Elmer Baldwin

Elmer N. Baldwin is Senior Executive Director, Technology at Cherry Tree & Associates, a Minneapolis-based investment banking firm. Cherry Tree says he focuses on technology, telecom, digital services, software/SaaS, and professional services, with a particular role in its IT Services market coverage.

Baldwin joined Cherry Tree in July 2015 as a Managing Director in the investment banking unit. At the time, Cherry Tree said he would develop its information technology services and software solutions practice and expand coverage of digital media. His own quote in the announcement framed the move as applying his IT operating and M&A experience to help CEOs create value and liquidity in Minnesota’s IT and digital media communities.

Before Cherry Tree, Baldwin had a 30-year track record in information technology, professional services, SaaS, and digital media, including roughly 20 years as President or CEO of five IT companies. His prior roles include President and CEO of Internet Broadcasting Systems, President and CEO of Analysts International Corporation, Senior Vice President at Fujitsu Consulting, President and CEO of BORN Information Services, President and CEO of Nuvolution, President and CEO of via World Network, Vice President at Egghead Software, Partner at York & Associates, and Director of Oracle’s Manufacturing Consulting Group.

His education includes a BBA in Finance from Loyola Marymount University and a Certificate in Systems Management from the University of Southern California. LinkedIn lists Loyola Marymount attendance from 1978 to 1982 and FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 investment banking licenses issued in 2015.

• Cherry Tree is not primarily presented as an angel-investing platform; it is an investment banking firm focused on M&A, funding efforts, valuations, recapitalizations, and advisory work for business owners, financial sponsors, and corporations.
• Baldwin’s sector fit is strongest in IT services, B2B technology services, software/SaaS, digital media, telecom, and professional services.
• Cherry Tree’s technology page says it primarily focuses on B2B software and services companies, especially providers with business-critical solutions, high switching costs, recurring revenue, lower short-term economic sensitivity, and favorable cash-flow dynamics.
• For IT services specifically, Cherry Tree tracks middle-market M&A trends across IT solutions/integration, IT consulting, outsourced and managed IT services, staffing, and value-added technology resellers.
• Baldwin’s stated motivation for joining Cherry Tree was to use his IT industry and M&A experience to help CEOs “create new value and liquidity” in Minnesota’s IT and digital media communities.
• Cherry Tree’s process emphasizes understanding owners’ transaction goals, running a disciplined M&A process, creating competitive bidding scenarios, and optimizing valuation and other deal terms.