What CIC Partners does

CIC Partners LP is a Dallas, Texas-based middle-market private equity firm that invests growth capital in founder-led, owner-operator companies generating between $10 million and $1 billion in revenue, with primary verticals in food and restaurants, consumer products, industrial manufacturing, and healthcare. The firm manages the personal capital of its investment team together with a network of Operating Partners, who are current or former CEOs and entrepreneurs that co-invest and provide board-level and operating support. The firm's investment model is distinctive in being open to both minority and majority structures, with bespoke terms tailored to founder objectives, and in relying on Operating Partner relationships as the primary deal-sourcing and value-creation engine. Across more than 25 years of activity, CIC has invested in over 50 founder-led companies representing more than $4 billion in aggregate portfolio revenue. Active platforms include Precision Aerospace Holdings (aerospace and defense machining, five facilities across Texas and Kansas with five acquisitions since 2022) and Keep It REAL Foods (a private-label and contract manufacturing platform consolidating five founder-led food companies across three states, launched February 2026). Recent realized exits include American College of Education (sold to Bain Capital Double Impact after a 2020-vintage investment), Tri-State Holdings' disposal assets (sold to Select Water Solutions in 2024), and McClancy Foods & Flavors (2024). The firm is privately held, structured as a Texas limited partnership, and headquartered at Oak Lawn Hall at Old Parkland in Dallas.

Name

CIC Partners

Legal name

CIC Partners LP

Website

https://cicpartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CIC Partners is a Dallas-based middle-market private equity firm that invests personal capital alongside an Operating Partners network in founder-led growth companies across food, consumer, industrial, and healthcare sectors with $10M-$1B in revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Equity / Middle-Market Investment Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate LP Programs (Corporate as LP in VC/PE funds) (FSANAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Joint Venture CVC / Consortium Funds (Multi-corporate) (FSANAHAE)

Keywords

• Middle-market private equity
• Growth capital investment
• Founder-led business investing
• Portfolio company management
• Lower middle market acquisitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Private Equity Management: CIC Partners generates returns through traditional private equity investing, including management fees and carried interest from their investment funds. The firm manages personal capital of its investment team, Operating Partners, and strategic investors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CIC Partners is a middle-market private equity firm that invests growth capital in owner-operator-led companies primarily in the food, restaurant, consumer, industrial, healthcare, and energy industries. The firm manages personal capital from its investment team, Operating Partners network (experienced CEOs and entrepreneurs), and strategic investors, structuring both minority and majority equity partnerships. CIC's offering combines capital infusion with strategic guidance, board-level involvement, and operational expertise delivered through its Operating Partners.

Product overview

CIC Partners operates as a middle-market private equity firm offering a unified investment platform rather than discrete technology products. Their core offering encompasses private equity investment services targeting growth-oriented, founder-led companies in food, consumer, and industrial sectors. The firm's portfolio includes operating companies such as Keep It REAL Foods (a food manufacturing platform), Precision Aerospace Holdings (aerospace components manufacturing), and various realized investments. The investment strategy is structured around partnership with owner-operators, leveraging the firm's Operating Partners network of industry executives and entrepreneurs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Middle-Market Private Equity Investment Services Private equity growth capital investments targeting owner-operator-led middle-market companies in food, consumer, industrial, healthcare, and energy industries. Includes majority and minority equity stakes, strategic guidance, operational expertise, and board-level involvement. For founder-led companies with revenues of $10 million to $1 billion.
• Operating Partners Network A network of experienced CEOs and entrepreneurs who invest personal capital alongside CIC and provide industry expertise, senior-level relationships, and operational support to portfolio companies. Operating Partners include former senior executives from consumer, food, retail, and energy industries.
• Portfolio Company Operational Support Hands-on operational value-add services for portfolio companies, including operational CFO support, turnaround expertise, value creation initiatives, and board-level governance provided by CIC's investment team and Operating Partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 founder-led companies invested in since inception
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Operating Partners NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIC Partners maintains a network of Operating Partners who are successful CEOs and entrepreneurs. These partners invest alongside CIC and bring industry expertise and senior-level relationships to portfolio companies. Examples include Randy Cimorelli (food ingredients), John Antioco (retail), and others.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wynnchurch Capital: Middle-market private equity firm headquartered in Chicago that invests in founder/owner-operated businesses across similar lower-middle-market revenue ranges ($10M–$1B) and shares CIC's focus on operational value-add through operating partner networks.
• Trilantic North America: Middle-market PE firm with a control and significant-minority investment focus in North America, overlapping CIC's flexible minority/majority model and target enterprise values in consumer, industrial, and business services.
• Centre Partners: Middle-market private equity firm focused on founder/family-owned consumer and industrial businesses—directly comparable to CIC's lower-middle-market food, consumer, and industrial thesis.
• Swander Pace Capital: Lower-middle-market PE firm with a food/consumer/industrial focus that invests behind founder-led and family-owned businesses, closely aligned with CIC's sector orientation and check size.
• Palladium Equity Partners: Middle-market PE firm investing in founder-led, family-owned, and operationally focused businesses with flexible minority and majority structures—directly parallel to CIC's partnership model.
• One Rock Capital Partners: Middle-market PE firm that partners with management and founder-led industrial and consumer businesses, with a hands-on operational value-add approach similar to CIC's Operating Partner-driven model.
• Trive Capital: Dallas-based middle-market PE firm with a sector-focused approach across industrial, consumer, and specialty finance—overlapping CIC's lower-middle-market food, consumer, and industrial footprint in the same geography.
• Tengram Capital Partners: Consumer-focused middle-market PE firm investing behind founder-led brands, comparable to CIC's food and restaurant thesis and its willingness to back owner-operators.
• Ironbridge Equity Partners: Middle-market PE firm focused on founder-owned and family-controlled businesses with flexible control and minority structures, mirroring CIC's bespoke partnership approach in the lower middle market.
• Linden Capital Partners: Middle-market PE firm with a sector-specialized model that partners with management teams to build category leaders—comparable in size, structure, and operating-partner philosophy to CIC Partners.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A3 records

Investments19 records

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

Frequently asked questions about CIC Partners