High Street Capital
High Street Capital is a Chicago-based private equity firm founded in 1997 that invests in lower middle market companies through SBIC-licensed funds, targeting management buyouts, recapitalizations, and growth equity in outsourced business services, niche manufacturing, and value-added distribution.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What High Street Capital does
High Street Capital is a Chicago-based private equity firm founded in 1997 that invests in lower middle market companies with revenues up to $150 million and cash flow up to $15 million. The firm operates multiple SBIC-licensed funds — Fund V closed at $165 million in committed capital in May 2018, and Fund VI closed in August 2024 — and pursues management buy-outs, recapitalizations, growth equity, succession transitions, corporate divestitures, and special situation transactions. Portfolio companies span outsourced business services, niche manufacturing, B2B supply chain, and value-added distribution, including Knight Material Technologies, Tramec, NeoSystems (exited May 2026), Adams Magnetic Products, AHI Supply, BCD, Southern Design, and Pinnacle Contracting Services. The firm holds positions primarily east of the Rockies, with active portfolio exposure across Illinois, Texas, Ohio, the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Kansas.
The firm differentiates through a flexible capital structure offering both control and non-control investments, including the HSC 30-30-30 program launched in May 2020, which targets $3-15 million liquidity tickets with a 30-day closing target and 30-month repurchase option. Investment activities are led by principals Joe Katcha, Rob France, Andrew Simmons, Will Oberholtzer, and Matt Laffey, supported by operating partners with functional expertise in strategy, sales, operations, human capital management, digital engagement, and eCommerce. Deal sourcing runs through investment bankers, attorneys, management teams, and intermediaries built over 25+ years of lower-middle-market investing.
Revenue is generated through management fees on committed fund capital and carried interest on realized exits. The firm co-invests alongside institutional partners such as Wells Fargo Strategic Capital and has a documented history of successful exits, including the 2019 sale of TLC Companies to SE Capital Partners and the 2026 exit of NeoSystems. No consumer-facing products, pricing models, or subscription offerings apply; customer concentration is measured at the portfolio company and limited-partner level rather than the enterprise-customer level.
High Street Capital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- High Street Capital
- Legal name
- High Street Capital
- Website
- http://www.highstreetcapital.com/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- High Street Capital is a Chicago-based private equity firm founded in 1997 that invests in lower middle market companies through SBIC-licensed funds, targeting management buyouts, recapitalizations, and growth equity in outsourced business services, niche manufacturing, and value-added distribution.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
High Street Capital industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Lower Middle Market Private Equity
- NAICS
- Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)
- SIC
- Investors, Nec (6799)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lower Mid-Market Buyout (FSANABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Mid-Market Buyout (FSANABAB)
Keywords
Where High Street Capital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
High Street Capital business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Private Equity Returns: High Street Capital generates returns through capital appreciation of portfolio companies, realized through exits via sales to strategic buyers or other private equity firms. The firm earns carried interest (typically 20% of profits) on successful realizations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
High Street Capital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
High Street Capital is a lower middle market private equity firm that invests equity capital in U.S. businesses with revenues up to $150 million and cash flow up to $15 million. It executes management buy-outs, recapitalizations, growth equity investments, corporate divestitures, and special situation transactions, typically taking control or meaningful non-control positions and partnering with founders and management teams to scale the business. The firm also offers the HSC 30-30-30 non-control equity program, providing $3–15 million of liquidity with a 30-day close target, a 30-month repurchase option, and convertible equity up to 30%.
Product overview
High Street Capital is a Chicago-based private equity firm founded in 1997 that provides private equity investment services to lower middle market businesses. The firm operates multiple committed funds (Fund V at $165 million raised in 2018, and Fund VI announced in 2024), offering flexible capital structures through control or non-control investments. Their investment focus spans outsourced business services, niche manufacturing, B2B supply chain, and value-added distribution sectors. The firm also offers the HSC 30-30-30 non-control equity program for business owners requiring $3-15 million in liquidity. HSC manages a portfolio of current and former portfolio companies across diverse industries including construction products, magnetic products, landscaping services, video surveillance storage, engineered components, industrial linings, feed mills, and concrete services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- HSC 30-30-30: A streamlined non-control equity program launched in 2020 providing business owners with liquidity options including targeted closing in 30 days, repurchase option after 30 months, and convertible equity up to 30%.
Products and services
- High Street Capital Fund V (HSC V SBIC, L.P.) A $165 million SBIC-licensed private equity fund closed in May 2018 to invest in lower middle market businesses in outsourced business services, niche manufacturing, and value-added distribution sectors. Capital is deployed through management buy-outs, recapitalizations, growth equity investments, corporate divestitures, and special situation transactions for U.S. companies with revenues up to $150 million and cash flow up to $15 million.
- High Street Capital Fund VI (HSC VI SBIC, L.P.) Sixth investment fund (SBIC-licensed) closed in August 2024, continuing the firm's operations-led strategy of investing in lower middle market businesses east of the Rockies in outsourced business services, niche manufacturing, B2B supply chain, and value-added distribution.
