our background

Harold Irving (“Irv”) Grousebeck developed the search fund model in 1984. Irv was a successful entrepreneur and a visiting lecturer at Harvard Business School. He created this model as a way for entrepreneurs and aspiring operators to acquire and run a business with the help and guidance of experienced investors, professionals, and past executives who were willing to invest their time and capital to develop new CEOs. Later, he became the Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Over the next 40 years, the search fund model evolved into a promising vehicle for entrepreneurship around the world.

Inspired by this model, Hargrave Succession was formed by a group of 12 entrepreneurial investors. Our goal is to acquire leading British businesses that we can operate and grow over many years, decades in some cases. We work with business owners who are looking to exit but have not yet found the right buyer. If you don't want to sell to a competitor who might merge your company into theirs, or to a financial buyer looking to flip your business after a few years, or to a private equity firm that may make you work for another 3-5 years, then Hargrave Succession might be the right fit for you.

Hargrave Succession invests for the long run and is keen on maintaining and building upon the existing legacy of your business. Unlike traditional investment firms, we allow the owner to exit the day-to-day operation of the business quickly and completely. We accomplish this by rolling up our sleeves and running the business full-time. Our investors provide mentorship alongside committed capital. Their investment carries no fixed term or hold period. So, our investors are operationally aligned and in it for the long haul.

If you think Hargrave Succession could be an ideal buyer for your business, we would be thrilled to have a confidential discussion with you.

Respectfully,

Graeme Wallis 

Managing Partner - Hargrave Succession