MountainStar Partners
MountainStar Partners is a privately held investment firm founded in 2013 that operates across real estate development, healthcare (operating the largest orthodontic residency program in the US), and venture capital, serving co-investors, portfolio companies, and development partners from offices in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and Vail, Colorado.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersPonte Vedra Beach, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What MountainStar Partners does
MountainStar Partners is a privately held investment firm founded in 2013 by Christopher Lazzara, headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida with a secondary office in Vail, Colorado. The firm operates two primary divisions: MountainStar Health, which maintains healthcare investments including the Georgia School of Orthodontics (the largest orthodontic residency program in the US, operating multiple Atlanta campuses), and MountainStar Real Estate, which invests across residential and commercial properties with a focus on capital preservation through portfolio diversification by property type, geography, investment size, and risk profile. The firm has executed over 50 acquisitions since founding, with notable transactions including the $86 million Vista Brooklyn 308-unit apartment development (sold for a Jacksonville record $126.3 million), the $45 million Winterfield Place apartment complex in Virginia, and the Ocean Ridge and Beach Haven residential communities developed in partnership with McGarvey Residential. Beyond real estate, the firm has made venture investments in technology companies including Peerfit (corporate wellness, later acquired by FitOn in 2022), Realty Mogul (real estate crowdfunding), and OpenGov (government cloud platform, co-invested with Weatherford Capital in 2019).
The firm is privately funded with $22 million in lines of credit from financial partners, enabling both leveraged and un-leveraged investment strategies. Its business model centers on generating returns through active and passive direct investments, real estate development, debt financing (short and long-term), and equity investments typically up to $5 million with capacity for larger deals. Revenue/return streams derive from investment appreciation, income generation, exit events, and operating subsidiaries including Georgia School of Orthodontics and Vail Valley Luxury Rentals (six luxury properties across Colorado and Louisiana). The firm employs approximately 21 local staff and serves a mix of co-investors, portfolio companies, development partners (Bristol Development Group, McGarvey Residential), and community partners. MountainStar does not operate proprietary technology platforms; value creation stems from investment expertise, due diligence processes, and operational capabilities across its real estate, healthcare, and venture capital portfolios. Distribution is entirely relationship-driven, leveraging regional community leadership, board positions at organizations like the University of North Florida, and direct negotiations rather than traditional marketing channels.
MountainStar Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MountainStar Partners
- Legal name
- MountainStar Partners, LLC
- Website
- https://mountainstarcapital.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- MountainStar Partners is a privately held investment firm founded in 2013 that operates across real estate development, healthcare (operating the largest orthodontic residency program in the US), and venture capital, serving co-investors, portfolio companies, and development partners from offices in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and Vail, Colorado.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MountainStar Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity and Investment Management
- NAICS
- All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)
- SIC
- Investors, Nec (6799), Real Estate Dealers (For Their Own Account) (6532)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Independent Venture Debt Funds / Platforms (FSANAIAB), Mountain & Ski Homes (THAMAAAG)
Keywords
Where MountainStar Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ponte Vedra Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
MountainStar Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Investment Returns: The firm generates returns through active and passive direct investments in operating companies, real estate properties, and venture capital opportunities. Returns are realized through appreciation, income generation, and eventual exit events.
- Short and Long-term Debt Financing: MountainStar offers short and long-term debt financing to portfolio companies and partners, generating interest income from lending activities.
- Equity Investments: The firm makes equity investments up to $5 million with capacity for larger investments, generating returns through equity appreciation and distributions.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
MountainStar Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MountainStar Partners is a privately funded investment firm that deploys capital across active and passive direct investments, real estate, and joint venture opportunities. The firm operates two core divisions — MountainStar Real Estate (acquisition, development, and value creation across residential and commercial properties) and MountainStar Health (a portfolio of healthcare investments including the Georgia School of Orthodontics) — and additionally provides short- and long-term debt financing alongside strategic venture and growth equity investments in technology and wellness companies.
