# San Francisco Equity Partners

San Francisco Equity Partners is a Private Equity based in San Francisco, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Private Equity
- **Headquarters:** San Francisco, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** San Francisco, CA, United States
- **Founded:** 2005
- **Assets under management:** <$500M (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** sfequitypartners.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/san-francisco-equity-partners

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

San Francisco Equity Partners is a private equity firm focused on consumer growth companies. The firm has made 19 investments, including a Recap investment in SV Labs on January 26, 2023. San Francisco Equity Partners has facilitated 5 portfolio exits, with Red Monkey Foods exiting on December 11, 2020.

## Sectors

- Consumer
- Branded Products & Services

## People

- Scott Potter — Managing Partner
- David Mannix — Partner

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at San Francisco Equity Partners?

Managing Partner Scott Potter, who founded the firm in 2005 after serving as a managing director at American Securities, leads the investment committee. Partner David Mannix serves alongside him on all major investment decisions. The firm maintains a flat partnership structure with fewer than 20 professionals, which keeps deal approval concentrated in the senior team.

### Does San Francisco Equity Partners invest outside of California?

Yes, but narrowly. SFEP defines its universe as the Western United States, with confirmed portfolio companies in California, Washington, and Oregon. The firm has stated a preference for businesses headquartered west of the Rockies, where it believes its network and operating partners provide a comparative advantage. It does not invest on the East Coast or in the Midwest.

### How does SFEP source its deals?

SFEP relies heavily on a proprietary network of consumer industry relationships built since 2005, including brand founders, sell-side advisors, and former portfolio-company executives. Its tight geography and sector focus create a repeatable referral engine — entrepreneurs and intermediaries know SFEP as one of the few dedicated consumer-brand buyers on the West Coast. The firm does not run an auction-heavy sourcing model typical of larger generalist funds.

### What is SFEP's exit strategy for portfolio companies?

SFEP historically exits via strategic sales to larger consumer holding companies and food-and-beverage consolidators. The 2018 sale of Clearly Kombucha to a strategic buyer illustrates the typical path. The firm's brand-building approach — operational improvement before financial engineering — means buyers are often companies that value category positioning over raw EBITDA.

## Related profiles

- [Samara Capital](https://altss.com/profile/samara-capital)
- [Santa Barbara Venture Partners](https://altss.com/profile/santa-barbara-venture-partners)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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