Sterling Partners

Sterling Partners, established in 1983, is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on control equity investments in growth-oriented, lower and middle market companies, primarily in the United States. The firm targets businesses in sectors such as business services, healthcare services, and information technology, with a focus on companies having enterprise values between $20 million and $150 million, and EBITDA greater than $5 million. Sterling Partners invests between $2 million and $500 million of equity per company, seeking controlling or majority interests, and often acts as the first institutional investor. The firm's strategy involves leveraging its operational expertise, industry knowledge, and network to drive value in its portfolio companies.

Courtney Altman

Vice President

Michael Brown

Vice President

Emal Dusst

Senior Investment and Operating Partner

Jeffrey Elburn

Managing Director and CFO

Alberto Garcia

Director, Strategy

Hannah Hale

Private Equity Associate

Peter Heimbold

Associate

R. Christopher Hoehn-Saric

Senior Managing Director

Sam Morasca Jr.

Operating Partner

Zachary Ozog

Vice President

Spencer Petterson

Senior Associate

Daniel Reisner

Principal

William Durden Ph.D

Operating Partner

45 past transactions

Mellomanic

Venture Round in 2024
Mellomanic is a music community platform to transform the relationship between artists and fans.

Keypath Education

Acquisition in 2024
Keypath Education is an education technology company based in Chicago, founded in 2014. It specializes in providing online program management (OPM) services to universities, offering a comprehensive suite of solutions that includes program design, market research, student recruitment, and ongoing student support. By focusing on career-relevant online education, Keypath aims to address the evolving needs of the workforce and contribute to solving global social and economic challenges. The company generates revenue through a share of the tuition fees paid by students enrolled in the programs it manages, serving thousands of students across the United States and globally.

Stella

Venture Round in 2023
Stella’s treatment is built on a new understanding of PTSD and its causes. Dr Lipov, the Chief Medical Officer at Stella, is credited with innovating the Stellate Ganglion Block ("SGB") as an intervention for trauma symptoms. After experiencing trauma, the way our brain functions may change in dramatic ways. In some cases, we become stuck in “fight or flight” mode - which can be observed in certain types of brain scans. It may be helpful to think about the sympathetic nervous system as being somewhat like an engine. Under normal conditions, we are in “neutral gear,” a relatively relaxed state not associated with feeling threatened. However, extreme stressors can shift and lock us into a higher gear, where we may remain for years or even decades. This state may involve “feeling constantly revved up and being unable to throttle down.” Common indicators of this altered biological state include symptoms like disrupted sleep, anger attacks, overwhelming panic, difficulties concentrating, a feeling of constantly being on “high alert”, and a strong startle response - in other words, the “hyper-arousal” cluster of post trauma symptoms. Stella’s adaptation of SGB involves injecting a widely available, commonly used anesthesia into a bundle of nerves in the neck, just above the collarbone. The injected medication has the short-term effect of soothing and “re-setting” the overactive nerves, operating in the same temporary way as the Novocaine administered by a dentist. To return to the earlier analogy, SGB seems to manually pop a “stuck gear” back into “neutral.”

Champ

Series B in 2022
Champ Titles, established in 2018, specializes in digitizing vehicle titling processes. Its secure, patented SaaS technology connects state governments, insurance carriers, financial institutions, vehicle sellers, and consumers. Champ Titles offers solutions tailored to insurance carriers, automotive retailers, and state governments, reducing costs, enhancing security, and facilitating ownership transfers within the vehicle title ecosystem.

Aliro

Series A in 2022
Aliro is a developer of a smart employment referral platform that enhances talent acquisition through a community-powered approach. By leveraging machine learning, the platform effectively matches qualified candidates with job opportunities and connects them with referrers, streamlining the hiring process. This innovative method allows organizations to access a larger pool of quality candidates while reducing the resources and time spent on recruitment. Aliro's technology aims to improve hiring efficiency and ensure that companies can secure better-quality candidates more quickly.

