Lock 8 Partners
Lock 8 Partners is a New York-based private equity firm that acquires majority stakes in lower middle-market B2B SaaS companies with $2M-$10M ARR, pairing capital with hands-on operating support from a team of former SaaS executives to scale founder-led businesses.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Lock 8 Partners does
Lock 8 Partners is a New York-based private equity firm (Lock 8 Partners, LLC, headquartered at PENN 1, 1 Pennsylvania Plaza) that acquires majority and control stakes in lower middle-market B2B SaaS and tech-enabled services companies. Founded in 2018-2019 by Managing Partner Todd Gibby — a former two-time SaaS CEO whose prior company BoardEffect was acquired at the end of 2016 — the firm pursues an operationally-led investment thesis targeting founder-led businesses with $2M-$10M in ARR, greater than 85% annual customer retention, and breakeven-or-better profitability. The firm explicitly avoids financial engineering, cost cutting, and short-hold strategies, instead emphasizing organic growth through hands-on engagement with portfolio leadership.
The firm's core "product" is its investment and operating service offering, built around a proprietary engagement model and value-creation methodology. Capital is paired with intensive operational involvement — typically weekly working sessions during the first 90 to 180 days of ownership — supported by an internal operating team that includes an Operating Partner, a Chief Compliance Officer, and functional VPs covering Revenue Operations, Operating Analytics, Performance Marketing, and HR. This structure is designed to address what Lock 8 frames as the constraining variable in sub-scale SaaS: operational alignment and execution discipline, rather than product vision or capital availability.
Lock 8 generates revenue through management fees charged against committed fund capital and through carried interest from successful portfolio company exits. The firm has raised three vehicles — Fund I (inferred from initial 2019-2021 investments), Fund II LP closed at $100 million in July 2022, and Fund III LP closed at $182 million in April 2025 in an oversubscribed round. Its portfolio spans more than ten companies across vertical SaaS categories including professional services automation (Projector PSA, exited 2022), workforce planning (OrgChart, transitioned 2026), K-12 Medicaid workflow (Relay, exited 2026), clinical trial disclosure (Real Life Sciences), project portfolio management (Prism PPM), accounting practice management (Firm360), risk and assurance (Clew), data management (EnergySys), consumer insights research (Langston), eye care diagnostics (Carrot), and managed restorative platforms (Incisive). Deal sourcing is relationship-driven rather than auction-based, enabling transactions to close within 45-60 days from term sheet to funding.
Lock 8 Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lock 8 Partners
- Legal name
- Lock 8 Partners, LLC
- Website
- https://lock8partners.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Lock 8 Partners is a New York-based private equity firm that acquires majority stakes in lower middle-market B2B SaaS companies with $2M-$10M ARR, pairing capital with hands-on operating support from a team of former SaaS executives to scale founder-led businesses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lock 8 Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity Investing
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Miscellaneous Financial Investment Activities (523999)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Small-Cap / Micro-Buyout (FSANABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Platform Buy-and-Build / Roll-Up Buyout (FSANABAI)
Keywords
Where Lock 8 Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lock 8 Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Fund Management Fees: Lock 8 generates revenue through management fees on the funds they manage (Fund II at $100M, Fund III at $182M).
- Carried Interest / Performance Fees: The firm earns carried interest from successful portfolio company exits, creating alignment with investors and portfolio company founders.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Lock 8 Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lock 8 Partners is a lower middle-market private equity firm that acquires majority or control stakes in founder-led B2B SaaS and tech-enabled services companies with $2M-$10M ARR, greater than 85% annual customer retention, and breakeven-or-better profitability. The firm provides capital combined with hands-on operating expertise, including weekly working sessions in the first 90-180 days, value-creation roadmaps, and access to a vetted network of cross-functional executives to help portfolio companies scale.
Product overview
Lock 8 Partners is an investment firm, not a product company. It operates as a lower middle-market technology buyout firm focused exclusively on B2B SaaS and tech-enabled services companies. The firm acquires majority stakes in promising companies with solid products and stable foundations, then provides operational expertise and hands-on support to help them scale. Lock 8's portfolio includes various SaaS companies across different fund generations (Fund I, Fund II, Fund III), spanning categories such as org chart/workforce planning, professional services automation, project portfolio management, accounting practice management, clinical trial disclosure, consumer insights research, data management, risk and assurance, and eye exam/diagnostic platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lock 8 Partners Investment Services End-to-end private equity buyout and operational support service for founder-led B2B SaaS and tech-enabled services companies. Includes majority/control acquisition, capital deployment for growth and acquisitions, weekly working sessions, value-creation roadmap development, and ongoing engagement with portfolio leadership. Targets companies with $2M-$10M ARR, greater than 85% customer retention, and breakeven-or-better profitability.
