Bison Capital Asset Management
Bison Capital Asset Management is a Santa Monica-based private equity firm founded in 2001 that makes growth capital investments in lower middle-market companies, managing six institutional funds with over $1 billion in cumulative invested capital across 42 portfolio investments.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersSanta Monica, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Bison Capital Asset Management does
Bison Capital Asset Management, LLC is a Los Angeles-based private equity firm founded in 2001 by Douglas Trussler that makes growth capital investments in lower middle-market companies, both public and private, for expansion, acquisitions, and balance sheet recapitalizations. The firm invests across the entire capital structure, customizing each transaction to the needs of the business, with stated minimum investment sizes of $10–20 million. It manages six institutional funds with cumulative invested capital exceeding $1 billion across 42 portfolio investments since inception.
Bison's investment approach is partnership-oriented: the firm collaborates with entrepreneurial management teams rather than taking direct operational control, providing board-level oversight, strategic guidance, and access to its relationship network. Portfolio companies span healthcare services (Elevate Eyecare, CūtisCare, HNI Healthcare, Advantmed, Apex Innovative Sciences), industrial technology (Precision Surfacing Solutions, Motorcar Parts of America, Wyo-Ben), technology-enabled services (For The Record, Miva, Ocean Media, Quixote Studios, Ease Entertainment), and specialty consumer/experiential businesses (Aqua Expeditions, Kingbee Vans). The firm generates revenue through management fees on committed fund capital and carried interest on realized investment returns, with exits delivered via strategic sale (e.g., For The Record to Tyler Technologies for $258M in April 2026), IPO (Royal Wolf, ASX, May 2011), and recapitalization transactions.
The firm operates from Santa Monica, California and Delray Beach, Florida, and has deployed capital in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Peru, and Italy. The leadership team — Trussler, Pilecki, Macdonald, Caballero, and Voge — averages more than 15 years of Bison tenure, providing institutional continuity across fund vintages.
Bison Capital Asset Management firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bison Capital Asset Management
- Legal name
- Bison Capital Asset Management, LLC.
- Website
- https://bisoncapital.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bison Capital Asset Management is a Santa Monica-based private equity firm founded in 2001 that makes growth capital investments in lower middle-market companies, managing six institutional funds with over $1 billion in cumulative invested capital across 42 portfolio investments.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bison Capital Asset Management industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity / Growth Capital Management
- NAICS
- Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Large-Cap / Mega-Fund Buyout (FSANABAA)
Keywords
Where Bison Capital Asset Management is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Monica
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Bison Capital Asset Management business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Private Equity Fund Management: Bison Capital manages institutional private equity funds (currently on Fund VI) and generates returns through portfolio company value creation, ultimately realizing investments through strategic sales, IPOs, or recapitalizations. Returns accrue to fund limited partners (institutional investors).
- Portfolio Company Investments: The firm invests capital from its institutional funds into portfolio companies, generating returns through equity appreciation, dividends, and exit proceeds.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Growth capital investments of $20 million or greater |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Bison Capital Asset Management product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bison Capital Asset Management, LLC is a private equity firm that makes growth capital investments in fundamentally strong middle-market companies, public or private, for expansion, acquisitions, and balance sheet recapitalizations. The firm manages six institutional funds with $1B+ in total invested capital across 42 portfolio investments, with investment sizes of $20 million or greater (and select opportunities of $10 million or greater) targeting lower middle-market companies with proven business models and strong, entrepreneurial management teams.