Lecturio

Private Equity Round in 2021
Lecturio GmbH is an e-learning platform based in Leipzig, Germany, that specializes in interactive audio-visual lectures and medical learning content. It offers a range of courses in law, medical education, and business, with a particular emphasis on online medical training for an international audience. The platform features high-quality educational materials developed in collaboration with esteemed instructors from prominent institutions such as Harvard and Johns Hopkins. Lecturio combines advanced teaching methods with cutting-edge technology to deliver flexible learning experiences, allowing users to access courses both online and offline via tablets or PCs.

Mellomanic

Venture Round in 2020
Mellomanic is a music community platform to transform the relationship between artists and fans.

Cerebro Capital

Seed Round in 2020
Cerebro Capital, Inc. is a technology company based in Baltimore, Maryland, founded in 2017. It specializes in developing a web-based portal tailored for middle-market companies seeking to utilize credit facilities for operational needs, growth, or acquisitions. The platform integrates data from over 80 lenders and employs analytics to effectively match financing types with suitable lenders, enhancing transparency in the borrowing process. By providing a comprehensive online loan management system, Cerebro Capital aims to improve the efficiency of lending for corporate borrowers and financial intermediaries. The company equips users with access to critical market expertise, detailed term sheets, and continuous monitoring of credit standing and debt capacity, ultimately transforming how financial teams evaluate and source corporate credit.

Reading Plus

Private Equity Round in 2019
Reading Plus, LLC is an educational technology company founded in 1930 and based in Winooski, Vermont. The company specializes in developing adaptive reading software that integrates reading assessments with personalized instruction and intervention services. Its platform focuses on enhancing reading fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary through a comprehensive program that combines various components, including teacher-directed instruction and professional development. By providing research-based reading interventions, Reading Plus aims to support students, teachers, and families in improving reading skills effectively.

Big Blue Marble Academy

Private Equity Round in 2018
Big Blue Marble Academy, LLC is an operator of early childhood education schools, managing 28 locations across five states. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Gilbert, South Carolina, the company provides a comprehensive curriculum that emphasizes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, along with second language enrichment for children of all ages. This approach aims to prepare students for a globally interconnected world by promoting cultural awareness and inclusivity. Big Blue Marble Academy offers a variety of programs, including Spanish immersion preschool, character development, after-school care, and summer camps, catering to the developmental needs of children from infancy through age four, as well as older students. The company focuses on fostering readiness and success through engaging, student-led activities within its educational framework.

Fancy Sprinkles

Series A in 2018
Fancy Sprinkles LLC is a woman-owned company based in Burbank, California, specializing in the manufacture and marketing of a diverse range of confectionery sprinkles. Founded in 2016 by CEO and Creative Director Lisa Stelly Osbourne, the company offers an array of products, including deluxe sprinkles, metallics, crunchy jimmies, vegan options, round sprinkles, and sugar shapes. Targeting the direct-to-consumer market, Fancy Sprinkles operates primarily through an e-commerce platform, allowing for direct interaction with customers and ensuring high-quality goods and exceptional customer service. The company's offerings are designed to enhance desserts such as cakes, cupcakes, and ice cream, catering to various aesthetic and dietary preferences.

Traffic Solutions Corporation

Private Equity Round in 2018
Headquartered in Irvine, CA, Traffic Solutions Corporation (“TSC”) is one of largest providers of traffic control products and services with 18 locations in California, Hawaii, and Nevada. The company offers a diverse array of traffic control solutions, including job-site work, product sales, equipment rental, sign manufacturing, and installation for customers. TSC’s scale, broad capabilities, professionally trained staff, and strong product distribution capabilities significantly differentiate the company from the competition.

Cerebro Capital

Seed Round in 2018
Cerebro Capital, Inc. is a technology company based in Baltimore, Maryland, founded in 2017. It specializes in developing a web-based portal tailored for middle-market companies seeking to utilize credit facilities for operational needs, growth, or acquisitions. The platform integrates data from over 80 lenders and employs analytics to effectively match financing types with suitable lenders, enhancing transparency in the borrowing process. By providing a comprehensive online loan management system, Cerebro Capital aims to improve the efficiency of lending for corporate borrowers and financial intermediaries. The company equips users with access to critical market expertise, detailed term sheets, and continuous monitoring of credit standing and debt capacity, ultimately transforming how financial teams evaluate and source corporate credit.

