Traction Capital

Traction Capital is a hybrid private equity and venture capital firm based in Wayzata, Minnesota, established in 2011. The firm focuses on investing in early-stage and lower middle-market companies across various sectors, including business-to-consumer, business-to-business, technology, information services, mobile software, SaaS, business services, niche manufacturing, and consumer products. Traction Capital's investment strategy is centered around its Traction Capital Focus Fund I, which aims to build a diversified portfolio of promising and undervalued businesses expecting liquidity events within 3 to 7 years. The firm sources investment opportunities through a robust network of investors, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals, primarily targeting companies in the Midwest, with an emphasis on Minnesota.

Brian Cox

Partner & Integrator

Shane Erickson

Founder & Managing Partner

Joe Morris

VP Investments and Acquisitions

Past deals in Minnesota

Impacks

Venture Round in 2023
Impacks provides pre-packaged school supply kits with all the materials a school needs. They create a free, customized shopping portal website for each partner school. They are designed to offer ways for schools to raise money so they can provide for their students.

ControlBright, Inc.

Seed Round in 2022
ControlBright is revolutionizing the lighting controls market by releasing the worlds FIRST and ONLY cloud-enabled DMX control platform. As colored architectural lighting continues to gain popularity, existing control solutions have not kept pace. Multi-location organizations such as retailers, hotels, bars/restaurants, municipal parks, and building owners can now manage colors, brightness, scenes, and scheduling across thousands of sites with the click of a button.

GoRout

Seed Round in 2021
GoRout simplifies the essential components of on-field communication between coaches and athletes through wearable visual technologies.

Kwikly Dental Staffing

Private Equity Round in 2021
A modern approach to dental staffing. Kwikly's online platform helps dental offices find temporary staff in real time.