Casey West

Casey West is a Managing Partner at SSM Partners, a Memphis, Tennessee–based growth equity firm that has backed entrepreneurs for more than 20 years. He joined SSM in the mid-2000s and concentrates on investments in healthcare (particularly healthcare information technology and technology-enabled services) and software & technology companies. SSM has invested in more than 50 companies across four private equity funds, with outcomes including two IPOs, roughly two dozen acquisitions, and at least one unicorn.

Before SSM, West was a vice president at Petra Capital Partners, a Nashville-based growth-capital firm, and earlier worked as an investment banker at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation. This progression from investment banking into growth-stage private equity underpins his focus on companies with established, cash-generative business models rather than early-stage bets.

West earned a bachelor's degree in History from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is active in the regional healthcare investment community, including involvement with the Nashville Health Care Council.

Note: the original stub described him as an "Angel Investor" investing at the "Seed Round." Primary and secondary sources indicate this is inaccurate — West invests through SSM Partners' growth equity funds with $8–$30M checks into revenue-generating, growth-stage companies.

• Invests through SSM Partners in growth-stage companies, not seed/angel deals — typical targets are 3–10 years old with a reliable economic model.
• Check size of $8–$30 million, structured as either minority or majority equity investments.
• Company profile SSM seeks: ~$8–$50M in revenue, 20%+ growth, approaching or at profitability, frequently with no prior institutional capital.
• Sector focus: healthcare and healthcare IT, software & technology, technology-enabled services (firm also invests in internet & consumer).
• Looks for "proven and differentiated business models" in rapidly growing companies (SSM's stated firm-wide thesis).
• Emphasis on founder partnership — SSM markets itself around backing "great teams" and partnering with entrepreneurs over the long term.