Pine Tree Equity
Pine Tree Equity is a Miami-based private equity firm founded in 2007 that invests in and expands small-capitalization U.S. service businesses with $10M-$50M of revenue, partnering exclusively with founding entrepreneurs who retain ownership and operating control.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersMiami, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Pine Tree Equity does
Pine Tree Equity is a Miami-based private equity firm founded in January 2007 that invests in and actively expands small-capitalization service businesses, exclusively partnering with founding entrepreneurs. The firm targets profitable, family- or founder-owned companies with $10 million to $50 million of revenue and $2-7 million of EBITDA across healthcare services, business services, consumer services, and financial services. Pine Tree structures both majority and minority recapitalizations, deliberately preserving founder ownership and operating control in 32 of 34 platform investments, and accelerates growth through geographic expansion and add-on acquisitions, having executed 117 bolt-ons across 34 platforms since inception.
The firm operates a concentrated fund strategy of 8-10 investments per fund and has raised four fund vintages since 2007. Its differentiation rests on alignment of interests, with the team itself the largest investor in each fund, no formal investment committee, and no forced exit timeline. Value creation is delivered through full-time internal operating partners (former CFO/COO operators) who support accounting, budgeting, controls, financing, reporting, systems, and recruiting in partnership with founders, supplemented by an Independent Sponsor Capital Program that broadens deal flow. Pine Tree cites a 100% success rate on majority investments with no losses, top-1% returns among PE firms, and reported 5.6x-6.7x cash-on-cash multiples and 62-69% IRRs across early exit cohorts.
Pine Tree monetizes through traditional private equity mechanics: management fees on committed or invested capital across successive fund vintages, plus carried interest on realizations such as the $108 million Skinfood sale to Goodai Global in January 2026. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, sourcing proprietary deals directly from founders, through a financial-advisor referral network paid traditional referral fees, and via independent sponsor relationships. The firm is headquartered at 1515 Sunset Drive, Suite 32, Miami, FL 33143, with a team of approximately ten investment and operations professionals led by Managing Partner and founder Jeff C. Settembrino.
Pine Tree Equity firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pine Tree Equity
- Legal name
- Pine Tree Equity Management, LP
- Website
- http://www.pinetreeequity.com/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Pine Tree Equity is a Miami-based private equity firm founded in 2007 that invests in and expands small-capitalization U.S. service businesses with $10M-$50M of revenue, partnering exclusively with founding entrepreneurs who retain ownership and operating control.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Pine Tree Equity is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Miami
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Pine Tree Equity business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Private Equity Fund Management: Pine Tree Equity generates returns through investing in small service businesses in partnership with founding entrepreneurs. The firm makes both majority and minority investments and generates returns through value creation, exits, and portfolio company growth. They operate as a private equity firm with multiple funds (Pine Tree Equity I, II, III, IV) since inception in 2007.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Pine Tree Equity product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pine Tree Equity is a private equity firm that invests in and actively expands small capitalization service businesses with $10-50 million in revenue, through both majority and minority equity partnership investments. The firm partners exclusively with entrepreneurial families and founders, providing growth capital, add-on acquisition support, and internal operating partner resources while founders retain meaningful ownership and day-to-day operating control.
Product overview
Pine Tree Equity operates as a private equity firm offering equity partnership investments to small capitalization service businesses. The company provides two primary investment structures: majority and minority equity investments in companies with $10-50 million revenue. Core offerings are supplemented by add-on acquisition support, internal operating partners, and capital programs for independent sponsors. The firm has a concentrated portfolio approach, typically making 8-10 investments per fund across healthcare, business, consumer, and financial services industries, with 151 investments completed since inception in 2007 and a 100% success rate.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Equity Partnership Investment (Majority) Majority equity investment in small capitalization service businesses with $10-50 million revenue, providing capital for geographic expansion, add-on acquisitions, and operational growth while founders retain meaningful ownership and day-to-day operating control.
- Equity Partnership Investment (Minority) Minority equity investment in small capitalization service businesses, offering capital and strategic resources while allowing founders to retain legal and operating control of their business.
- Add-On Acquisition Support Strategic and financial support for portfolio companies acquiring competitive or complementary businesses to accelerate growth, including identifying acquisition targets, conducting due diligence, and integration support.
