Private Equity

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Lightspring Capital Partners

Lightspring Capital Partners is a private investment firm dedicated to partnering with lower middle market businesses to build value. It focuses on providing...

Lightspring Capital Partners logo

Lightspring Capital Partners

Lightspring Capital Partners is a private investment firm dedicated to partnering with lower middle market businesses to build value. It focuses on providing first institutional capital to small businesses and invests in support of founder and family owned businesses experiencing a transition in ownership. The firm forges strong partnerships with management teams to accelerate growth and build value over the long term.

General information

Firm type

Private Equity

Year founded

2017

Location

Region

North America

Country

United States

City

Chicago

Corporate office

Chicago, IL, United States

Principals

Meghan Otis

Co-Founder & Partner

Susan Gohman

Co-Founder & Partner

Adam Pollet

Co-Founder & Partner

Jeremy Stump

Partner

Patty Fernandez Moore

Vice President

Elizabeth Barna

Associate

Marisa Garcia

Associate

Rachel Lion

Analyst

Van Lam

Controller

Frequently asked questions

What investment stages and structures does Lightspring Capital Partners typically target?

Lightspring pursues buyouts, growth equity recapitalizations, and corporate carve-outs. The firm focuses on majority control investments, often serving as a company's first institutional capital. Transactions are structured as traditional leveraged buyouts or management buyouts with significant operating partner co-investment.

How does Lightspring Capital Partners source and execute deals?

Lightspring relies on a direct-sourcing approach built through relationships with business owners, industry executives, and operating advisors, rather than competitive auction processes. The firm's Chicago base positions it close to a dense industrial owner-operator network, allowing it to access founder-owned businesses that larger generalist funds overlook.

Who manages investment decisions and portfolio operations at Lightspring?

Lightspring operates with a lean investment team supported by an extended network of operating partners and industry executives who co-invest alongside the fund. Investment decisions are driven by the firm's principals, though specific named partners are not currently available in the public record.

How is Lightspring Capital Partners differentiated from other lower-middle-market PE firms?

The firm differentiates itself through an operator-centric model rather than competing on speed or headline pricing. It positions as a patient, hands-on partner for founders navigating succession or seeking their first institutional capital, with a geographic focus on the Midwest that produces deal flow inaccessible to coastal funds.

Profile maintained by using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.

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