Bark River Capital was founded to acquire a business along the Front Range of Colorado, and then to operate that business for decades
Investment Criteria
Financial Metrics
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Track record of profitability (3+ years)
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EBITDA between $500k and $2MM
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>15% operating margins
Company / Operating Characteristics
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Differentiated value proposition with defensible competitive advantage
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Strong customer base with manageable customer concentration
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Seller(s) retiring/seeking liquidity and looking to support a transition
Geography
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Located within 75 miles of Denver
About Me
Kyle Klopcic | Founder & Principal
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I grew up in a small family business that my grandfather, the son of Slovenian immigrants, started in the middle of a Wisconsin cornfield almost 60 years ago. At age 12 I began helping out wherever I could, from mowing lawns to data entry. Over the ensuing decades, I've worked in companies of all shapes and sizes, but I've always been drawn to the impact that small businesses have on their employees, their customers, and their communities.
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I began my career in investment banking on Wall Street after graduating with an economics degree from Harvard. I subsequently worked in corporate strategy at Disney, venture capital at a small fund in Denver, and pricing at Vail Resorts. I earned my MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
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After 15+ years working in various finance and operations roles across the country from NYC to LA, I'm looking to get back to my roots by buying and operating a small business along the Front Range of Colorado.
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My wife and I met on our very first day of college, when I helped carry her luggage up the stairs to her dorm room. We now live in Denver with our two young children.
Guiding Principles
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Legacy Preservation
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For most founders, selling their business is not merely a transaction. Years of blood, sweat, and tears have been poured into building not just a business, but a legacy
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I aim to partner with founders who are keen to have that legacy continue. I will strive to build on that legacy by leading with integrity, and committing to creating value for all stakeholders
2
Long-Term Orientation
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I'm seeking to run the business for decades. I am not a financial investor who wants to sell your company again in 3-5 years
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I grew up in a small family business that has been in the family for almost 60 years. Many employees have been working there for decades. My hope is that the business I acquire will have a similar multi-generational impact to the small business my grandpa started
3
Hands-On Approach
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I will be an active owner/operator, not a passive investor
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My focus will be on investment and deep operational involvement, and not on financial engineering or cost cutting. My goal is to continue to provide the best possible product/service to the company's customers, while continuing to invest in and serve the company's employees
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Flexibility in Transaction Structure
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Every founder is unique. I will work alongside the founders to customize the deal structure to most effectively suit the specific situation and objectives of those founders
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People-Driven
Values
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I care deeply for those with whom we work, the customers we serve, and the communities where we operate
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I am driven to lead and serve like Tabitha, who is profiled in Acts 9. Tabitha lived an extraordinary life by performing ordinary acts of service over and over again