UPshow

Angel Round in 2017
UPshow, Inc. is a Chicago-based company that specializes in digital signage and social TV software. Founded in 2015, it provides a customizable engagement platform that transforms television screens in various businesses, including bars, restaurants, retail, automotive, entertainment, fitness, and healthcare, into interactive marketing and entertainment venues. The platform enables patrons to display their social media posts in real time on screens, allowing businesses to highlight new products, promotions, events, and interactive games. By seamlessly connecting televisions with mobile devices, UPshow enhances audience engagement, improves customer relationships, and ultimately drives business results and profitability through effective marketing strategies.

Grand Rapids Ophthalmology

Private Equity Round in 2017
Grand Rapids Ophthalmology, P.C. is a comprehensive eye care provider headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a history dating back to 1982. The organization employs a team of twelve ophthalmologists and eighteen optometrists, offering a wide range of services including ophthalmology, optometry, oculoplastics, cataract surgery, laser vision correction, diabetic eye exams, glaucoma treatment, and pediatric eye care. With multiple locations across West Michigan, Grand Rapids Ophthalmology aims to deliver high-quality, state-of-the-art eye care while upholding the highest ethical standards. The practice participates with most vision and medical insurance plans, ensuring accessibility for a diverse patient population.

Amerigo Education

Venture Round in 2017
Amerigo Education, LLC is dedicated to supporting international students at American preparatory schools, specifically in Chicago, Illinois, and Lexington, Kentucky. Founded in 2016, the company provides a comprehensive array of services designed to enhance the educational experience of K-12 students from diverse global backgrounds. These services include a nurturing boarding environment, supplemental academic support, and English language development, all aimed at fostering student success and growth. Amerigo Education emphasizes a holistic approach that not only prepares students for high school and college but also equips them with essential skills and values for their future endeavors. Through its extensive network of premier day and boarding schools, Amerigo connects students from various countries, ensuring a supportive pathway to academic achievement and positive experiences.

Panopto

Private Equity Round in 2016
Panopto, Inc. is a video software company that provides a comprehensive platform for video content management tailored for corporate and educational markets globally. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with additional offices in cities such as Pittsburgh, London, Sydney, and Hong Kong, Panopto specializes in creating searchable video libraries that preserve institutional knowledge. The platform encompasses a variety of functionalities, including video streaming, analytics, accessibility features, and live broadcasting capabilities. It supports users in recording and editing videos, facilitating employee training, onboarding, and live events for enterprises, as well as enhancing educational experiences through lecture capture and active learning. Panopto has established itself as a leader in video capture software and content management systems, recognized for its innovation and rapid growth within the industry.

DBi Services

Venture Round in 2016
DBi Services, LLC is a leading provider of infrastructure maintenance and management solutions for government agencies, utilities, and private industries in North America and Europe. Established in 1978 and headquartered in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, the company operates over 60 locations and a fleet of more than 2,500 specialized vehicles. DBi Services offers a comprehensive range of services, including asset management, roadway services, stormwater management, vegetation management, and various cleaning and maintenance tasks. Their expertise extends to bridge inspections, pressure washing, sign installation, and traffic management, among others. Additionally, the company engages in advanced surveying and mapping technologies to support infrastructure resilience and safety. Recognized for its operational excellence, DBi Services plays a crucial role in enhancing the safety and sustainability of transportation infrastructure.

Netomi

Seed Round in 2016
Netomi is a company that specializes in developing a conversational artificial intelligence platform aimed at enhancing customer experience in commerce. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Mateo, California, with additional offices in New York and Gurugram, Netomi provides a no-code solution that integrates seamlessly with various platforms, including Zendesk, Salesforce, and Shopify. Its technology enables brands and businesses to automate customer interactions across multiple channels, such as mobile messaging, chat, email, and voice, allowing them to make product recommendations, answer queries about availability, and assist with purchases. Netomi's platform is designed to improve customer satisfaction and operational efficiency while reducing costs and reliance on developers. The company has established itself as a leader in customer experience AI, leveraging advanced AI technologies to help enterprises meet evolving customer expectations and deliver exceptional service.