Product overview
MountainStar Partners is a private investment firm operating as a multi-division holding company. The core holding encompasses active and passive direct investments, real estate, and joint venture opportunities. The portfolio includes two primary fund divisions: MountainStar Health (healthcare investments including orthodontic education) and MountainStar Real Estate (residential and commercial property investments). Operating companies include the Georgia School of Orthodontics and various real estate development projects (Vista Brooklyn, Ocean Ridge, Winterfield Place, Beach Haven). The firm also maintains strategic investments in technology ventures including Peerfit (wellness technology) and OpenGov (government cloud platform), as well as Realty Mogul (real estate crowdfunding). The investment strategy spans from venture capital to direct lending and real estate development across multiple geographic markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MountainStar Health: A fund division that maintains a portfolio of investments in the healthcare industry, operating a network of orthodontic educational and clinical facilities.
- MountainStar Real Estate
Products and services
- MountainStar Real Estate Real estate investment division focused on capital preservation through conservative deal structures and portfolio diversification by property type, geography, investment size, and risk profile. Includes acquisition, value creation, development, and leveraging best-in-class service providers across residential and commercial properties. For investors, developers, and co-investment partners.
- MountainStar Health Healthcare fund division that maintains a portfolio of investments in the healthcare industry and operates a network of orthodontic educational and clinical facilities. Seeks strategic partners in healthcare ventures that combine sustainable solutions with innovation. For healthcare entrepreneurs and operators.
- Short and Long-Term Debt Financing Direct lending service offering short- and long-term debt financing to portfolio companies and partners, backed by $22 million in lines of credit secured through financial partners. For portfolio companies, developers, and co-investment partners.
- Equity Investments Direct equity investments of up to $5 million per transaction with capacity for larger checks, deployed across operating companies, real estate, venture capital, and joint venture opportunities. For developers, founders, and co-investment partners.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 50 acquisitions completed since founding in 2013
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use MountainStar Partners
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
MountainStar Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
MountainStar Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- St. Johns Housing PartnershipcoreMountainStar Partners collaborated with St. Johns Housing Partnership, St. Johns County, UF Health, and others to develop Patriot Place - six low-income housing units for at-risk and homeless veterans. MountainStar committed over $500,000 for land acquisition and construction costs.
- UF HealthcoreUF Health partnered with MountainStar and St. Johns Housing Partnership for Patriot Place. Patriot Place is administered by Care Connect+, UF Health's social health program that links local residents with safe housing, food pantries, counseling services, workplace readiness and transportation.
- St. Johns CountycoreSt. Johns County partnered with MountainStar, SJHP, and others on Patriot Place housing development for homeless veterans.
- Bristol Development GroupcoreMountainStar Partners partnered with Bristol Development Group (based in Nashville, TN) to invest in Vista Brooklyn, an $86 million 308-unit apartment building in Riverside near downtown Jacksonville, and Winterfield Place, a $45 million apartment complex in Virginia. Bristol Development led development while MountainStar provided investment capital.
- NAI HallmarkminorMountainStar Partners partnered with NAI Hallmark of Jacksonville, FL for the Vista Brooklyn apartment investment project.
- McGarvey ResidentialcoreMountainStar Partners partnered with McGarvey Residential to develop Ocean Ridge Development (73-home neighborhood in St. Augustine) and Beach Haven (150-home beach community in South Ponte Vedra, FL).
- GrowFLminorJason Parry serves as a mentor and advisor to GrowFL, a statewide entrepreneurial development organization.
- Economic GardeningminorJason Parry serves as a mentor and advisor to Economic Gardening, an organization supporting entrepreneurial growth.
- UNF Center for Entrepreneurial InnovationsminorJason Parry serves as a mentor and advisor to the University of North Florida's Center for Entrepreneurial Innovations.
- Yoga4ChangeminorJason Parry serves as a mentor and advisor to Yoga4Change, a nonprofit organization.
- Renaissance JacksonvilleminorJason Parry serves as a mentor and advisor to Renaissance Jacksonville, a community organization.
- University of North FloridacoreMountainStar and the Lazzara Family Foundation partnered with UNF to create the Seaside Sculpture Park - the first public art installation on private land in the Jacksonville Beach area. The partnership resulted in a $50,000 grant for installation, sculptures, and artist stipends.
