Business Details
Private Equity Partners for Founder-Led Businesses
Forest Lane Capital is a private investment firm dedicated to partnering with founder-led and family-owned businesses in the lower middle market. Our approach combines committed family office capital with hands-on operational support to drive long-term equity value. We focus on businesses with revenues between $5 million and $50 million, EBITDA of $1 million to $5 million, and strong market positions in niche manufacturing, value-added distribution, and business services. Our team brings decades of experience in evaluating and growing companies, offering strategic guidance, operational expertise, and access to a network of industry specialists. We prioritize businesses with recurring revenue, non-cyclical models, and opportunities for growth through add-ons or operational improvements.Our patient capital structure allows us to make decisions aligned with long-term success without fund life pressures. We collaborate closely with management teams, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and shared success. Our unique model leverages domain-specific operating partners to provide tailored support, ensuring each portfolio company benefits from specialized expertise. We specialize in family successions, management buyouts, and recapitalizations, often serving as the first institutional capital partner. Our commitment to hands-on involvement and measurable value creation drives our investment philosophy.
Services
Private Equity Investments
Capital Partnerships
Operational Support
Strategic Advisory
Mergers & Acquisitions
Value Creation Planning
Portfolio Management
Industry-Specific Consulting
Highlights and features
- We provide committed capital with no need for outside equity.
- Our patient capital structure supports long-term strategic decisions.
- We leverage industry-specific operating partners for tailored guidance.
- We invest personal capital and time in every transaction.
- Our team has decades of experience in lower middle market investments.
Services
Private Equity Investments
Forest Lane Capital provides control equity investments to lower middle market companies, focusing on founder-led and family-owned businesses. Our approach combines committed capital with operational expertise to drive growth and long-term value creation. We specialize in industries like niche manufacturing, value-added distribution, and business services.
Strategic Advisory
Our team offers tailored strategic guidance to portfolio companies, leveraging decades of experience in operational improvements and market expansion. We provide hands-on support in areas like revenue growth, cost optimization, and add-on acquisition strategies. Our industry-specific operating partners deliver actionable insights to enhance business performance.
Mergers & Acquisitions
We specialize in M&A transactions for lower middle market businesses, including management buyouts, recapitalizations, and corporate carve-outs. Our team manages the full transaction lifecycle, from sourcing and due diligence to closing and post-acquisition integration. We focus on creating synergies and accelerating growth through strategic acquisitions.
People
Joel Pokorney
Founder & Managing Partner
Joel has 15+ years of experience in private equity and corporate banking, with a focus on lower middle market family-owned businesses. He has led 20+ acquisitions and serves on multiple company boards.
Mike Williamson
Partner
Mike brings 10+ years of private equity experience, including roles at Tecum Capital Partners and Stewart Capital Advisors. He has participated in 15+ transactions and focuses on sourcing and portfolio management.
Mike Hartley
Operating Partner
Mike is a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits in niche manufacturing. He provides operational expertise in efficiency improvements, human capital management, and business turnarounds.
Steve Michalski
Operating Partner
Steve has extensive experience in value-added distribution, leading PE-backed companies through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. He specializes in sales organization development and revenue growth strategies.
Questions
What industries does Forest Lane Capital invest in?
We focus on niche manufacturing, value-added distribution, and business services across the U.S. and Canada.
What size companies do you target?
We invest in companies with $5M-$50M revenue and $1M-$5M EBITDA.
How does your investment approach differ?
We combine committed capital with hands-on operational support and industry-specific expertise for long-term value creation.
Do you require board seats?
We typically take board roles to actively guide strategic decisions and support management teams.
What exit strategies do you prefer?
We prioritize growth through add-on acquisitions and operational improvements, with exits via strategic sales or recapitalizations.