Hoffman Southwest

Acquisition in 2015
Hoffman Southwest Corp. (HSW) specializes in water flow solutions through its Professional Pipe Services (Pro-Pipe) division, offering underground pipeline condition assessment and repair services in the western United States. Pro-Pipe provides cutting-edge closed circuit television (CCTV) inspection services, including video inspection, underground mapping, cleaning, and rehabilitating sewage pipelines for a range of clients such as municipalities, contractors, engineers, government agencies, facility owners, homeowners, and natural gas providers. With a focus on quality and innovation, HSW is a trusted leader in the industry, dedicated to ensuring efficient and effective solutions for underground pipeline maintenance and rehabilitation.

Surgical Solutions

Acquisition in 2014
Provides hospitals with support and equipment for endoscopic and laparoscopic surgical procedures.

Results Physiotherapy

Private Equity Round in 2014
Results Physiotherapy is an outpatient orthopedic physical therapy company focused on delivering high-quality care to patients across several states, including Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina. The organization specializes in the hands-on treatment of a wide range of conditions, including post-surgical recovery, neck and back pain, sports injuries, and various musculoskeletal disorders. Additionally, it addresses specific issues such as headaches, arthritis, and women's health concerns. Results Physiotherapy employs evidence-based practices and offers various services, including manual therapy, aquatic therapy, and pediatric care. With a commitment to individualized treatment plans, the company aims to enhance the recovery and well-being of its patients through comprehensive and compassionate care.

SAVO Group

Venture Round in 2014
SAVO, founded in 1999, specializes in on-demand sales enablement solutions aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of sales teams, regardless of size. The company's software empowers sales representatives by providing them with timely access to the most relevant resources, insights, and expertise from across their organization. By integrating key Web 2.0 concepts, SAVO allows users to contribute content and feedback, facilitating collaboration and continuous improvement. The platform enables sales professionals to rate the quality and effectiveness of content, ensuring that the most impactful materials are easily customizable and aligned with the brand's identity. SAVO's solutions are informed by extensive client relationships with notable companies, allowing it to deliver practical and innovative tools that enhance the overall sales process and drive value for customers.

Innotrac

Acquisition in 2013
Innotrac Corporation specializes in providing order processing, order fulfillment, and call center services for businesses that outsource these operations. The company's fulfillment services encompass warehouse management, automated shipping, inventory tracking, purchasing and inventory management, channel development, product sourcing, packaging, and returns management. Additionally, Innotrac offers a range of customer support services, including inbound call center operations, technical support, order status inquiries, returns processing, and integrated call center solutions that facilitate cross-selling and collaborative communication. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Johns Creek, Georgia, Innotrac operates several fulfillment centers and a call center in the United States, catering to clients in the telecommunications sector, e-commerce, retail, direct marketing, and business-to-business markets.

Ad Venture Interactive Corp

Acquisition in 2013
It provides interactive marketing and advertising services.

SecureNet Payment Systems

Private Equity Round in 2012
SecureNet Payment Systems is a payment processing provider that enables businesses to accept transactions across various platforms, including in-store, online, and mobile devices. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services, including direct credit and debit card processing for major card networks such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and Diners Club. SecureNet's innovative platform features a single stack of APIs that simplifies integration and certification processes, resulting in shorter implementation times. Additionally, it provides detailed analytics to help businesses make informed decisions and enhance growth. The company emphasizes security, adhering to the highest standards set by the Payments Card Industry, and offers transparent pricing through a direct connection to card networks. By leveraging SecureNet's technology and consumer data, businesses can efficiently manage transactions while gaining valuable insights to drive their success.

School of Rock

Venture Round in 2012
School of Rock, LLC is a leading provider of performance-based music education, operating a chain of schools in the United States and internationally. Founded in 1998 and based in El Segundo, California, the company offers instruction in various instruments, including guitar, bass, vocals, keyboards, and drums. Its unique approach combines weekly private lessons with group band rehearsals, preparing students for live performances in authentic concert settings. Additionally, School of Rock features an All Star program that allows students to showcase their skills on stages around the world, enhancing their performance experience. The company's proprietary curriculum is designed to support students' musical development and foster their careers in the music industry.

