A MIDWEST-BASED PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM
Who we are
Villhard Growth Partners (VGP) is a St. Louis-based private equity firm that invests in Midwest-based businesses. Our venture capital division invests in very young companies that typically have a connection to Washington University and/or St. Louis and have the potential for explosive growth. Our buyout division invests in mature, high-cash flow companies, typically in partnership with entrepreneurial founders or owner-managers.
VGP was founded in 2005 by brothers Doug and Pete Villhard. Over investment careers spanning two decades, Doug and Pete have started or invested in over 20 unique platform companies ranging from seed-stage startups to buyout platforms with over $1 billion in annual revenues.
VGP is organized as a family office, but for larger deals, we invest alongside other family offices and leading private equity institutions.
What we do
What types of investments
Venture Capital Investments
Large total addressable market opportunity
Differentiated business model
Aggressive, dynamic founding team
Connection to the St. Louis Region and/or Washington University
Late-State Buyout Investments
$15+ million revenue; $3+ million EBITDA
Positive growth end-markets
Founder-led or partnership with management
Industry focus: healthcare & business services; high-gross margin distribution and manufacturing
How can we help?
Deal structuring/support
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
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. We respect what you’ve built and where you are headed. We are “the buyer”, but our goal is 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. 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.
Our Team
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Doug Villhard
MANAGING PARTNER
VENTURE CAPITAL DIVISION20+ years starting and growing tech-enabled businesses
Academic Director and Professor of Practice of Entrepreneurship at the Olin School of Business at Washington University
Co-Founder/CEO of Second Street, which was acquired by Upland Software in 2021.
Co-Founder of SportsHuddle, which has since been acquired by CBS and is now MaxPreps
Board member: Adalo and Honeymoon Chocolates.
Started career at Disney Online
MBA, Washington University, Olin Business School
Founder and School Board President of Father McGivney Catholic High School.
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Pete Villhard
MANAGING PARTNER
BUYOUT DIVISION20+ years of middle-market buyout experience
Managing Director with Thompson Street Capital, a leading middle-market buyout firm
Co-Founder & Director Business Development, Builders FirstSource (BLDR:NASDAQ)
Current or former board member: Digital Dental, Crystal Ultra Lab, Vaddio, Option 1 Nutrition Solutions, Broadcast Electronics, Connecticut Electric, Tacoma Electric
Previous experience with Bain & Company and Emerson Electric
BS Electrical Engineering / BA Mathematics, Southern Methodist University
Woods Fellow, MBA Program, Washington University, Olin School of Business
Board of Trustees of the Churchill Center & School for Learning Disabilities
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Rian Edwards
CHIEF OF STAFF
5+ years experience of working with growing companies
Manager of Entrepreneurship Department at Washington University, Olin Business School
Previously General Manager for start-up in St. Louis
Previous experience working with women-owned start-ups through WBENC
BA in Social Impact from Grinnell College
Venture Capital Investments
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Adalo
A “no code” platform where you can create software without having to know how to code and with just a few clicks. Learn more.
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VertiGreens
Local, scalable vertical indoor farming.
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The pcBee
Revolutionizing circuit board prototyping and manufacturing.
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Hum Industrial
Wireless railcar monitoring devices. Learn more.
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Benchmark Learning
An online tutoring company specializing in private and group tutoring for Math, English, Science and Coding. Learn more.
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Ascend Venture Capital
An early-stage VC-fund in St. Louis that invests in mission critical, data-centric technology. Learn more.
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Gipper
A social media content creation tool for schools and athletic departments. Learn more.
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WEPOWER
A growth fund in St. Louis targeted to black and latinx entrepreneurs. Learn more.
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Wagr
Simplifying sports wagering and chatter between friends, coworkers, community, and family. Learn more.
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Buoy
All natural, hydration-based products you can squeeze into any drink. Learn more.
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Flipstik
Allows a phone to stick to any surface for FaceTime and TikTok. Learn more.
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Babyation
A discreet, smart, and quiet breast pump. Learn more.
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Pareto
A clothing brand making it easier to decide what to wear today. Learn more.
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Contrast
A clinical documentation platform that improves the healthcare experience for patients and providers. Learn more.
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Rezilient Health
Reimagining primary care. Learn more.
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StockSwap
Fantasy stock market games and research. Learn more.
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GiftAMeal
A platform for restaurants to encourage patrons to share a photo of their meal on social media to in turn provide a meal to a neighbor in need. Learn more.
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Honeymoon Chocolates
Delicious chocolate sweetened with raw honey instead of sugar. Learn more.
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Apollo Music
Leveraging AI to build out a suite of creation and distribution tools for creators. Learn more
Buyout Investments
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Digital Dental
Digital Dental provides computer-aided (CAD/CAM) milling solutions for high production dental labs. Digital Dental focuses on solutions for clear aligner trimming, customer titanium abutment milling, and Zirconia crown and bridge applications. Learn more.
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Crystal Ultra Lab
Crystal Ultra Lab is the leading manufacturer of nanoceramic implant-supported full-arch restorations for the dental industry. Learn more.
Contact us.
We’d love to take a look at your business and discuss a partnership.
For more information about VGP or to share an investment opportunity, please submit the form to the right or reach out to us at pete@villhardgrowth.com