Tailwind Capital
Tailwind Capital is a New York-based private equity firm managing $6.0 billion in committed capital, making control investments in North American middle market services companies across Infrastructure Services, Supply Chain, and IT Services via its "Accelerate Change" buy-and-build strategy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Tailwind Capital does
Tailwind Capital is a privately held, New York-based private equity firm founded in 2003 (some sources cite 2005) that makes control investments in middle market services companies. The firm manages approximately $6.0 billion in committed capital across its funds and operates with a focused three-sector mandate: Infrastructure Services, Supply Chain, and IT Services. Target companies typically have $500M+ enterprise value, $10-50M+ EBITDA, and require $25-200M+ equity investments.
The firm employs 36 professionals supported by 10 Operating Executives—domain specialists engaged as consultants to provide operational support to portfolio companies. Tailwind's investment strategy, branded as "Accelerate Change," is operationally intensive and combines talent development, technology adoption, and transformative M&A to scale portfolio companies. The firm follows a programmatic buy-and-build approach, having invested in 50+ platform companies and completed 250+ add-on acquisitions since inception. Representative portfolio companies span automotive logistics (Acertus), industrial automation (GrayMatter), IT services and cloud consulting (Onix, Cloud for Good, Brightspot), ITAD services (DMD Systems Recovery), fleet services (Valor Fleet Services), industrial gases (Falcon Gases), and infrastructure services.
Tailwind generates revenue through management fees on committed capital and carried interest from successful realizations. The firm invests exclusively in North American companies and uses direct relationship sourcing with management teams as its primary origination channel. Recent activity includes two notable 2026 exits (Cumming Group to Leonard Green & Partners; Colony Hardware to White Cap), a continuation vehicle partnership with Neuberger Berman for Axis Portable Air, and ongoing add-on acquisition activity across the portfolio.
Tailwind Capital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tailwind Capital
- Legal name
- Tailwind Management LP
- Website
- https://tailwind.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Tailwind Capital is a New York-based private equity firm managing $6.0 billion in committed capital, making control investments in North American middle market services companies across Infrastructure Services, Supply Chain, and IT Services via its "Accelerate Change" buy-and-build strategy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tailwind Capital industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity / Middle Market Buyouts
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Large-Cap / Mega-Fund Buyout (FSANABAA)
Keywords
Where Tailwind Capital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Tailwind Capital business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Management Fees: Private equity firm generates revenue through management fees charged on committed capital under management.
- Carried Interest: Performance-based carried interest from successful portfolio company exits and realizations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Tailwind Capital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tailwind Capital makes control equity investments in U.S. middle market services companies, deploying $25-200M+ equity for businesses with $500M+ enterprise value and $10-50M+ EBITDA. The firm partners with management teams across three core sub-sectors—Infrastructure Services, Supply Chain, and IT Services—to drive growth through its proprietary 'Accelerate Change' value-creation strategy focused on talent expansion, technology adoption, and transformative add-on M&A. The firm manages approximately $6.0B in committed capital across its funds, generating revenue through management fees and carried interest.
Product overview
Tailwind Capital is a growth-oriented private equity firm focused on control investments in high-quality middle market companies across three core sub-sectors: Infrastructure Services, Supply Chain, and IT Services. Rather than offering a unified software product, the firm deploys its proprietary 'Accelerate Change' operational strategy—a value-creation approach focused on talent expansion, technology modernization, and transformative M&A—through partnerships with portfolio company management teams. The firm does not offer a standalone product or platform; its offering is investment capital combined with operational expertise and sector-specific resources.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Control Equity Investments Control equity investments of $25-200M+ in U.S. middle market services companies with $500M+ enterprise value and $10-50M+ EBITDA across Infrastructure Services, Supply Chain, and IT Services. For owners, founders, and management teams of services businesses seeking growth capital.
- Accelerate Change Operational Partnership Operationally intensive value-creation program combining talent development, technology adoption, and transformative add-on M&A. For portfolio company management teams partnering with Tailwind to scale their businesses.
