01
Talent
Build deep, competent teams that scale beyond the founder.
Partners for business owners in transition.
We invest in profitable, family-owned companies and step in as operators — often as CEO — to position them for long-term success.
Start a ConversationOur Thesis
Why business owners partner with Forge
Forge invests in profitable, family-owned companies looking for a leadership transition — and we step in as operators, often as CEO, not just capital.
02
Systems
Install processes and infrastructure that support quality through growth.
03
Structure
Capitalize prudently with a flexible 7+ year hold horizon.
For Business Owners
What we offer business owners in transition
01
Preserve culture & legacy
Honor the team who helped build the business.
02
Solve the leadership gap
We step in as CEO so the transition is real, not theoretical.
03
Hands-on partnership
Operating partners — not absentee capital — driving value creation.
04
Realize liquidity
De-risk the personal balance sheet on terms that respect the founder.
05
Reduce day-to-day stress
Take operational ownership so founders can choose their next chapter.
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A stable, long-term home
Flexible hold horizon (7+ years) — no forced clock.
We believe every business carries the story of its founder. Our job is to honor that story while writing the next chapter.
The Team
Operators and investors
Forge is operator-led. Our partners step into leadership — including as CEO — and run the businesses we own, alongside the people who built them.
Gabe Barkley
CEO · Partner
- Served as CEO of MHW Ltd. from acquisition in 2017 through exit in 2022, growing the team from 81 to 155 employees.
- Raised acquisition capital from NextGen Growth Partners and high-net-worth investors.
- Accenture and Deloitte-trained management consultant — performance improvement, strategy, and change management.
- MBA, University of Chicago — Booth School of Business.
Dave Paulmeyer
Investor · Partner
- 10+ years at First Capital Partners, advancing from analyst to principal.
- Led seven investments totaling $40MM+ across debt and equity.
- Originated nearly half of the firm's reviewed investment opportunities.
- MBA, University of Chicago — Booth School of Business.
Investment Criteria
Where we invest
Company Size
$5MM+
EBITDA
$15MM+ revenue
Geography
U.S.
Lower 48 emphasis
Situation
Family- or founder-owned
Majority ownership transition
Industries
Specialized B2B
See sectors below
Sectors of Strength
B2B Services
Beverage Alcohol
Compliance & Infrastructure
Manufacturing
Supply Chain Management
Value Creation
How we generate returns
We make control investments, use debt prudently, and reinvest cash flow into the people and systems that compound value over time.
01
Turn strategy into execution
An operator mindset applied to a focused growth strategy — and following through.
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Build the dream team
Invest in people to create outsized value. Top teams compound.
03
Reinvest cash flow
Direct earnings into growth initiatives that unlock the next stage.
04
Patient capital
A flexible ownership horizon — the right time, not a fixed exit clock.
Case Study · Exited Investment — 2017 | 2022
MHW Ltd.
Leading beverage-alcohol importer, distributor, and full-service solutions provider — accounting, compliance, logistics, and order processing for wine, spirits, beer, and cider brands navigating regulated U.S. and EU markets.
Core Investment Thesis
- Build a deep and competent management team
- Establish a scalable sales organization
- Execute add-on acquisitions in adjacent markets
Opportunistic Value Creation
- Launch a brand-incubation service offering
- Expand the core service model into Europe
- Nearly double headcount while preserving culture
Founders retained 25% ownership through exit.
Case Study · Active Forge Investment — 2024
Quality Glass & Mirror
Midwest manufacturer and fabricator of premium architectural glass and aluminum products — insulated glass units, shower enclosures, glass wall systems, and storefront systems — serving commercial, residential, and multifamily projects across a five-state region.
Investment Rationale
Why we invested
- Founder-owned regional leader with 40+ year history of premium quality
- Resilient end-market mix — commercial, multifamily, and residential
- Fragmented competitive landscape with consolidation runway
- Founder seeking transition with continuity of culture and team
- Operating leverage from infrastructure and process investment
Growth & Strategy
Where we are taking it
- Build a commercial sales team to capture share in core geographies
- Modernize operations and ERP to scale fabrication capacity
- Evaluate product mix to focus on higher-margin segments
- Pursue add-on acquisitions in adjacent fabrication and distribution
- Deepen architect and GC relationships through specification programs
Execution in Action
Traction to date
- Establishing the executive team — CFO and CCO hires alongside the President
- Selected and implementing the future-state ERP system
- New sales team and market approach driving double-digit revenue growth
- Finalizing first add-on acquisition; pipeline built for additional M&A
Investment thesis and execution priorities — illustrative summary.
For Investment Partners
Invest alongside operators
Aligned Capital
Hands-on operators, investing alongside you.
Deal-by-deal. Long-term focus. Skin in the game.
1
Operator-Led Investments
Experienced partners taking hands-on roles — including as CEO — in every company we own.
2
Overlooked Opportunities
Established, profitable companies nearing a leadership transition.
3
Aligned Hold Periods
Deal-specific timelines that match the value-creation roadmap — not a fixed clock.
4
Invest Directly
Partner with Forge on specific businesses built for long-term value.
Get in Touch
Let's build something that lasts.
If you're thinking about what comes next for your business, we'd like to be part of that conversation. No pressure, no process — just a straightforward discussion about whether we're the right fit.
LinkedInForge Holdings
Nashville · Omaha