First Choice Emergency Room

Private Equity Round in 2011
First Choice Emergency Room is a provider of freestanding emergency medical facilities that offers a novel approach to emergency care. The company operates fully equipped emergency rooms that are staffed by board-certified physicians specializing in emergency medicine and trained registered nurses. These facilities are designed to manage a range of medical emergencies for both adults and children, addressing both major and minor health issues. Equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic technology, including CT scanners, ultrasounds, and digital X-ray systems, along with on-site labs, First Choice Emergency Room aims to deliver high-quality, efficient medical services in a convenient setting.

School of Rock

Venture Round in 2011
School of Rock, LLC is a leading provider of performance-based music education, operating a chain of schools in the United States and internationally. Founded in 1998 and based in El Segundo, California, the company offers instruction in various instruments, including guitar, bass, vocals, keyboards, and drums. Its unique approach combines weekly private lessons with group band rehearsals, preparing students for live performances in authentic concert settings. Additionally, School of Rock features an All Star program that allows students to showcase their skills on stages around the world, enhancing their performance experience. The company's proprietary curriculum is designed to support students' musical development and foster their careers in the music industry.

IO.com

Private Equity Round in 2011
IO, the leading provider of next-generation modular data center technology and services designs, engineers and delivers data center infrastructure for the world's largest enterprises, governments and service providers.

IO.com

Private Equity Round in 2008
IO, the leading provider of next-generation modular data center technology and services designs, engineers and delivers data center infrastructure for the world's largest enterprises, governments and service providers.

Avectra

Series A in 2007
Avectra, Inc. specializes in providing on-demand membership management software solutions, primarily aimed at small and mid-sized organizations. Its flagship product, netFORUM Enterprise, facilitates the management of member profiles, communications, and transactions, while netFORUM Team and Pro Editions offer additional tools to help organizations engage and retain members effectively. In addition to software solutions, Avectra provides a range of consulting services, including implementation, training, and development, as well as web design and ASP hosting services. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in McLean, Virginia, the company also has offices in Los Angeles and Chicago.

SAVO Group

Series A in 2005
SAVO, founded in 1999, specializes in on-demand sales enablement solutions aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of sales teams, regardless of size. The company's software empowers sales representatives by providing them with timely access to the most relevant resources, insights, and expertise from across their organization. By integrating key Web 2.0 concepts, SAVO allows users to contribute content and feedback, facilitating collaboration and continuous improvement. The platform enables sales professionals to rate the quality and effectiveness of content, ensuring that the most impactful materials are easily customizable and aligned with the brand's identity. SAVO's solutions are informed by extensive client relationships with notable companies, allowing it to deliver practical and innovative tools that enhance the overall sales process and drive value for customers.

Centerre Healthcare

Venture Round in 2005
Centerre Healthcare Corporation is a provider of rehabilitation hospitals, specializing in a variety of programs aimed at aiding recovery from strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burns, traumatic injuries, and orthopedic issues. Established in 2002 and headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, the company focuses on delivering comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation services that address the medical, psychological, social, and functional needs of patients and their families. Through its specialized rehabilitation programs, Centerre Healthcare supports patients in regaining their independence following injuries or illnesses.

Cortera

Series B in 2004
Cortera, Inc. is a provider of business-to-business analytics and cloud-based risk management solutions, specializing in payment and purchase behavior data for public and private companies. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, with additional offices in Massachusetts and India, Cortera tracks $1.6 trillion in business-to-business purchases across 45 categories, offering insights on 20 million U.S. business locations. The company's products include Cortera Pulse, a subscription service for monitoring credit risk; Boost, which enhances customer insights; and Cortera Decisions, an automated scorecard platform. Additionally, Cortera offers eCredit for credit scoring and collections automation, Cortera Traits for real-time statistical modeling, and Connect, an XML web service for accessing proprietary data. These solutions help businesses of all sizes understand their customers and suppliers better, ultimately aiding in revenue growth and risk reduction.

