Synetro Group

Michael L. Krasny, Synetro's founder, is the primary decision-maker. Krasny was the founder and former CEO of CDW, the technology reseller he took public and later sold. He exited CDW's board in 2010 and has since focused on deploying his own capital through Synetro into control acquisitions of small and mid-sized businesses.

Synetro relies on a network of Midwest-based intermediaries, accountants, and business brokers to identify succession-driven opportunities. The firm targets owner-operators who are retiring without a clear internal handoff, a profile that rarely reaches broad auction processes. Krasny's reputation as CDW's founder gives the firm credibility with sellers who care about legacy preservation as much as valuation.

Synetro operates as a hybrid — it is a registered investment vehicle that deploys what appears to be primarily Michael Krasny's family capital, making it function like a single-family office with a private equity mandate. The firm does not publicly disclose LPs or fund structures, and its permanent-capital posture distinguishes it from blind-pool fund managers.

Synetro focuses on control buyouts of established lower-middle-market companies, typically with $5 million to $50 million in revenue. The firm also evaluates spin-offs from larger corporations, turnarounds of underperforming businesses, and early-stage ventures in technology services where Krasny's operating experience is directly relevant.

Michael Krasny's wealth originated from founding CDW — originally Computer Discount Warehouse — in 1984. He grew the business from a single classified ad into a multi-billion-dollar public company and remained a significant shareholder through its 1993 IPO and subsequent sale. The proceeds from his CDW holdings form the capital base behind Synetro Group.