- HSC 30-30-30 Program A streamlined non-control equity program launched in May 2020 providing business owners with $3–15 million in liquidity. The structure targets a 30-day closing, offers a repurchase option after 30 months, and allows the equity to be converted into up to 30% of the company — designed for owners who want partial liquidity without a full sale.
- Private Equity Investment Advisory Services Private equity advisory and execution services including management buy-outs, succession planning and transition, growth equity investments, recapitalizations, corporate divestitures, control or non-control investments, and special situation transactions for lower middle market businesses with revenues up to $150 million and cash flow up to $15 million. Delivered to founders, owners, and management teams across U.S. industries including outsourced business services, niche manufacturing, B2B supply chain, and value-added distribution and logistics.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 25 years of successful investing history with multiple fund generations
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use High Street Capital
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
High Street Capital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
High Street Capital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
High Street Capital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Madison Dearborn Partners: Chicago-based private equity firm investing across a broad set of industries in the middle market. Comparable to High Street Capital in Chicago headquarters and middle market orientation, but operates at significantly larger fund sizes (multi-billion) and broader sector mandate.
- Trilantic North America: New York-based private equity firm focused on mid-market control and non-control investments across multiple sectors. Comparable to High Street Capital in offering both control and non-control structures and mid-market orientation, though operates at larger fund sizes.
Direct peers
- Wynnchurch Capital: Middle market private equity firm focused on industrial, business services, and value-added distribution sectors. Highly comparable to High Street Capital in sector focus on industrial, value-added distribution, and business services, as well as operations-led approach to portfolio companies.
- Sterling Investment Partners: Lower middle market private equity firm focused on founder-led, family-owned, or entrepreneur-led businesses. Directly comparable to High Street Capital in lower middle market focus on family-owned and entrepreneur-led companies, with similar flexible capital structures.
- Centre Partners: Lower middle market private equity firm focused on consumer, retail, and industrial sectors. Comparable to High Street Capital in lower middle market focus and operational value creation approach, though Centre Partners typically emphasizes consumer/retail while HSC focuses on industrial/services.
- Shore Capital Partners: Chicago-based private equity firm focused exclusively on lower middle market micro-cap healthcare investments with SBIC license. Highly comparable to High Street Capital in SBIC structure, lower middle market focus, and Chicago operating base, though Shore specializes narrowly in healthcare while HSC is more diversified.
- Huron Capital Partners: Detroit-based private equity firm focused on lower middle market companies with operations-led approach. Directly comparable to High Street Capital in lower middle market focus, operating-partner model, and niche manufacturing/business services sectors, with similar fund size profile.
- GTCR: Chicago-based private equity firm investing in growth-oriented mid-market companies, often partnering with management teams. Closely comparable to High Street Capital in operating-led value creation philosophy, Chicago headquarters, and middle market focus, though GTCR typically operates at larger fund sizes.
- Cordova Capital Partners: Lower middle market private equity firm with SBIC license focused on government services and industrial sectors. Comparable to High Street Capital in SBIC-licensed structure, lower middle market focus, and operational value creation model.
- North Castle Partners: Lower middle market private equity firm focused on consumer health and wellness sectors. Comparable to High Street Capital in lower middle market focus and operational value creation model, though sector focus differs (consumer health vs. industrial/services).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks2 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
High Street Capital social profiles
Digital presenceHigh Street Capital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
High Street Capital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
High Street Capital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
High Street Capital M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A13 records
Investments10 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about High Street Capital
What does High Street Capital do?
High Street Capital is a lower middle market private equity firm that invests equity capital in U.S. businesses with revenues up to $150 million and cash flow up to $15 million. It executes management buy-outs, recapitalizations, growth equity investments, corporate divestitures, and special situation transactions, typically taking control or meaningful non-control positions and partnering with founders and management teams to scale the business. The firm also offers the HSC 30-30-30 non-control equity program, providing $3–15 million of liquidity with a 30-day close target, a 30-month repurchase option, and convertible equity up to 30%.
Is High Street Capital a public or private company?
High Street Capital is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was High Street Capital founded?
High Street Capital was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is High Street Capital based?
High Street Capital is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does High Street Capital make money?
One revenue line is on record: private Equity Returns.
Who are High Street Capital's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Madison Dearborn Partners and Trilantic North America. Direct peers are Wynnchurch Capital, Sterling Investment Partners, Centre Partners, Shore Capital Partners, Huron Capital Partners, GTCR, Cordova Capital Partners and North Castle Partners.
Does High Street Capital have an API?
No public API is recorded for High Street Capital.
What industry is High Street Capital in?
High Street Capital's product category is Lower Middle Market Private Equity. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANABAC, Lower Mid-Market Buyout, with a secondary code of FSANABAB, Mid-Market Buyout. Its NAICS code is 5259 and its SIC code is 6799.