strategic collaborators. We have carved a niche as one of the foremost global serial Search Fund investors outside the US, extending our footprint across six of the seven continents.
With an eye on bolstering industry-specific expertise and support for our diverse initiatives, AIJ Global is perpetually engaged in cultivating new partnerships. This proactive stance not only augments our investment portfolio but also widens our sphere of influence in the global investment arena, resonating with our core ethos of independent, family-owned operation and strategic investment foresight.
We partner with talented entrepreneurs and work with them to reach their full potential
AREAS OF INTEREST
SEARCH FUNDS
Search Funds provide an alternative pathway to start-ups for entrepreneurial individuals, particularly those with MBAs or relevant management experience, who aspire to build a business. We support individuals keen on identifying, investing in, and operating a single established small or medium-sized enterprise (SME/SMB), aiming to nurture its growth.
The process starts with an entrepreneur or a duo raising modest capital from private investors like angel investors, family offices, or high net-worth individuals (HNWIs) to cover costs associated with finding a suitable business to invest in and operate. This initial capital, known as a "Search Fund," covers basic living expenses and search-associated costs.
The entrepreneurs, often called Searchers, aim to locate a private SME, secure additional backing from original investors, and then transition into an Operator role by assuming the CEO position to run and grow the targeted business.
Unlike traditional investment funds that invest in multiple entities, a Search Fund focuses on supporting aspiring entrepreneurs who wish to acquire and grow a single SME. This allows the entrepreneur to step into a leadership role without prior top management experience, while providing investors an opportunity to support high-caliber talent early in their careers, targeting a less competitive segment of the private equity market, and offering a potential avenue for investment returns.
Since early 2017, we have invested in multiple Search Funds worldwide. AIJ Global is one of the most active international Search Fund investors outside the United States.
Our active operating companies are the following:
Cohort 2017
Infonetica (United Kingdom) managed by RJ Capital Partners
Lanaccess (Spain | España) managed by Sachem Partners
Orotig (Italy | Italia) managed by Tre Cime Capital
Renovation Bern (Switzerland | Schweiz | Suisse | Svizzera) managed by Koru Nachfolge
Vozitel (Spain | España) managed by Syna Capital
Cohort 2018
NortConsulting (Spain | España) managed by BOGO Inversión
IML (Spain | España) managed by Arista Partners
IPM (Mexico | México) managed by Gueca Capital
Plásticos Arias (Spain | España) managed by Vigía Capital
Stoque (Brazil | Brasil) managed by Kinase Investments
Cohort 2019
Cinergia (Spain | España) managed by Sotavento Capital
Kapalua (Spain | España) managed by Navega Capital
Cohort 2020
Agger Sistemas (Brazil | Brasil) managed by Arco Capital
CarPro Systems (Europe | Europa) managed by Ibérica Partners
Falcon Security Hub (Ivory Coast | Côte d'Ivoire) managed by Africa Search Capital
Moneta Technologies (Mexico | México) managed by Kala Capital
MotionVFX (Poland | Polska) managed by Nextline
SDEC France (France) managed by SDG Transmission
Cohort 2021
Destroy Drive (United States) managed by Founder Legacy Partners
ProAgro Asesoría Agronómica (Paraguay | Paraguai) managed by Bridge Search Capital
UDP Automotive managed by Milestone Capital
LH Training (Israel | יִשְׂרָאֵל) managed by Oasis Capital Israel
Cohort 2022
Austral Herbs (Australia) managed by Greenstorm Capital
Hudson Dental Partners (United States) managed by Hudson Yards Capital
Our active Search Funds are the following:
Cohort 2020
Dymond Capital (United Kingdom)
KCP Search Fund (Poland | Polska)
SMGO Capital & Management (Czechia & Slovakia | Česko & Slovensko)
Wahlers & Kabanov Unternehmensfortführung (Germany | Deutschland)
Cohort 2021
Bay Street Capital (Canada)
Bitácora Capital Partners (Spain | España)
Everest Capital (United Kingdom)
Giza Capital Partners (Egypt | مِصر)
Grit Capital (Brazil | Brasil)
Hive Capital (United States)
Imagine+ Inversión (Spain | España)
Kaoba Capital (Colombia)
Nalim Capital Partners (Brazil | Brasil)
Pontem Capital (Spain | España)
Smokestack (Czechia & Slovakia | Česko & Slovensko)
Viriato Capital (Spain & Portugal | España & Portugal)
Vitta Capital (Brazil | Brasil)
Cohort 2022
Agripina Capital (Spain | España)
ARETÊ, Management & Capital Partners (Spain | España)
Cosworth Capital (South Africa | iNingizimu Afrika | Suid-Afrika)
Freda Capital (Canada)