- Limited Partner Fund Commitments Private equity fund vehicles accepting capital commitments from institutional and other limited partners, with reporting and access via the secure Intralinks LP portal. For institutional investors seeking private equity exposure to U.S. middle market services.
Quantifiable outcome
- 250+ add-on acquisitions completed across portfolio
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Tailwind Capital
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Tailwind Capital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Tailwind Capital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Tailwind Capital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Audax Group: Audax is a middle-market PE firm renowned for its repeatable buy-and-build strategy, having completed thousands of add-on acquisitions. Directly comparable to Tailwind on the buy-and-build playbook, sector specialization, and middle-market services focus, though Audax is larger in AUM.
- Lightyear Capital: Lightyear Capital is a middle-market PE firm focused on financial services and business services. Comparable on sector specialization and middle-market check size, with similar operational value-creation playbook.
- H.I.G. Capital: H.I.G. Capital is a leading global middle-market private equity firm with $65B+ AUM, focused on control investments across multiple sectors. Tailwind is highly comparable as a middle-market PE firm pursuing control buyouts in services businesses, though H.I.G. is materially larger in scale.
- CIC Partners: CIC Partners is a middle-market PE firm focused on consumer and business services companies. Comparable in fund size, services focus, and lower-middle-market investment criteria, with similar buy-and-build execution.
- Genstar Capital: Genstar is a middle-market PE firm focused on software and services businesses. Comparable in middle-market focus and services orientation, with similar buy-and-build execution across platforms, though typically larger in AUM.
- New Mountain Capital: New Mountain is a middle-market PE firm focused on defensive growth sectors including business services, healthcare services, and IT services. Directly comparable to Tailwind on sector focus (services verticals) and middle-market check size, though typically larger AUM.
- Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe: WCAS is a sector-focused PE firm with deep expertise in healthcare and technology services. Lawrence Sorrel, Tailwind's Managing Partner, came from WCAS, and both firms pursue control investments in services businesses with operational value creation. Highly comparable in strategy and culture.
- Comvest Partners: Comvest is a middle-market private investment firm providing control equity and debt capital to services businesses. Comparable on middle-market focus and services orientation, with a similar AUM scale and operating value-creation approach.
- Stone Point Capital: Stone Point is a services-focused PE firm investing in financial services and business services. Comparable in sector focus (services), middle-market orientation, and operational value-creation approach, with similar AUM scale.
Emerging players
- Main Street Capital Corporation: Main Street Capital is a BDC providing debt and equity capital to lower middle-market companies. Comparable on middle-market focus and services orientation, though structured as a publicly traded BDC rather than a traditional PE fund.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Tailwind Capital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tailwind Capital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
Tailwind Capital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tailwind Capital M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A20 records
Investments41 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tailwind Capital
What does Tailwind Capital do?
Tailwind Capital makes control equity investments in U.S. middle market services companies, deploying $25-200M+ equity for businesses with $500M+ enterprise value and $10-50M+ EBITDA. The firm partners with management teams across three core sub-sectors—Infrastructure Services, Supply Chain, and IT Services—to drive growth through its proprietary 'Accelerate Change' value-creation strategy focused on talent expansion, technology adoption, and transformative add-on M&A. The firm manages approximately $6.0B in committed capital across its funds, generating revenue through management fees and carried interest.
Is Tailwind Capital a public or private company?
Tailwind Capital is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Tailwind Capital founded?
Tailwind Capital was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Tailwind Capital based?
Tailwind Capital is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tailwind Capital make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are carried Interest.
Who are Tailwind Capital's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Audax Group, Lightyear Capital, H.I.G. Capital, CIC Partners, Genstar Capital, New Mountain Capital, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, Comvest Partners and Stone Point Capital. Main Street Capital Corporation is listed as an emerging player.
Does Tailwind Capital have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tailwind Capital.
What industry is Tailwind Capital in?
Tailwind Capital's product category is Private Equity / Middle Market Buyouts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANABAA, Large-Cap / Mega-Fund Buyout. Its NAICS code is 52394 and its SIC code is 6282.