Spring Rock Capital

What Spring Rock Capital does

Spring Rock Capital is a private investment firm founded in 2009 by John Cannon and headquartered in the Chicago/Western Springs, Illinois area. The firm operates two distinct vehicles: Spring Rock Capital, which provides private equity across the capital structure from first lien debt to control equity (stated equity commitments of $5-50MM, transaction sizes of $25-250MM, targeting companies with $3-20MM EBITDA), and Spring Rock Venture Partners, established in 2019 to make early-stage venture capital investments in industries adjacent to the firm's core portfolio focus. Targeted sectors include security alarm monitoring, information technology, software, tech-enabled business services, and niche manufacturing, with thematic emphasis on security alarm monitoring (Alert Alarm Hawaii, SMG Security, Commercial Alarm Systems).

The firm is led by Founding Partner John Cannon, who serves as General Partner of the funds and Chairman of multiple portfolio companies and brings approximately $1 billion of investment experience across more than 20 platform companies from prior roles at Silver Point Capital, American Capital Strategies, and Waud Capital Partners. Operating Partner Roger Savage contributes CEO/President operating experience, including his current role as President of Alert Alarm Hawaii (~150 employees, 30,000+ customers), and prior divisional leadership at Northrop Grumman/American Capital/Illinois Tool Works. Barry Uphoff serves as an Advisor, providing additional healthcare and investment expertise from Capricorn Investment Group and Silver Point Capital.

The business model is relationship-driven rather than marketing-driven: deal flow is generated through direct executive outreach, referrals, and network connections (including Cannon's board seat at NetOne International, a network of 30+ security companies). Revenue, not publicly disclosed, would derive from management fees on committed capital and carried interest from successful realizations. The firm operates with a lean team of 1-10 employees and makes concentrated, operationally-engaged investments across multiple economic cycles and industries.

Name

Spring Rock Capital

Legal name

Spring Rock Capital

Website

http://www.springrockcapital.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Spring Rock Capital is a Chicago-area private investment firm founded in 2009 that makes private equity ($5-50MM equity, $25-250MM transactions) and early-stage venture capital investments in security, software, IT, tech-enabled business services, and niche manufacturing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Equity

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Capital Raising Advisory (Debt/Equity/Private Capital) (BPAHADAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

SME Term Loans & Growth Capital (FSAKAGAB)

Keywords

• Private equity investments
• Venture capital
• Investment management
• Portfolio company investing
• Capital structure financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Western Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Spring Rock Capital is a private equity and venture capital firm that makes equity investments ranging from $10MM to $250MM across the capital structure, from first lien to control equity. The firm invests in healthy, growing, distressed, or complex investment theses in industries including Security, Information Technology, Software, Tech-Enabled Business Services, and Niche Manufacturing, while providing operational support drawn from the partners' prior operating experience.

Product overview

Spring Rock Capital is a private equity and venture capital firm formed in 2009. The firm operates two distinct investment vehicles: Spring Rock Capital Private Equity (investments of $10MM-$250MM across capital structure from first lien to control equity) and Spring Rock Venture Partners (early-stage venture capital). The firm focuses on portfolio companies in Security, Information Technology, Software, Tech-Enabled Business Services, and Niche Manufacturing sectors. Rather than offering technology products, the firm provides investment capital and operational support to portfolio companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Spring Rock Venture Partners: Early stage Venture Capital investment vehicle targeting industries related to Spring Rock Capital's portfolio and focus.

Products and services

• Spring Rock Capital Private Equity Private equity investment fund making investments ranging from $10MM to $250MM across the capital structure from first lien to control equity, focused on healthy, growing, distressed, or complex investment theses in Security, IT, Software, Tech-Enabled Business Services, and Niche Manufacturing sectors.
• Spring Rock Venture Partners Early-stage venture capital investment vehicle targeting investments within industries related to Spring Rock Capital's portfolio and focus areas, including Security, Software, and Tech-Enabled Business Services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately $1 billion of investments in over 20 platform companies

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• NetOne InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpring Rock Capital's John Cannon has served since 2010 on the Board of Directors of NetOne International, an elite network of over 30 of the industry's leading security companies.
• Spring Rock Venture PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpring Rock Venture Partners has been established to target early stage Venture Capital investments within industries related to Spring Rock Capital's portfolio and focus, complementing the traditional private equity focus.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Waud Capital Partners: Lower-middle-market private equity firm headquartered in Chicago, where John Cannon previously worked. Closely comparable in check size, sector breadth (healthcare, industrial, business services), and operating-partner approach to portfolio construction.
• Trivest Partners: Lower-middle-market PE firm focused on founder-owned and family-led businesses with operating-partner involvement. Highly comparable mandate, check size, and "partner with operators" value proposition that Spring Rock explicitly mirrors.
• Shore Capital Partners: Chicago-based lower-middle-market PE firm focused on healthcare, industrial, and business services. Comparable transaction-size profile, founder-led investment style, and operating-partner model to Spring Rock Capital.
• Peak Rock Capital: Middle-market private equity firm that invests across the capital structure in complex and traditional situations. Highly comparable in flexible-mandate (debt to control equity) and willingness to pursue distressed opportunities, though typically at the upper end of Spring Rock's size range.
• Ancor Capital Partners: Lower-middle-market PE firm focused on industrial, business services, and healthcare with an operator-led model. Similar transaction-size band and partnership approach with management teams as Spring Rock Capital.
• Huron Capital Partners: Detroit-based lower-middle-market PE firm with an Executive Partner model. Comparable in deploying operating-experienced partners into portfolio companies and in deal-size band.
• May River Capital: Lower-middle-market PE firm investing in industrial, business services, and consumer products with operating-partner support. Closely aligned with Spring Rock on check size, sector breadth, and partnership model.
• Resilience Capital Partners: Cleveland-based private equity firm investing in lower-middle-market, often complex or non-control situations. Directly comparable on flexible mandate (first lien to control equity) and complex/distressed special situations emphasis.
• Capricorn Investment Group: Investment firm where Spring Rock advisor Barry Uphoff is a Partner. Multi-strategy investment platform with PE/VC capabilities that overlaps with Spring Rock's diversified investment approach.

Broad incumbents

• Silver Point Capital: Large Greenwich-based credit-focused hedge fund (~ $7B AUM) where John Cannon was previously a Managing Director. Comparable investment philosophy around complex situations and senior capital, though at a materially larger scale and primarily credit-focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments3 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Spring Rock Capital