Lotta Capital (Brazil | Brasil)
LT Partners (Vietnam | Việt Nam)
M-Capital (Japan | 日本国)
Oumua Capital (Brazil | Brasil)
Resilient Search Partners (Australia)
Ulam Transmission (France)
Cohort 2023
Cornisa Capital (Chile)
Changebridge Growth Partners (USA)
Hargrave Succession Partners (UK)
KG Capital (Spain | España)
Kinesis Growth Partners (USA)
Memphis Capital (Egypt | مِصر)
Nogal Capital (Mexico | México)
Origo Capital (Australia)
Rigi Capital (Spain | España)
SCL Transmission (France)
Threadleaf Capital (Canada)
Our past Search Funds are the following:
Cohort 2017
Infini Capital Partners (Colombia)
Koru Nachfolge (DACH)
RJ Capital Partners (United Kingdom)
Sachem Partners (Spain | España)
Syna Capital (Spain | España)
Tre Cime Capital (Italy | Italia)
Cohort 2018
Albatros Equity (Spain | España)
Arista Partners (Spain | España)
BOGO Inversión (Spain | España)
Light Wave Capital (Brazil | Brasil)
Quantico Capital Partners (Argentina & Uruguay)
Vigía Capital (Spain | España)
Cohort 2019
Ayerma Transmission (France)
Fritz & Sehr Mittelstandsnachfolge (Germany | Deutschland)
Navega Capital (Spain | España)
JBS Partners (Japan | 日本国)
Signatus Capital (Spain | España)
Sotavento Capital (Spain | España)
Vira Capital (Peru | Perú)
Cohort 2020
302 Capital Partners (Canada)
Africa Search Capital (West Africa | Afrique de l'Ouest)
Arco Capital (Brazil | Brasil)
Emptio Capital (Spain | España)
Galanthus Partners (United Kingdom)
Ibérica Partners (Spain | España)
Saga Capital (Mexico | México)
SDG Transmission (France)
Sillage Transmission (France)
Single Trail Capital (Australia)
Somontano Capital (Spain | España)
Stability Capital (Poland | Polska)
Zen Capital Partners (Canada)
Cohort 2021
Atlas Mittelstandsnachfolge (Germany | Deutschland)
Bopp & Hahn Mittelstandspartner (Germany | Deutschland)
Bravo Capital Partners (Mexico | México)
Bridge Search Capital (Paraguay & Brazil | Paraguai & Brasil)
Ducato Capital (Brazil | Brasil)
Founder Legacy Partners (United States)
Hudson Yards Capital (United States)
KSIP - Korea Search Investment Partners (South Korea | 대한민국)
Linden Equity Partners (Mexico)
Lionfield Capital (United States)
Milestone Capital (Russia | Россия)
Oasis Capital Israel (Israel | יִשְׂרָאֵל)
Quercus Transmission (France)
Springbrook Partners (United States)
Steadfast Horizon (USA)
West 88 Partners (Canada)
Cohort 2022
Arcadio Investments (Spain | España)
Greenstorm Capital (Australia)
Relais du Dirigeant (France)
Silverbaton Capital (United Kingdom)
Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA) Programmes
Apart from partnering with entrepreneurs who choose the traditional search fund path, we have also worked together with a group of selected entrepreneurs from the following ETA programs:
SMEVentures (APAC)
Contact: Jake Nicholson (e-mail: jake@smeventures.com)
Past AIJ Global-backed entrepreneurs
Rob Gaunt (Australia)
Contact: Christian Malek (e-mail: cm@novastone-ca.com)
Past AIJ Global-backed entrepreneurs
Erick Azen (Germany | Deutschland)
Mike Hindi (Switzerland | Suisse | Schweiz | Svizzera)
Rania Missoumi (USA)
Viktor Dimitrov (Hungary | Magyarország)
Resources
Research Centres & Faculty
Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB)
Center for Entrepreneurial Studies (CES)
IESE Business School
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center (EIC)
Yale School of Management (SOM)
Harvard Business School (HBS)
Rock Center for Entrepreneurship
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Recommended Readings
Stanford CES, Search Fund Primer
Stanford CES, Search Fund Study: Selected Observations
IESE EIC, International Search Funds: Selected Observations
Prof. Jan Simon (IESE), Search Funds & Entrepreneurial Acquisitions
Prof. Rob Johnson (IESE), Search Funds –What has made them work?
Harvard Business Review, Why You Should Buy a Business (and How to Do It)
PRIVATE EQUITY
We are interested to hear (growth capital/equity) opportunities that meet the following criteria:
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Lower middle market and microcap companies with untapped potential
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EBITDA Margin greater than 10%
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Companies with strong market positions or franchise value that we can help reach their full potential via organic growth, acquisitions, and operational improvement
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Current shareholders/owners willing to sell a majority stake
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Any sector and geography
OTHER INVESTMENTS
We also invest in selected opportunities in commercial real estate projects/sites, late-stage ventures as well as growth capital and fund of funds (FOF).