- Lazzara Family FoundationcoreThe Lazzara Family Foundation, which has provided over $16 million in grants to worthy organizations since 1997, is closely connected to MountainStar through Christopher Lazzara's leadership. The foundation supports public art, scholarships, and community initiatives.
- Orthodontic Centers of America (OCA)minorMike Johnsen previously served as Chief Operating Officer of OCA (NYSE: OCA) which had a Market Cap of $1.5 B. He supervised proprietary office designs and business systems that resulted in high growth and consistent earnings.
- University of North Florida's Osprey Financial GroupminorJoe Donovan started MountainStar's Internship Program that partners with the University of North Florida's Osprey Financial Group.
- Taylor Leadership InstituteminorMountainStar's Internship Program also partners with the Taylor Leadership Institute at UNF.
Scale indicators17 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
MountainStar Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Plexus Capital: Southeast US-based private investment firm focused on lower middle-market deals. Comparable strategy mix spanning real estate, growth equity, and direct investments in regional operating companies.
- Frontier Capital: Growth equity firm focused on lower middle-market software and tech-enabled services companies. Comparable in size and ticket size to MountainStar's venture investments in Realty Mogul, OpenGov, and Peerfit.
- Ballast Point Ventures: Florida-focused lower middle-market PE firm. Similar regional footprint, multi-strategy approach, and ticket size make it directly comparable to MountainStar's VC and direct investment activities.
- Trinity Hunt Partners: Middle-market private investment firm focused on founder-led service businesses. Comparable size, ticket range, and relationship-driven investment approach to operating companies.
- Long Wharf Capital Partners: Lower middle-market private equity firm focused on founder and family-owned businesses across the Eastern US. Comparable multi-strategy private investment approach with similar ticket sizes.
- Capitala Group: Southeast-focused lower middle-market investment firm providing debt and equity capital to smaller operating companies. Similar multi-strategy approach including direct lending and equity investments under $10M.
- Argentum Capital Group: Lower middle-market private investment firm focused on founder-led businesses across diverse sectors. Similar multi-strategy, sponsor-led investment approach and ticket-size discipline.
- Weatherford Capital: Florida-based private investment firm co-invested with MountainStar in OpenGov. Multi-strategy, regional, family-office-style investment firm with comparable size and approach, making it the most direct peer.
Broad incumbents
- Main Street Capital: Publicly-traded principal investment firm focused on lower middle-market debt and equity. Overlaps significantly with MountainStar's direct lending and equity investment activities but operates at much greater scale with institutional capital.
- Foundry Group: Venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology companies. Comparable to MountainStar's venture arm in deal stage and technology focus, though larger in scale and exclusively VC-focused.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
MountainStar Partners social profiles
Digital presenceMountainStar Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MountainStar Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
MountainStar Partners subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
MountainStar Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MountainStar Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MountainStar Partners
What does MountainStar Partners do?
MountainStar Partners is a privately funded investment firm that deploys capital across active and passive direct investments, real estate, and joint venture opportunities. The firm operates two core divisions — MountainStar Real Estate (acquisition, development, and value creation across residential and commercial properties) and MountainStar Health (a portfolio of healthcare investments including the Georgia School of Orthodontics) — and additionally provides short- and long-term debt financing alongside strategic venture and growth equity investments in technology and wellness companies.
Is MountainStar Partners a public or private company?
MountainStar Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was MountainStar Partners founded?
MountainStar Partners was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is MountainStar Partners based?
MountainStar Partners is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does MountainStar Partners make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Investment Returns are the primary driver. The others are short and Long-term Debt Financing and equity Investments.
Who are MountainStar Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Plexus Capital, Frontier Capital, Ballast Point Ventures, Trinity Hunt Partners, Long Wharf Capital Partners, Capitala Group, Argentum Capital Group and Weatherford Capital. Broad incumbents are Main Street Capital and Foundry Group.
Does MountainStar Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for MountainStar Partners.
What industry is MountainStar Partners in?
MountainStar Partners's product category is Private Equity and Investment Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAD, Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists), with a secondary code of FSANAIAB, Independent Venture Debt Funds / Platforms. Its NAICS code is 52399 and its SIC code is 6799.