Independent private investment firm (deal-by-deal capital, no committed fund)
KCM Capital Partners
- HeadquartersChicago, IL S1
- Founded2017 S1
- Websitekcmcap.com
- Last verifiedNovember 3, 2026
At a glance
| EBITDA range | $3M to $15M S2 |
|---|---|
| Revenue range | $25M to $250M S2 |
| Check size | $10M to $50M S2 |
| Deal types | Platform, Add-on S2 |
| Geography | North America S1 |
| Sectors | Distribution, Industrial & Manufacturing |
What KCM Capital Partners buys
KCM Capital Partners is a Chicago investment firm founded in 2017, with a second office in Orange County, California. It buys control of founder and family-owned companies in three areas: business services, value-added distribution and specialty industrial. Its target is a company with $3 million to $15 million of EBITDA, $25 million to $250 million of revenue and an enterprise value of $25 million to $150 million, and it puts in $10 million to $50 million of equity per platform. Add-ons can be any size.
KCM does not run a committed fund. The partners put their own money into each deal and raise the rest from family offices, wealthy individuals, executives and institutions they work with. It often brings in another Chicago firm as a co-investor, such as Benford Capital Partners at Carolina Filters and Keystone Capital at StartKleen. It prefers companies taking private equity money for the first time, with strong managers already in place or lined up.
Recent deals
Announced in the 24 months before November 3, 2026.
| Date | Company | Type | Sector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | Filter Services of Indiana and FSI FiltrationIndianapolis air filter distributor and service firm added to Filtration Solutions Group; its owners stay on as continuing owners | Add-on | Distribution | Source |
| Jun 2025 | Carolina FiltersMajority stake, with Benford Capital Partners, in a Sumter, South Carolina filtration services and supply company founded in 1968; first company in Filtration Solutions Group | Platform | Source | |
| Mar 2025 | StartKleenMajority recapitalization, with Keystone Capital, of a Gunter, Texas food plant sanitation company; the founder keeps a large stake and stays CEO | Platform | Source |
Portfolio by sector
From the firm's portfolio page S4.
4 State Trucks
- 4 State Trucks
- Elite Truck Accessories
- Big Rig Chrome Shop
Filtration Solutions Group
- Carolina Filters
- Filter Services of Indiana and FSI Filtration
Mason West
- Mason West (with AJ Engineering)
Royal Distributing
- Royal Distributing
- Revco
StartKleen
- StartKleen
Tekleen
- Tekleen
Past investments: ICAT Logistics, Industrial Service Group
Greymont’s take
How KCM Capital Partners fits a seller
KCM fits the owner of a services, distribution or niche industrial company in its size range who wants to sell control but keep the leadership team and culture in place. In its two newest platforms the leaders stayed: StartKleen's founder still runs the company and kept a large stake, and Carolina Filters' senior team stayed invested and in charge of daily work. KCM then grows through add-ons, as Filtration Solutions Group did with Filter Services of Indiana in 2026, whose owners stayed on as part owners of the combined company.
Because KCM raises equity deal by deal rather than from a fund, an owner should ask early who the co-investors and lenders will be and how firm the money is. It is also worth asking how long KCM plans to hold, since it has kept Mason West since 2020 but sold ICAT Logistics after about two years.
Questions owners ask
What size company does KCM Capital Partners look for?
Platform companies with $3 million to $15 million of EBITDA, $25 million to $250 million of revenue and $25 million to $150 million of enterprise value. It invests $10 million to $50 million of equity, and add-ons can be any size.
Does KCM Capital Partners have a fund?
It does not name a committed fund. KCM says it puts its own money into every deal alongside capital from family offices, high net worth individuals, executives and financial institutions in its network.
Does management stay after KCM invests?
That is its stated approach. After the March 2025 StartKleen recapitalization, founder Rick Kimbrell kept running the company and kept a significant stake, and Carolina Filters' senior leaders stayed invested and in charge of daily operations.
Sources
- S1KCM Capital Partners: About Us Accessed November 3, 2026
- S2KCM Capital Partners: Investment Criteria Accessed November 3, 2026
- S3KCM Capital Partners: Investment Strategy Accessed November 3, 2026
- S4KCM Capital Partners: Portfolio Companies Accessed November 3, 2026
- S5KCM Capital Partners: News Accessed November 3, 2026
- S6KCM Capital Partners: Contact Us (Chicago and Orange County offices) Accessed November 3, 2026
- S7KCM Capital Completes Acquisition of Carolina Filters (June 20, 2025) Accessed November 3, 2026
- S8KCM Capital Completes Recapitalization of StartKleen (March 14, 2025) Accessed November 3, 2026
- S9Benford Capital Partners: Filtration Solutions Group Acquires Filter Services of Indiana and FSI Filtration (September 8, 2026) Accessed November 3, 2026
- S10Benford Capital Partners and KCM Capital Partners Acquire Carolina Filters (July 16, 2025) Accessed November 3, 2026
Compiled by Greymont Advisors from public sources, including the firm’s own website and press releases. Greymont is not affiliated with KCM Capital Partners. Figures are as reported on the dates shown and may have changed. Request a correction