Jay Landauer
Managing Partner
Get their honest, personalized take on your startup.
Sign in to pitch Jay →At a glance
- Full Name
- Jay F. Landauer
- Title
- Managing Partner
- Firm
- Union Capital Associates, LP (also referred to as Union Capital Corporation)
- Firm Type
- Lower-middle-market private equity (control/buyout) — *note: the "Angel Investor / Seed" label in the source stub does not match the verified record; Union Capital makes majority/control investments in established companies, not angel or seed deals*
- Investment Stage
- Established, founder-owned operating companies (control buyouts); typically the first institutional investor
- Check Size
- $10–60+ million of equity per platform investment
- Target Company Profile
- Founder/family-owned North American businesses with ~$20–200M in revenue and ~$3–20M in EBITDA; attractive, defensible market positions, favorable growth prospects, and stable competitive dynamics
- Sector Focus
- Specialty manufacturing, food manufacturing, business process outsourcing (BPO), marketing services, group purchasing organizations, franchised restaurants, and other "unusual businesses in defensible niches"
- Geographic Focus
- North America (companies headquartered in North America; international operations welcomed)
- Location
- Greenwich, Connecticut
Background
Jay F. Landauer is a Managing Partner of Union Capital Associates, LP, a lower-middle-market private equity firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut. He joined the firm in 2003 and leads its overall strategy and investment process — sourcing, due diligence, structuring, investment management, and disposition. Over a career spanning more than two decades, he has focused on acquiring majority positions in companies generally valued between $20 million and $300 million, driving returns through operational improvement, talent recruitment and training rather than financial engineering. Across its funds, Union Capital has invested in more than 50 businesses.
Before Union Capital, Landauer worked in corporate development at Ortec International, a publicly held medical device manufacturer in the greater New York City area, where he held analyst and corporate-development roles. Earlier in his career he managed a catalog/mail-order company and facilitated its sale, giving him hands-on operating experience that informs the firm's operations-led approach.
He earned an MBA from MIT's Sloan School of Management and a BBA from Baruch College, where he graduated with the school's top award in finance. He has served on the boards of numerous privately held portfolio companies and was, for many years, President of the MIT Sloan Club of New York.
Investment Thesis & Focus
- Control investor, not angel/seed: Union Capital makes majority equity investments of $10–60+ million per platform, typically as the first institutional capital into founder-owned businesses.
- "People and processes, not financial engineering": the firm pairs each portfolio company with a seasoned operating executive and emphasizes operational enhancement, process improvement, and data analytics to grow earnings.
- Target profile: companies with ~$20–200M revenue and ~$3–20M EBITDA, attractive and defensible market positions, favorable growth prospects, and stable competitive dynamics.
- Sector specialization: specialty manufacturing, food manufacturing, BPO, marketing services, group purchasing organizations, franchised restaurants, and "unusual businesses in defensible niches."
- Stated outlook (Landauer): *"With Fund IV, we are well positioned to continue executing on a robust pipeline of opportunities across our core sectors."*
Notable Investments
- Specialty meat snack-stick manufacturer — food manufacturing platform (Fund II).
- Cheese manufacturer/processor and distributor — food manufacturing (Fund II).
- 75 Burger King franchised restaurants — multi-unit franchised QSR (Fund II).
- Branded and private-label chocolate confections manufacturer — food (Fund III).
- Private-label and branded ice cream products manufacturer — food (Fund III).
- Hot sauce manufacturer — food (Fund III).
- Group purchasing organizations — held across multiple funds.
- Business process outsourcing / marketing services companies — BPO platforms (Funds I–III).
- Specialty steel manufacturer — specialty manufacturing (Fund II).
- Exited: tortilla product manufacturer; 19 Buffalo Wild Wings franchised restaurants; a publicly traded sports/entertainment/experiential marketing company; a protein bar brand and manufacturer; an electronic key-management systems manufacturer; and a digital printing company, among others.
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.