SERATA
CAPITAL
PARTNERS
ABOUT US
Serata Capital Partners (SCP) is a founder-friendly private equity firm based in Austin, Texas with a mission to create partnerships that build real, lasting value for business owners, employees, and investors. We recognize that all dollars are the same color green, so it is trust and honest relationships that are the foundation for achieving noble goals together. We exist to make good companies great, and strive to make a positive difference in communities throughout our efforts.
Continue scrolling to learn more, or reach out.
WE ARE
OPERATIONALLY SUPPORTIVE
We have lived and breathed in middle-market businesses as founders, investors, board members, and Chief Light Bulb Changers. We approach every partnership as a unique circumstance, with a lens of curious humility and an aim to support our teams toward superior outcomes as a true partner.
PRINCIPLE DRIVEN
There is a lot going on when building great companies with lofty goals, and it generally doesn't let up much along the way – so we are here to help. Our belief is that principle-driven processes, coupled with continuous improvement and streamlined systems, are key to unlocking extraordinary potential. We take learnings from myriad businesses to benefit our partners at every step.
PARTNERSHIP MINDED
We believe in candid transparency, understanding ahead of opinions, and that our differences yield stronger teams. Our vision of a great culture is one without big egos and where the best idea wins. We're not building a "portfolio" with dozens of companies, but rather are fostering a few select opportunities fueled by focus, alignment, and the spirit of partnership.
What Serata Means
Serata comes from the root word serotiny, which is an ecological adaptation exhibited by only a few plant species in which seed release occurs in response to an environmental trigger, rather than on a traditional seasonal cycle.
The most well studied serotinous adaptation is found in certain pine trees, whose cones hold off releasing seeds for years until a forest fire triggers spawning, advantaging them by waiting for optimal growth conditions from a clear forest floor below.
Serata Capital Partners is guided by this principle, with the belief that patience and persistence win in the long run versus following the crowd in a traditional, repetitive pattern.
Investment Parameters
STRUCTURE
Majority equity positions in
US-based companies with
$6-25+MM of EBITDA
(Texas presence ideal,
but not necessary).
Minority positions considered in certain circumstances.
MODEL
Companies with predictable revenue patterns, industry tailwinds, and defensible positions in business services, consumer products, media/telecom,
industrial services, healthcare, and core consumer services spaces, among others.
DYNAMICS
Ideal conditions include being the first institutional capital with management teams seeking a true partnership in the next phase of business growth, as exhibited through high rollover equity participation and role continuity.
Current Partnerships
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Publishing Services Consortium (dba Page Publishing Group) is a group of more than 10 brands that provide solutions to transform authors' books from a simple manuscript to a fully-produced and published e-book, print, and audiobook set of works available across all major platforms such as Amazon, Apple, and Barnes & Noble. Page concentrates its business on providing excellent turnkey service to over 10,000 authors per year, rather than relying on the success of a few titles as with more traditional publishing houses. Learn more at www.PagePublishing.com.
Fusion92 is an independent marketing innovation company that focuses on driving results for Fortune 500 and other high-growth enterprises across financial services, CPG, telecommunications, and other industry verticals. As a full-service integrated partner, Fusion92 aligns with its clients on consumer engagement that spans digital and traditional media, leveraging its talents in data insights, technology enablement, performance creative, user experience, and media. Learn more at www.Fusion92.com.
A partner company of Fusion92, DP+ is the largest independent marketing agency in Michigan, providing a full suite of services including strategy and analysis, branding, PR, content creation & production, and digital optimization, with deep sector experience in healthcare and automotive, among others. DP+ leverages its in-house digital media planning and buying services platform called MRX, which most other agencies outsource to third-party providers. Learn more at www.DPplus.com.
A partner company of Fusion92, Austin-based Conversion Fanatics is a results-driven conversion optimization agency focused on delivering top- and bottom-line performance for leading e-commerce and B2B companies nationwide. With a specialization in landing page conversion, Conversion Fanatics has driven an average lift in campaign performance by more than 45% since 2014. Learn more at www.ConversionFanatics.com.