Quantifiable outcome
- Portfolio companies have achieved significant growth under Lock 8's stewardship, with OrgChart growing from inception to 2,000+ customers since 2021 investment.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Lock 8 Partners
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Lock 8 Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Lock 8 Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- BairdminorBaird served as exclusive financial advisor to OrgChart in the Resurgens investment transaction.
- Goodwin ProctorminorGoodwin Proctor served as legal advisor to OrgChart in the Resurgens investment transaction. Also served as legal counsel to Lock 8 in organizing Fund III.
- Peak Technology PartnersminorPeak Technology Partners served as financial advisor to Projector in the acquisition by BigTime Software.
- Leonis PartnersminorLeonis Partners and Goodwin Proctor advised Lock 8 Partners as Relay's majority investor in the sale to Resurgens Technology Partners.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Lock 8 Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Level Equity Management: Lower middle-market growth equity firm focused on founder-led B2B SaaS and software companies with $5-25M ARR — directly comparable in target market, deal size, and SaaS specialization. Notably, Level Equity co-invested with Lock 8 in OrgChart.
- Radian Capital: Growth equity firm investing in lower middle-market B2B SaaS companies, typically $3-15M ARR — directly comparable to Lock 8's investment criteria ($2-10M ARR, profitable SaaS). Co-invested with Lock 8 in OrgChart.
- Mainsail Partners: Lower middle-market PE firm exclusively focused on B2B SaaS companies with $2-20M ARR. Comparable in target company size, vertical specialization, and operator-led approach, making it one of Lock 8's closest direct peers.
- PSG Equity: Growth equity firm focused on lower middle-market software and tech-enabled services companies. Directly comparable to Lock 8 in target company profile, deal size, and value-creation playbook.
- Accel-KKR: Technology-focused middle-market private equity firm investing in software and tech-enabled services. Comparable in target company size, sector focus, and emphasis on operational value creation at the lower middle-market.
- Diversis Capital: Lower middle-market software buyout firm focused on mission-critical B2B software companies with $5-50M ARR. Directly comparable in target profile, fund size, and software-only vertical focus.
- Vector Capital: Technology-focused private equity firm investing in established technology businesses. Comparable in software sector focus and operational value-creation approach, though typically at slightly larger scale than Lock 8.
- Brighton Park Capital: Growth equity firm focused on founder-led, capital-efficient B2B SaaS, tech-enabled services, and software companies. Directly comparable in target founder profile, ARR band, and operator-led partnership model.
Broad incumbents
- Thoma Bravo: Largest software-focused private equity firm, operating at materially larger scale than Lock 8. Serves as an incumbent in the broader software buyout space; not a direct competitor on $2-10M ARR deals but a comparable end-market exit partner and sector thought leader.
- Vista Equity Partners: Premier enterprise software-focused private equity firm and active acquirer in the SaaS buyout space. Already a documented exit partner for Lock 8 (acquired Projector PSA via BigTime Software) — functions as a broader incumbent in the same vertical rather than a direct deal competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lock 8 Partners social profiles
Digital presenceLock 8 Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lock 8 Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Lock 8 Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lock 8 Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lock 8 Partners
What does Lock 8 Partners do?
Lock 8 Partners is a lower middle-market private equity firm that acquires majority or control stakes in founder-led B2B SaaS and tech-enabled services companies with $2M-$10M ARR, greater than 85% annual customer retention, and breakeven-or-better profitability. The firm provides capital combined with hands-on operating expertise, including weekly working sessions in the first 90-180 days, value-creation roadmaps, and access to a vetted network of cross-functional executives to help portfolio companies scale.
Is Lock 8 Partners a public or private company?
Lock 8 Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Lock 8 Partners founded?
Lock 8 Partners was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Lock 8 Partners based?
Lock 8 Partners is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lock 8 Partners make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Fund Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are carried Interest / Performance Fees.
Who are Lock 8 Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Level Equity Management, Radian Capital, Mainsail Partners, PSG Equity, Accel-KKR, Diversis Capital, Vector Capital and Brighton Park Capital. Broad incumbents are Thoma Bravo and Vista Equity Partners.
Does Lock 8 Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lock 8 Partners.
What industry is Lock 8 Partners in?
Lock 8 Partners's product category is Private Equity Investing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANABAD, Small-Cap / Micro-Buyout, with a secondary code of FSANABAI, Platform Buy-and-Build / Roll-Up Buyout. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.