Product overview
Bison Capital Asset Management is a private equity firm that provides growth capital investments in middle-market companies across diverse sectors. The firm's portfolio companies offer distinct technology-enabled products and platforms, including For The Record's FTR Justice Cloud (cloud-based SaaS for digital courtroom recording with speech-to-text capabilities) and FTR RealTime (real-time speech-to-text for courtrooms); Miva's eCommerce platform for B2B and B2C businesses; Motive Companies' proprietary cloud-based energy management software; and Precision Surfacing Solutions' precision abrasive finishing technologies marketed under the Lapmaster and Peter Wolters brands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bison Capital Partners: The private equity fund brand used for investment funds (e.g., Bison Capital Partners VI, LP)
Products and services
- Bison Capital Partners VI, LP (Growth Capital Fund)
Quantifiable outcome
- 42 investments across 6 funds totaling $1B+ in invested capital since 2001
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Bison Capital Asset Management
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Bison Capital Asset Management technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Bison Capital Asset Management partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators15 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bison Capital Asset Management competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Vector Capital: Private equity firm specializing in middle-market technology and technology-enabled businesses. Comparable to Bison on the technology-enabled services portion of its portfolio (e.g., Miva, indie Semiconductor, For The Record).
- Mainsail Partners: Growth equity firm focused on bootstrapped, founder-led lower middle-market companies. Comparable to Bison on lower middle-market growth capital, founder-friendly approach, and flexible structures.
- Webster Equity Partners: Healthcare-services-focused lower middle-market private equity firm. Directly comparable to Bison's healthcare portfolio (CūtisCare, Advantmed, Elevate Eyecare, HNI) and a known counterparty on the 2025 Advantmed recapitalization.
- Sterling Group: Middle-market private equity firm focused on industrial, services, and distribution businesses. Comparable to Bison's industrial and business-services portfolio companies (e.g., Precision Surfacing Solutions, Motive Companies, Curtin Maritime).
- Linsalata Capital Partners: Lower middle-market private equity firm making growth capital and recapitalization investments in partnership with management. Directly comparable on investment style, check size, and operating approach.
- Trivest Partners: Lower middle-market private equity firm headquartered in Florida with a sector-agnostic growth and recapitalization orientation. Closely comparable to Bison on check size, lower-middle-market focus, and US footprint.
- Summit Partners: Long-established growth equity and private equity firm writing flexible capital solutions in the lower middle to upper middle market. Comparable to Bison in stage, check size range, and 'flexible capital across the structure' approach.
- Trinity Hunt Development Partners: Lower middle-market growth equity sponsor partnering with entrepreneurs and management teams. Comparable in growth-investment focus, US base, and check size profile.
- Pfingsten Partners: Lower middle-market private equity firm focused on growth capital, recapitalizations, and management buyouts with a multi-fund history. Directly comparable in target company profile, check size band, and partnership-oriented model.
- Sverica International: Lower middle-market private equity firm focused on healthcare, industrial, and business services. Comparable to Bison on lower middle-market check size and a known acquirer of Bison's The Center for Wound Healing in 2010.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bison Capital Asset Management financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bison Capital Asset Management leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Bison Capital Asset Management funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bison Capital Asset Management M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A5 records
Investments41 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bison Capital Asset Management
What does Bison Capital Asset Management do?
Bison Capital Asset Management, LLC is a private equity firm that makes growth capital investments in fundamentally strong middle-market companies, public or private, for expansion, acquisitions, and balance sheet recapitalizations. The firm manages six institutional funds with $1B+ in total invested capital across 42 portfolio investments, with investment sizes of $20 million or greater (and select opportunities of $10 million or greater) targeting lower middle-market companies with proven business models and strong, entrepreneurial management teams.
Is Bison Capital Asset Management a public or private company?
Bison Capital Asset Management is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Bison Capital Asset Management founded?
Bison Capital Asset Management was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bison Capital Asset Management based?
Bison Capital Asset Management is headquartered in Santa Monica, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bison Capital Asset Management make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Private Equity Fund Management is the primary driver. The others are portfolio Company Investments.
Who are Bison Capital Asset Management's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Vector Capital, Mainsail Partners, Webster Equity Partners, Sterling Group, Linsalata Capital Partners, Trivest Partners, Summit Partners, Trinity Hunt Development Partners, Pfingsten Partners and Sverica International.
Does Bison Capital Asset Management have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bison Capital Asset Management.
What industry is Bison Capital Asset Management in?
Bison Capital Asset Management's product category is Private Equity / Growth Capital Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANABAA, Large-Cap / Mega-Fund Buyout. Its NAICS code is 5259 and its SIC code is 6282.