A partner company of Fusion92, Denver-based Big Footprint Digital is a search-centric digital marketing consultancy serving both B2B and B2C brands throughout the United States with a mission to drive growth and digital footprints for their clients. Big Footprint offers an extensive suite of performance media services, including paid search, SEO web development, web analytics optimization, and growth strategy. Learn more at www.BigFootprintDigital.com.
A partner company of Fusion92, Toronto-based TRAK Data Inc. is an AI-powered database marketing company focused on consumer targeting and lead attribution. TRAK helps brands maximize growth and improve profitability through advanced data-driven targeting solutions, focused on optimizing direct-to-consumer campaigns with machine learning and proprietary targeting analytics. Learn more at www.TrakDataInc.com
Prior Investments
Leadership
Drew Bagot, Managing Partner
Drew is the founder and Managing Partner of Serata Capital Partners. Mr. Bagot has been a private equity investor for over 15 years, having also started and operated companies, including as founder of Texas Standard, a consumer products business. He also concurrently manages a private equity portfolio in Calidant Capital, of which he is a founding partner. Prior to fostering his own private equity investments, Mr. Bagot was an Associate Director at ORIX Corporation (NYSE:IX), an international financial conglomerate with over $150 billion in assets, deploying $10-30 million into growing middle-market companies across myriad industries. Mr. Bagot was a senior analyst with Pharos Capital Group, a $1 billion private equity fund that concentrates on the business services, healthcare, and technology sectors, and prior thereto served as the lead underwriter at Shoreline Capital, a private equity-focused family office. Mr. Bagot attained a BBA in Finance with high honors from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University, and is a member and chapter leader of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). Drew is based in Austin, and enjoys international travel, fly fishing, snowboarding, wake surfing, and spending time with his wife and two children.
Will Tucker, Vice President
Will is a Vice President of Serata Capital Partners. He has over six years of experience working closely with founders and management teams to help scale their businesses. Prior to joining Serata Capital Partners, Mr. Tucker was a senior associate with Cortec Group, a $2.5 billion, operationally-focused private equity fund based in New York. At Cortec, Mr. Tucker focused primarily on majority investments in founder-owned consumer and B2B products and services companies, and also supported the firm's investor relations function. Mr. Tucker began his career with Harris Williams, a middle market investment bank, where he worked on mergers and acquisitions in the business services and healthcare sectors. Mr. Tucker earned an M.S. in Commerce and B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia, where he was a Jefferson Scholar. He lives in Austin with his fiancée, and you can usually find him on the golf course, traveling, or on the trail when not in the office.
Reed Senterfitt, Analyst
Reed is an analyst with Serata Capital Partners. He is a Canfield Business Honors and integrated Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) student at the University of Texas at Austin. He has pursued his interest in investing and finance through the Wall Street for McCombs Leadership Program and the University Securities Investment Team’s Special Situations Fund. Before joining Serata Capital Partners, he interned with Escalate Capital Partners, a late-stage venture capital firm in Austin, and worked for a Texas House State Representative. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, non-fiction reading, seeing live comedy, and spending time with friends and family.
Julia Ruiz, Operations Administrator
Julia is an Operations Administrator with Serata Capital Partners. She brings over five years of administrative and operational experience, with a commitment to efficiency and a focus on supporting C-level executives. Julia began her career in the education and non-profit sector including IDEA Schools, Khoros, and New Meridian before joining Serata. Ms. Ruiz holds a B.A. with a double major in Business Management and Marketing from the University of Texas at Arlington. On the weekends you will find her spending time with her family or trying out new recipes in the kitchen.
