Maximize potential together.

Getting started

A different approach.

Shepherd Growth Partners, Inc. (“SGP”) works with founders, CEOs, and senior management teams to maximize the potential of their business.  We invest in and help build companies by providing strategic, board-level advice.

SGP partners with emerging growth companies and established lower middle market companies with operating profits up to $5 million. We make both minority growth capital investments and control (majority) investments.  Our companies typically have a solid track record of performance but want to achieve accelerated growth and enhanced profitability.

We recognize that the needs of each business are unique, based on myriad factors. We seek first to develop a comprehensive understanding of your situation and objectives, and then develop recommendations about how we can work together to create value over the longer term.

More about our approach

  • Collaboration

    Once we understand your situation and objectives, and have developed a strong foundation for a long-term relationship, we work with you to create a partnership that will position us for success.

  • Value Creation

    As your partner, we bring the deep experiences of our founder and Senior Advisors to help you develop and execute the best plan to grow your business and create enduring value.

  • Realization

    Finally, we work with you to tailor an exit strategy that meets your needs and SGP’s so we can realize the value we have created together.

Jay is far more than an investor, he is a trusted advisor.  His willingness to engage frequently to provide feedback and ideas to maximize shareholder value are truly appreciated.  It is great to have him as part of our team.
Mike Perry, Executive Chairman & Chairman of Board, Avive Solutions, Inc.
I was grateful to have Jay on my board. As a CEO for many years, I understand how valuable a strong board is when you are rapidly growing a company. Jay was someone I could always count on to help me as well as to challenge my thinking. We tackled a lot together, ranging from global expansion strategies to building out the senior management team. The years of collaboration and hard work paid off—we got a great end result.
David Huberfield, Former President & CEO, Total Automated Solutions, Inc.
The bottom line is that I would love to work with Jay again. He was an insightful, active board member who added significant value to our business. We had an excellent working relationship based on mutual respect. We worked together for five years to build a great company with both organic growth initiatives and multiple acquisitions, and then achieved a very attractive exit - in which Jay played a major role.
George Montgomery, Former President & CEO, U.S. Education Corp.
Jay and I worked as co-investors and board members for several years. He consistently demonstrated solid judgment, worked well with our management team, and had good ideas on how best to drive rapid, profitable growth. When it came time to develop a plan for exiting the business, his recommendations were perceptive and thoughtful. Together we engineered a great outcome and are very happy with the results.
Michael Hooks, Managing Director, Black Canyon Capital
I have known Jay for many years—some of those as a colleague. His skills and deep experience in developing strategies and architecting growth initiatives are impressive. He understands how to build companies both via organic growth and with acquisitions, and then structure exit strategies to maximize value.
Bruce Thacher, Former President & CEO, Behavioral Interventions, Inc

Experience matters

Jay Shepherd, the Founder and President of SGP, has over 30 years of experience working with middle market and emerging growth companies to help them grow and maximize their potential.  He has helped build and exit companies as a private equity investor and board member, and as an executive in corporate development and operating roles.  Additionally, he has advised companies on buying and selling businesses as an M&A professional.  In these capacities he has participated in transactions totaling billions of dollars.  The breadth of perspectives and depth of experiences developed from the many roles he has played make him uniquely qualified to be a thoughtful, knowledgeable partner for CEOs, senior management teams and boards.

Jay’s efforts are complemented by those of a deep team of highly experienced Senior Advisors who are available to provide advice to SGP’s partner companies.

More about Jay and team

Working together.

We believe in constructive and collaborative partnerships.

  • Companies

    SGP partners with emerging growth companies and established lower middle market companies with operating profits up to $5 million. We make both minority growth capital investments and control (majority) investments.

    Investment Criteria

  • CEOs

    We also like to partner with CEOs to find, acquire and build businesses. If you have a strong track record and an idea of how you would like to build a great company, let’s talk.

    CEOs Seeking a Partner