Lower middle market private equity firm
Author Capital Partners
- HeadquartersChicago, IL S1
- Websiteauthorcapital.com
- Last verifiedNovember 2, 2026
At a glance
| EBITDA range | $2M to $20M S3 |
|---|---|
| Check size | $5M to $30M S3 |
| Deal types | Platform, Add-on S3 |
| Geography | United States, Canada S3 |
| Sectors | Environmental & Waste, Healthcare Services |
What Author Capital Partners buys
Author Capital Partners is a Chicago private equity firm that backs essential services businesses, mostly ones still run by their founders or founding families. Its stated target is a company with $2 million to $20 million of EBITDA in the United States or Canada, with recurring revenue, a defensible market position and a management team that wants a long-term partner. It puts in roughly $5 million to more than $30 million of equity per company and then grows it through add-on acquisitions, stronger hiring, better technology and sharper sales and marketing.
Its current holdings show the range. Countryside Property Maintenance, bought in February 2026, sweeps and maintains parking lots for retailers around Tampa and the Southeast. Vanta Diagnostics, formed in 2025, is a national lab testing platform. Past investments include Zentro Internet, sold in April 2026, and engineering firm ESD, sold to Stantec. A smaller company is most likely to meet Author as an add-on to Countryside in Florida and the Southeast, or to Vanta in lab testing.
Recent deals
Announced in the 24 months before November 2, 2026.
| Date | Company | Type | Sector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2026 | Zentro InternetAuthor's funds sold their stake; the business grew from a Chicago-area ISP into a multifamily internet provider in 20 metro markets | Exit | Source | |
| Feb 2026 | Countryside Property MaintenanceParking lot sweeping and maintenance company near Tampa; founder Brian Carney stays on as president | Platform | Environmental & Waste | Source |
| Feb 2026 | Vanta DiagnosticsLab testing platform finished buying key diagnostics assets in 2025; the first healthcare deal from Author Equity Capital I | Platform | Healthcare Services | Source |
| Sep 2025 | Laboratory testing and diagnostics platformLaunch of a lab services acquisition platform, later announced as Vanta Diagnostics | Platform | Healthcare Services | Source |
| Aug 2025 | BAI ConnectCalifornia multifamily internet provider merged into Zentro under the Zentro brand | Add-on | Source |
Portfolio by sector
From the firm's portfolio page S4.
Business Services
- Countryside Property Maintenance
Healthcare Services
- Vanta Diagnostics
Past investments: ESD (Environmental Systems Design), Zentro Internet, Sunset Pacific
Greymont’s take
How Author Capital Partners fits a seller
Author suits a founder who wants to sell a majority stake but keep running the company for a while. In both of its 2026 platform deals the leader stayed in charge: Brian Carney remains president of Countryside, and Chris Howlett leads Vanta as chief executive. Author keeps a small portfolio, with two active companies listed on its site, so each one gets close attention from the partners.
Owners of parking lot sweeping, striping or similar property services businesses in Florida and the Southeast should expect interest as add-ons to Countryside. Author held Zentro for about five years before selling, so an owner who keeps equity should ask how long the firm plans to hold the platform, and whether part of the price would be paid in platform equity rather than cash.
Questions owners ask
What size company does Author Capital look for?
Its approach page targets businesses with $2 million to $20 million of EBITDA in the U.S. and Canada, with equity investments of about $5 million to more than $30 million per company.
Does Author Capital buy property maintenance or sweeping companies?
Yes. In February 2026 it bought Countryside Property Maintenance, which sweeps, stripes, pressure washes and repairs parking lots for retailers and shopping centers in the Southeast, and it plans further acquisitions across Florida and the region.
Does the founder stay after Author Capital invests?
In its recent deals, yes. Countryside founder Brian Carney stayed on as president after the February 2026 sale, and the Zentro investment began in 2021 as a partnership with the two co-founders of SilverIP Communications.
Has Author Capital sold any companies recently?
Yes. In April 2026 its funds exited Zentro Internet, a multifamily internet provider that grew from a Chicago-area business into a platform serving 20 metro markets during Author's ownership. The buyer was not named.
Sources
- S1Author Capital Partners home page Accessed November 2, 2026
- S2About Author Capital Accessed November 2, 2026
- S3Author Capital: Our Approach Accessed November 2, 2026
- S4Author Capital: Our Partnerships Accessed November 2, 2026
- S5Author Capital: News & Insights Accessed November 2, 2026
- S6Author Capital Partners Acquires Countryside Property Maintenance (February 18, 2026) Accessed November 2, 2026
- S7Author Capital Acquired Key Assets of Lab Testing & Diagnostics Platform (February 4, 2026) Accessed November 2, 2026
- S8Author Capital Partners Announces Formation of Laboratory Testing & Diagnostics Platform (September 15, 2025) Accessed November 2, 2026
- S9Author Capital Partners Announces Realization of Investment in Zentro Internet (April 30, 2026) Accessed November 2, 2026
- S10Zentro and BAI Connect Merge (August 6, 2025) Accessed November 2, 2026
- S11Authoring a Meaningful Legacy: Raj Gupta and ESD (March 29, 2024) Accessed November 2, 2026
- S12Author Capital: Our Team Accessed November 2, 2026
Compiled by Greymont Advisors from public sources, including the firm’s own website and press releases. Greymont is not affiliated with Author Capital Partners. Figures are as reported on the dates shown and may have changed. Request a correction