What Ocean Avenue Capital does

Ocean Avenue Capital Partners is an independent private equity firm headquartered in Santa Monica, California, that provides $10-25 million equity investments to lower-middle-market companies in inefficient, small-cap, or complex situations. The firm was founded in 2010 by Jeff Ennis and Jacques Youssefmir, who previously co-founded the Private Markets Group at Wilshire Associates and built it to over $6.0 billion in assets under management. Its investment thesis targets founder-owned businesses with $3-15 million of EBITDA headquartered in the United States or Canada, and it deploys capital into buyouts, thematic platform builds, recapitalizations, growth investments, carve-outs, and turnarounds.

The firm does not source or lead investments directly. Instead, it partners with independent sponsors who originate, diligence, and lead transactions, with Ocean Avenue providing the equity check and reserving follow-on capital for organic and acquisitive growth. Differentiating terms include no board seat requirement, no renegotiation of lead-sponsor terms, straightforward diligence, and LP co-invest availability with hurdled economics. The 13-person team spans founding partners, principals, vice presidents, senior associates, associates, and analysts across investment, business development, and operations functions.

Ocean Avenue generates revenue through the standard private equity model of management fees on committed or invested capital under management, supplemented by carried interest from successful portfolio exits. The firm is registered as an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and operates as Ocean Avenue Capital Partners, L.P. Its go-to-market is entirely relationship-driven, relying on a curated network of independent sponsors and intermediaries rather than traditional marketing or distribution channels.

Name

Ocean Avenue Capital

Legal name

Ocean Avenue Capital Partners, L.P.

Website

https://oceanavenuecapital.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ocean Avenue Capital Partners is an independent Santa Monica-based private equity firm that provides $10-25 million equity investments to US/Canada small-cap companies, partnering with independent sponsors who originate buyouts, carve-outs, and turnarounds of founder-owned businesses with $3-15 million EBITDA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Equity

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Sponsor / Fundless Sponsor ETA (FSANALAB)

Keywords

• Private equity
• Independent sponsor partnerships
• Small-cap buyouts
• Special situations investing
• Minority equity capital

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Monica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Management Fees: Standard private equity management fees charged on committed or invested capital under management.
2. Carried Interest: Performance-based carried interest from successful portfolio exits, aligning fund manager and investor interests.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Ocean Avenue Capital Partners is an independent private equity firm that provides $10–$25 million equity investments to independent sponsors targeting small-cap and complex investment situations. The firm focuses on inefficient markets, including buyouts, thematic platform builds, recapitalizations, growth, carve-outs, and turnarounds in founder-owned businesses with $3–$15 million EBITDA, primarily headquartered in the US or Canada. Its model emphasizes partnership without requiring board seats or co-sponsor involvement.

Product overview

Ocean Avenue Capital Partners is an independent private equity firm that provides $10-$25 million equity investments to small-cap and complex investment situations. The firm operates through a network of independent sponsor partners who originate and lead investments. Core offerings include direct equity capital for buyouts, thematic platform builds, carve-outs, and special situations targeting founder-owned businesses with $3-$15 million EBITDA, primarily headquartered in the US or Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Equity Investment Capital
• Independent Sponsor Partnership Program

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Pacific Lake Partners: Pacific Lake Partners is a lower-middle-market private equity firm that explicitly provides equity capital to independent sponsors on flexible, sponsor-friendly terms. It is the closest direct competitor to Ocean Avenue's core business model.
• Mill Point Capital: Mill Point Capital is a lower-middle-market PE firm focused on control investments in small-cap businesses, often partnering with independent sponsors. Similar transaction-size focus and sponsor-led approach make it a highly relevant comparable.
• Huron Capital Partners: Huron Capital is a Detroit-based lower-middle-market PE firm that pursues control buyouts and recapitalizations in the small-cap segment. Its focus on the same inefficient small-cap niche and willingness to do complex deals makes it a direct peer.
• Broadtree Partners: Broadtree Partners provides flexible equity capital solutions to independent sponsors and family offices seeking capital for lower-middle-market transactions. Operates in the same sponsor-friendly niche with similar deal sizes.
• Maranon Capital: Maranon Capital is a Chicago-based middle-market private investment firm that partners with independent sponsors, family offices, and management teams. Its equity capital model and LMM focus overlap significantly with Ocean Avenue's offering.
• Latticework Capital Partners: Latticework Capital Partners is a lower-middle-market PE firm focused on control investments in smaller, often complex businesses. Comparable small-cap, complex-deal orientation and willingness to partner with sponsors make it a strong peer.
• Aterian Investment Partners: Aterian Investment Partners is a private investment firm focused on acquiring and building lower-middle-market businesses, often alongside independent sponsors. Operates in a similar size and complexity band as Ocean Avenue.
• Smith Point Capital: Smith Point Capital is a private investment firm providing equity capital to independent sponsors and operating partners in the lower-middle-market. Highly comparable in mission and product structure.

Broad incumbents

• Wynnchurch Capital: Wynnchurch Capital is a well-established, larger lower-middle-market PE firm focused on complex, operationally intensive transactions. Overlapping investment criteria but materially larger scale and broader portfolio approach.
• Frontenac Company: Frontenac is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on lower-middle-market buyouts of founder- and family-owned businesses. Similar target profile (founder-owned, US-headquartered, sub-$25M EBITDA) but operates a more traditional institutional fund structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Ocean Avenue Capital