Tom Caporaso, Operating Partner
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Currently the CEO of Clarus Commerce, a firm specializing in loyalty and customer engagement strategies
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Has over 25 years of experience in the loyalty and subscription space
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Prior to Clarus, held the position of VP, Business Development & Marketing at dLife leading all digital marketing initiatives including SEM, SEO, e-commerce, subscription programs, and website optimization
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Also held senior positions in Product, Marketing, Sales, and Client Services at MemberWorks
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BA, Marketing – Central Connecticut State University
Jamyn Edis, Operating Partner
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Currently Head of Data Strategy & Analytics at Take-Two Interactive
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Founded and served as CEO of Dash, a venture-funded connected car platform
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Early career experience includes Accenture’s strategy consulting practice with TMT industry focus and VP at HBO in the Emerging Technology R&D Group
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MBA – Harvard Business School
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BA/MA – Cambridge University
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Lecturer in the Strategic Communications program at Columbia School of Professional Studies
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Adjunct Associate Professor in New Media and Entrepreneurship-in-Residence at NYU Stern School of Business
Clint Greenleaf, Operating Partner
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Author, entrepreneur and executive with over 25 years of experience
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Has started, built, and sold 3 companies in 3 different industries, including Greenleaf Book Group in the book publishing space
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Authored 3 books, is an active speaker on innovation and entrepreneurship in organizations, and a frequent TV (Fox Business Network) and columnist (CNN Money, Huffington Post) guest
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Experienced board member currently serving on boards of Keystone Bank, DRG, and Zilker Media
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BA, Economics and Accounting - College of the Holy Cross
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YPO Member and currently sits on YPO Western Region board of directors
Jim Kozlowski, Operating Partner
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Currently a Senior Managing Director of Private Equity at Venturi Wealth Management in Austin, TX
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Prior to Venturi, he was Co-Founder and President of Texas Growth Fund (TGF) Management Corp; managed a series of middle market funds dedicated to investing in Texas and the southwest totaling more than $700MM
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Other work experience includes MD at Fortis Private Capital, VP at Merrill Lynch Venture Capital, Director of New Business at Tenneco Ventures, as well as Corporate Finance and Commercial Lending positions at Credit Suisse First Boston and Chemical Bank, respectively
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MBA – Harvard Business School
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BA, Economics – Harvard University
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Member of YPO, Association for Corporate Growth, and World President’s Organization
Jules Lambries, Operating Partner
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Experienced executive and board member with over 25 years of experience developing and guiding fast-growth ventures, scaling family businesses, and leading consumer brands
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Currently operates SiMPLURAL, an advisory service for high-growth CPG brands and services
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Served as President of PROBAR, a leading CPG company, for 14 years
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Also Professional EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) Implementer
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Bachelor of Fine Arts, Business Administration and Management at Excelsior University
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YPO Regional Board Member and Global Event Champion
Xavier Mufraggi, Operating Partner
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Experienced and dynamic leader with an emphasis on strategic marketing, operational leadership, talent development, and digital transformation.
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Currently serves as a Partner in Eloquem Consulting Group, which advises private equity, startups, and other investment strategies
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Was the Chief Executive Officer of Young President's Organization (YPO), a global leadership organization with 34,000 CEOs across 150 countries.
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Prior thereto was the CEO of Club Med, a global travel and hospitality brand, becoming CEO at age 31
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Master's in Marketing and Sales – EDHC Business School
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AASCB, AMBA, and EQUIS Accredited
Monte Wood, Operating Partner
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30+ years of CEO experience in a variety of different business activities including success mentorship, coaching, consulting, board seats, publishing, training, inventing, and investing
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Most recent position was CEO of Opus Agency where he helped grow the company from $4M to over $240M during his tenure
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Prior to Opus Agency he founded and ran Wood Associates, an incentive marketing company, to nearly $90M in revenue before selling it to a public company in 2001
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BS Business – Southern Oregon University
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Active speaker at industry conferences and educational institutions, including 20 years of Entrepreneur classes at UC-Berkeley’s Haas School of Business