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About Us

Empowering Entrepreneurs
Globally


Private Equity & Search Fund Investor

ABOUT US

AIJ Global is a family-owned, independent holding group boasting a diverse portfolio across multiple asset classes. Our investments span Search Funds, private equity (encompassing growth capital and equity investments), selected commercial 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 United States, 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:

Up to date as of: 2024-01-01

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:

 

Up to date as of: 2024-01-01

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)

Nalim Capital Partners (Brazil | Brasil)

Pontem Capital (Spain | España)

Smokestack (Czechia & Slovakia | Česko & Slovensko)

Vitta Capital (Brazil | Brasil)

Cohort 2022

Agripina Capital (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:

 

Up to date as of: 2024-01-01

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)

Hive Capital (United States)

Hudson Yards Capital (United States)

Imagine+ Inversión (Spain | España)

Kaoba Capital (Colombia)

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)

Viriato Capital (Spain & Portugal | España & Portugal)

Cohort 2022

Arcadio Investments (Spain | España)

ARETÊ, Management & Capital Partners (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)

NCA

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)

A.J. Wasserstein - Bio Page

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:

  • Lower middle market and microcap companies with untapped potential

  • EBITDA Margin greater than 10%

  • Companies with strong market positions or franchise value that we can help reach their full potential via organic growth, acquisitions, and operational improvement

  • Current shareholders/owners willing to sell a majority stake

  • 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).

Contact Us
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