Florida Coastal School of Law

Acquisition in 2004
Florida Coastal School of Law is an educational institution that specializes in legal education. It offers a range of programs and certificates designed to enhance students' expertise in various areas of law. These include an environmental law certificate, a sports law certificate, an international comparative law certificate, and an advanced legal research and writing certificate. The school aims to prepare its students for successful careers in the legal field by providing a comprehensive curriculum and practical training opportunities.

KnowledgeStorm

Venture Round in 2003
KnowledgeStorm, Inc. is a provider of an online search resource dedicated to technology solutions and information. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, the company facilitates connections between technology buyers and providers by allowing users to search for solutions based on various criteria, including geography, industry, and specific business needs. KnowledgeStorm also offers services that include solution and research listings and lead-generation campaigns designed to convert online inquiries into actionable leads for technology vendors. Additionally, it provides advertising services for promoting products, services, and events through its newsletter. As a subsidiary of TechTarget, Inc., KnowledgeStorm plays a significant role in the technology marketing landscape.

Cortera

Venture Round in 2003
Cortera, Inc. is a provider of business-to-business analytics and cloud-based risk management solutions, specializing in payment and purchase behavior data for public and private companies. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, with additional offices in Massachusetts and India, Cortera tracks $1.6 trillion in business-to-business purchases across 45 categories, offering insights on 20 million U.S. business locations. The company's products include Cortera Pulse, a subscription service for monitoring credit risk; Boost, which enhances customer insights; and Cortera Decisions, an automated scorecard platform. Additionally, Cortera offers eCredit for credit scoring and collections automation, Cortera Traits for real-time statistical modeling, and Connect, an XML web service for accessing proprietary data. These solutions help businesses of all sizes understand their customers and suppliers better, ultimately aiding in revenue growth and risk reduction.

AnAerobics

Series A in 2002
AnAerobics, a Rochester, N.Y.-based developer of anaerobic wastewater treatment systems.

Vocus

Series B in 2002
Vocus is a global technology company that specializes in two primary business areas. Firstly, it offers a range of telecommunications services, including wholesale network, voice, and internet products. These services are designed to provide high-speed connectivity solutions for businesses, governments, and communities. Secondly, Vocus is a leading provider of on-demand software for corporate communications and public relations. Its integrated platform enables communications professionals to plan, execute, and measure influencer-oriented campaigns, access a large media and blogger database, distribute press releases, manage influencer outreach, and analyze campaign effectiveness. The company, headquartered in Beltsville, Maryland, serves over 120,000 clients worldwide and operates offices in North America and Europe.

Corechange

Series C in 2002
The company provides enterprise portal software for the deployment and management of Intranet and extranet portals. The company's Coreport enterprise portal software allows businesses to provide all their stakeholders with a single, secure point of unified and personalized access to content, applications, processes, and services from any wired or wireless device.

Telenisus

Series C in 2001
Telenisus is a technology firm established in 1999 and located in Illinois. The company specializes in providing e-commerce internet solutions and internet infrastructural services aimed at facilitating secure online business operations for its clients. Telenisus offers a comprehensive suite of services that includes managed hosting tools, information security, and virtual private networking facilities, enabling customers to operate their businesses effectively and securely over the Internet.

Viaken Systems

Series B in 2001
Viaken Systems is the premier full service ASP (Application Service Provider) for the life sciences, offering solutions for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and agricultural companies. Viaken hosts third-party research informatics application solutions and e-commerce services in the areas of genome informatics, chem informatics, and pharmaco informatics at its tier one data center and delivers these services via the Internet. The company’s unique ASP platform enables companies of all sizes to utilize the same state-of-the-art research information technology (IT) as implemented by top-tier organizations. Viaken specializes in architecture design, application and database hosting, distributed access to high performance computing services, secure network management, and 24x7x365 system and application support. The company also designs, implements, and hosts custom solutions to meet any of its customers’ IT requirements.

Cognitive Concepts

Series B in 2000
Cognitive Concepts offers a variety of services to schools and districts interested in instructional strategies specifically designed for english learners, including training, district support, translations, and curriculum development. They engaged in custom curriculum development, campus-specific training, classroom coaching, and educational events.

TidePoint

Series A in 2000
A provider of business partner infrastructure solutions
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