Bryan Bailey
Managing Partner
Get their honest, personalized take on your startup.
Sign in to pitch Bryan →At a glance
- Full Name
- Bryan Bailey
- Title
- Managing Partner
- Firm
- DalFort Capital Partners
- Firm Type
- Lower middle-market private equity investment firm
- Investment Stage
- Buyouts, recapitalizations, corporate carve-outs, add-on acquisitions, and strategic growth capital
- Check Size
- $5 million-$50 million
- Target Company Profile
- Founder- and family-owned lower middle-market industrial businesses with $15 million-$100 million of revenue, $3 million-$15 million of EBITDA, and $15 million-$100 million of enterprise value
- Sector Focus
- Precision manufacturing, specialty chemicals, industrial services, aerospace and defense, power and infrastructure, building products, and distribution
- Location
- Dallas, Texas
Background
Bryan Bailey is the Managing Partner of DalFort Capital Partners, a Dallas-based investment firm founded in 2016. DalFort focuses on lower middle-market industrial businesses and partners with founders and management teams for long-term ownership, using capital sourced primarily from family offices and high-net-worth individuals.
Before DalFort, Bailey worked on acquisitions in the industrial, specialty chemical, and building products sectors at Capital Southwest Corporation, the publicly traded business development company listed on NASDAQ as CSWC. After the spin-off of CSW Industrials, he also led lower middle-market credit initiatives.
Bailey received an MBA from SMU's Cox School of Business and a BBA in Accounting from the University of Central Arkansas. His current role at DalFort sits at the intersection of deal execution and operating partnership: the firm describes itself as "operators first, investors second" and emphasizes hands-on work with management teams.
Investment Thesis & Focus
- DalFort invests in lower middle-market industrial businesses rather than seed-stage startups; the firm's criteria are generally $15 million-$100 million of revenue, $3 million-$15 million of EBITDA, and $15 million-$100 million of enterprise value.
- The firm targets equity investments of $5 million-$50 million across buyouts, recapitalizations, corporate carve-outs, add-on acquisitions, and minority strategic growth capital.
- Sector focus includes precision manufacturing, specialty chemicals, industrial services, aerospace and defense, power and infrastructure, building products, and distribution.
- DalFort's stated posture is hands-on and operating-oriented: "We don't invest from a distance."
- The firm looks for fragmented industries where consolidation and operational improvement can create value, including add-on acquisitions, leadership upgrades, systems, manufacturing optimization, technology, and AI tools.
- DalFort says it has long-term capital with no predetermined hold periods, exiting when the firm and its partners agree the timing is right.
Notable Investments
- Goff's Performance Solutions - Current platform investment made in May 2023; manufacturer of doors, dock seals, dock shelters, curtains, and screens.
- Advanced Polymer - Current platform investment made in August 2023; formulator and value-added distributor of specialty chemicals.
- Oil-Rite - Current platform investment made in October 2023; manufacturer of lubrication equipment and systems.
- Polymer Adhesives - Platform investment made in May 2023 and realized in May 2026; duct sealants, adhesives, and fire-stopping materials.
- Volunteer - Add-on to Polymer Adhesives in January 2025; solvent- and water-based adhesives.
- Fielco Adhesives - Add-on to Polymer Adhesives in August 2025; two-part epoxy systems.
- Key Polymer - Platform investment made in October 2019 and realized in December 2025; water-, urethane-, and epoxy-based adhesives and sealants.
- Swepco - Add-on to Key Polymer in December 2020; proprietary industrial lubricants and greases, later divested separately in June 2025.
- United Enertech - Platform investment made in December 2016 and realized in April 2024; mechanical air movement and control products.
- VersaFlex - Platform investment made in March 2017 and realized in February 2021; protective coatings, linings, joint fillers, and materials.
Unlock the full research
Get how to approach them, recent activity, sources, contact links — plus pitch their AI twin for a candid read on your raise.
One-time. Stays unlocked for you.