- Internal Operating Partners Program Full-time internal operating partners (former CFO/COO types) who work in partnership with founding entrepreneurs to manage accounting, analysis, budgeting, controls, financing, reporting, systems, cost savings, recruiting, and restructurings across portfolio companies.
- Independent Sponsor Capital Program Capital solution for independent sponsors seeking funding to complete transactions, targeting small cap founder-owned businesses that fit Pine Tree Equity's investment mandate.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% success rate with no losses across all investments
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Pine Tree Equity
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Pine Tree Equity technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Pine Tree Equity partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Pine Tree Equity competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Trivest Partners: Trivest is a Miami-based lower-middle-market PE firm focused on founder/family-owned businesses, often in the Southeast US. Highly comparable to Pine Tree on geography, target company profile ($10-100M revenue), service-business focus, and founder-friendly partnership model.
- Revelstoke Capital Partners: Revelstoke Capital Partners is a Denver-based PE firm focused exclusively on healthcare services businesses — a sector where Pine Tree has built significant portfolio exposure. Comparable to Pine Tree on healthcare services focus and lower-middle-market target profile.
- Bow River Capital Partners: Bow River Capital Partners is a Denver-based lower-middle-market PE firm focused on founder/family-owned businesses across healthcare, business services, and industrial services. Comparable to Pine Tree on target profile and sector mix.
- Bunker Hill Capital: Bunker Hill Capital is a Boston-based lower-middle-market PE firm focused on family/founder-owned businesses, often with operating partner support. Comparable to Pine Tree on lower-middle market focus, founder alignment, and operational value-add.
- Gen Cap America: Gen Cap America is a Nashville-based lower-middle-market PE firm investing in founder/family-owned businesses with $10-100M revenue. Direct comparable to Pine Tree on mandate size, sector breadth across services, and buy-and-build strategy.
- Gauge Capital: Gauge Capital is a Dallas-based lower-middle-market PE firm focused on founder-led businesses with $10-100M revenue. Comparable to Pine Tree in target profile, concentrated portfolio approach, and partnership-oriented investment style.
- LFM Capital: LFM Capital is a Nashville-based lower-middle-market PE firm focused on engineered industrial and business services companies. Comparable to Pine Tree on target size, operational support model, and concentrated portfolio strategy.
- Mason Wells: Mason Wells is a Milwaukee-based lower-middle-market PE firm that acquires founder-owned businesses, often in services and specialized industrials. Comparable to Pine Tree in target company size, founder-partnership orientation, and add-on acquisition approach.
- Trive Capital: Trive Capital is a Dallas-based lower-middle-market PE firm investing in family/founder-owned businesses with operational improvement potential. Comparable to Pine Tree in target profile, sector breadth in services, and operational value-add approach.
- Wynnchurch Capital: Wynnchurch Capital is a Chicago-based middle-market PE firm with operations partners supporting portfolio companies. Comparable to Pine Tree on operational support model, lower-middle-market focus, and value-creation orientation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Pine Tree Equity financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pine Tree Equity leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Pine Tree Equity funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pine Tree Equity M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A13 records
Investments7 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pine Tree Equity
What does Pine Tree Equity do?
Pine Tree Equity is a private equity firm that invests in and actively expands small capitalization service businesses with $10-50 million in revenue, through both majority and minority equity partnership investments. The firm partners exclusively with entrepreneurial families and founders, providing growth capital, add-on acquisition support, and internal operating partner resources while founders retain meaningful ownership and day-to-day operating control.
Is Pine Tree Equity a public or private company?
Pine Tree Equity is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Pine Tree Equity founded?
Pine Tree Equity was founded in 2007. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Pine Tree Equity based?
Pine Tree Equity is headquartered in Miami, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pine Tree Equity make money?
One revenue line is on record: private Equity Fund Management.
Who are Pine Tree Equity's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Trivest Partners, Revelstoke Capital Partners, Bow River Capital Partners, Bunker Hill Capital, Gen Cap America, Gauge Capital, LFM Capital, Mason Wells, Trive Capital and Wynnchurch Capital.
Does Pine Tree Equity have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pine Tree Equity.