What we do
We are a St. Louis-based growth buyout firm that invests in, partners with and grows strong, tech-enabled business and healthcare services companies. We focus on lower market transactions in which we can invest alongside aggressive, entrepreneurial teams that share our passion for growing and building great businesses.
What types of investments?
- Majority ownership
- Minority growth investment (selective)
- Management-sponsored buyouts
How can we help?
- Leadership transitions
- Strategic acquisitions
- Organic growth strategies
- Infrastructure and technology investment
- Team & culture building
- Consulting, analytical, and marketing projects
What is our recipe
for growth?
- Build “dream” teams
- Strengthen internal systems
- Allow for growth “experiments” and acquisitions
- Double-down on high-potential initiatives
- Be patient to allow time
for success
INVEST We are focused on investing in great companies and teams with strong upside potential.
GROW Together we focuson sustainable
initiatives to growthe value of the company.
PARTNER In partnership withthe management team,we provide tactical support and value.
By our definition, “tech-enabled” businesses are those that use technology to create differentiated operating models that are unique and often disruptive to existing industry models. A “tech-enabled” business often exists within a relatively mundane industry vertical, taking advantage of technology to out-compete established competitors with outdated business models or to create new niche market growth opportunities.
Our investment criteria and portfolio
We invest in lower-middle market tech-enabled business and healthcare services companies with differentiated business models and niche vertical market leadership.
- Still entrepreneurially owned/led
- EBIT $2-$7 million
- Strong, growing market share
- High return on net assets (RONA)
- Recurring revenue or repeating customer base
- Identifiable growth potential, non-cyclical
AN IDEAL COMPANY
Our ideal target company is an acknowledged industry “thought leader” with a strong, aggressive team and identifiable growth potential.
Business services
- Traditional and new media service providers
- B2B outsourced process services
- Data processing & outsourced IT services
- High-value added specialty distribution & manufacturing
Healthcare services
- Revenue cycle management
- Outsourced process services
- Healthcare information technology
- Consumables-focused and high value-added distribution & manufacturing
Other niche verticals and with positive growth
and fragmented customer bases.
EXAMPLES OF TARGETED
VERTICAL MARKETS
Our ideal targets are industry leaders in niche vertical markets that have large, fragmented customer bases.
Our portfolio
Digital Dental is a leading technology provider of advanced milling solutions to dental labs worldwide.
READ MORE 
Creative Dental Laboratory (CDL) is one of the most technologically advanced dental laboratory and research facilities in the United States.
READ MORE
Digital Dental is a leading technology provider of advanced milling solutions to dental labs worldwide to manufacture crowns, bridges, and dentures. Dental Digital offers its proprietary family of DentMill advanced CAD/CAM milling machines along with its Crystal brand of zirconia and advanced hybrid consumable discs. Dental Digital also offers a wide-range of associated products such as sintering ovens, digital scanners, milling tools, wax discs and post-sintering coloring solutions.
http://digitaldental.com
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Why partner with us
We respect Midwest entrepreneurs (like you) and share a passion for
what you’ve built, your team, and where your company is headed.
We pride ourselves on our ability to quickly learn your company and demonstrate our respect for what you’ve built and where you are headed. We are “the buyer”, but our goal is actually to sell ourselves and the value we bring to you.
We are entrepreneurs just like you
who at the end of the day are all about solving the customers’ problems in a unique way that doesn’t just produce results but endears them to us forever.
It’s not just about financials and returns (that’s for our investors). Life is short and we only partner with “good people” where we share the same passion for continued growth and success while enjoying the journey together.
RESPECTFUL
ENTREPRENEURIAL
PASSIONATE
By pairing a professional growth investor
with a founder/CEO of growth companies,
the Villhard brothers are the perfect complement
(we feel) to not just partner with you,
but to provide value.
Our Team
- 16+ years of middle-market buyout experience
- Managing Director with Thompson Street Capital, a leading middle-market buyout firm
- Director Business Development, Builders FirstSource (private-equity backed roll-up: startup to $1.5 billion in revenue)
- 28 total middle-market buyout transactions
- Previous experience with Bain & Company and Emerson
- Outside activities include: Board of Trustees of the Churchill Center & School for Learning Disabilities and Board Member of The Magic House:
The St. Louis Children’s Museum
- 16+ years starting and growing tech-enabled businesses
- Co-founder/CEO of Second Street and Fan Frenzy whose customers include ESPN, USA Today, FOX, CBS, and
Sports Illustrated - Previously the CEO/COO of two venture backed companies
- Broad technical/tactical operational experience
- Started career at Disney Online
- MBA, Washington University
- Outside activities include: Founder and School Board President of Father McGivney Catholic High School.
Contact us
We’d love to take a look at your business and discuss a partnership.
A MIDWEST-BASED GROWTH BUYOUT FIRM
