A
Different Kind
of Exit.
Hillcreek Capital is an entrepreneur-led, investor-backed firm seeking to acquire and operate one exceptional business.
Hillcreek was formed out of the following beliefs:
01
Every business will transfer; it's not a matter of if, but when.
02
The mark of a great business is its ability to continue beyond its founder.
03
There are more paths to exit than ever, but few that honor legacy, preserve culture, and prioritize people.
04
Entrepreneurial succession best positions businesses to not only survive, but thrive.
We are backed by institutional capital, but consolidating or flipping isn't a part of our playbook.
Our terms and structure are flexible, but we have the network and experience to drive the business forward.
We seek to preserve the company you have already built and opportunistically grow it over time.
EXCLUSIVITY
Your business will be Hillcreek's sole investment. Upon close, we will relocate to your community and dedicate 100% of our time to operating.
FLEXIBLE TERMS
We will seek a structure that fits your financial and estate planning needs. This can include opportunities to share in the future success of the company (as desired).
HONESTY + TRANSPARENCY
No Wall Street bankers, no used car salesmen. Our terms will be clear and we will honor our commitments. When issues arise, we will conquer them together.
PEOPLE FIRST
Your employees are vital to the future success of the company, and our desire is that they continue to grow and flourish alongside the company.
LONG-TERM FOCUS
We aren't a turnaround firm looking to "flip" your company or strip it for parts. We will seek to build on your foundation.
SHORT TRANSITION
Unless you wish to remain involved, we'll work together to clearly define a transition timeline that that ensures we're set up for success without dragging things out.
Our Commitment
Meet the Team
Austin Yates
FOUNDER
Austin is the founder and managing partner of Hillcreek Capital. Austin was raised in rural Arkansas by a loving family who valued character above all else. Over many summers spent building, fixing (breaking?), and selling things, he developed a passion for entrepreneurship and an appetite for risk.
Austin's professional experience lies at the intersection of strategy, operations, analytics, and technology. Most recently, he hired and lead an operations team at a financial technology startup, supporting the organization as it profitably scaled to over 450 employees and half a million customers. Prior to this, he worked as a consultant helping large healthcare organizations implement and operationalize new technology.
Austin earned his MBA from The University of Chicago's Booth School of Business with concentrations in Entrepreneurship and Operations, during which he completed an extended internship with Tesla Motors. He earned his bachelor's degree from Harding University with majors in Finance and Accounting.
Austin's fiancée, Caroline, is a pediatric nurse and the unsung hero of his entrepreneurial endeavors. They are getting married in October 2023.
On the weekend, you might find Austin reading at a coffee shop, playing the guitar, golfing, or rooting for the Arkansas Razorbacks. His Christian faith is the most important thing in his life; the driving force behind his desire to positively impact the world through business.
Capital Partners
Hillcreek's capital is not anonymous; our investors comprise former business owners and operators with decades of experience who now invest through the medium of talented human capital. Their investments in Hillcreek represent a belief in Austin's ability to identify, lead, and grow an exceptional business, and they have provided committed capital to support these efforts.
Collectively, Hillcreek's investors have executed hundreds of successful small business transactions across dozens of industries - far more than any single private equity firm over the same time period, and with better outcomes on average. They will take an active role in the acquired company, serving as mentors and board members and using their broad networks to assist in scaling the company.
Click below to learn more.
Investment
Criteria
Hillcreek seeks a profitable B2B business that it can steward through its next phase of growth.
Business
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Revenue $4-$50 million
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Stable and growing cash flow
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Loyal, recurring customer base
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Sales aren't highly concentrated among a small number of customers
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Strong management team and positive culture
Ownership
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Seeking to retire, start a new venture, or reduce time commitment to focus on a narrower set of responsibilities (e.g., R&D, CTO, sales, etc.)
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Looking to sell a majority stake in the business
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Strong interest in the continued success of business and employees
Industry
Hillcreek is open to investments in a variety of B2B industries that exemplify the following characteristics:
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Large and fragmented market
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Low revenue volatility
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Low ongoing capital requirements
My industry is complex. Why shouldn't I sell to an industry veteran?
Our Process
Click each step to learn more
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1. Introductory CallWe will spend a call or two getting to know each other. We will confidentially discuss your company and your goals to determine if there is a good mutual fit.
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2. NDA and Financial ReviewAssuming both parties are interested in moving forward, I'll sign a confidentiality agreement (NDA) and request basic financial information about the business. We will have a follow-up discussion about any questions that came up during the review and to discuss at a high level the terms and structure of the acquisition. As the conversation continues, we'll ditch the video calls and find a time to visit you in person.
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3. Letter of Intent (LOI)If we are interested in moving forward, we’ll submit a Letter of Intent (“LOI”), which is formal non-binding offer to buy your company that includes a purchase price range. As part of this process, we will discuss at a high level the key terms of a potential partnership.
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4. Company Deep DiveOnce the LOI is signed by both parties, I will do a deep dive into your company's operations, financial performance, and team. I will also engage an elite team of professionals throughout the diligence process, including investors as well as legal, lending, accounting, and technical diligence partners. I will provide you with a clear timeline and set of action items and documentation requests to minimize the burden on you and your employees. Throughout this process, we will meet regularly to discuss the broad terms of the sale and to formulate a transition plan. You can expect transparency and honesty throughout this process as we work together as a team to best position the company for future success. In the case that you decide to remain involved in the business in some way, this process lays the groundwork for a longer-term partnership. Once complete, we will review the final terms of the sale and reach an agreement that pleases both parties. Though things will come up in diligence that require discussion, my goal is to run a transparent process void of "gotchas," final-hour changes, and other shady tactics.
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5. CloseOnce both parties are happy, we will sign the final purchase agreement, wire you the funds, and toast to an exciting future!
-
1. Introductory CallWe will spend a call or two getting to know each other. We will confidentially discuss your company and your goals to determine if there is a good mutual fit.
-
2. NDA and Financial ReviewAssuming both parties are interested in moving forward, I'll sign a confidentiality agreement (NDA) and request basic financial information about the business. We will have a follow-up discussion about any questions that came up during the review and to discuss at a high level the terms and structure of the acquisition. As the conversation continues, we'll ditch the video calls and find a time to visit you in person.
-
3. Letter of Intent (LOI)If we are interested in moving forward, we’ll submit a Letter of Intent (“LOI”), which is formal non-binding offer to buy your company that includes a purchase price range. As part of this process, we will discuss at a high level the key terms of a potential partnership.
-
4. Company Deep DiveOnce the LOI is signed by both parties, I will do a deep dive into your company's operations, financial performance, and team. I will also engage an elite team of professionals throughout the diligence process, including investors as well as legal, lending, accounting, and technical diligence partners. I will provide you with a clear timeline and set of action items and documentation requests to minimize the burden on you and your employees. Throughout this process, we will meet regularly to discuss the broad terms of the sale and to formulate a transition plan. You can expect transparency and honesty throughout this process as we work together as a team to best position the company for future success. In the case that you decide to remain involved in the business in some way, this process lays the groundwork for a longer-term partnership. Once complete, we will review the final terms of the sale and reach an agreement that pleases both parties. Though things will come up in diligence that require discussion, my goal is to run a transparent process void of "gotchas," final-hour changes, and other shady tactics.
-
5. CloseOnce both parties are happy, we will sign the final purchase agreement, wire you the funds, and toast to an exciting future!
