Justin Benshoof

Justin Benshoof is the Founder and Managing Director of Cervano Capital, a lower-middle-market private equity firm he launched in December 2024 as an independent sponsor. He brings more than 20 years of investing and transaction experience and has led approximately $1 billion in transactions across business services, industrials, technology, and consumer sectors. A Minneapolis native, Benshoof holds a B.A. in Economics (also cited as a B.B.A.) from Beloit College and an M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota.

Before founding Cervano, Benshoof spent roughly 13 years (2011–2024) at Los Angeles–based Caltius Equity Partners, where he rose from investment roles to Principal (April 2016) and then Managing Director (announced October 26, 2021). At Caltius he sourced and executed buy-side and sell-side transactions, led growth initiatives with portfolio companies, and ran much of the firm's business development. He sat on the boards of multiple Caltius portfolio companies, including Air Conditioning Innovative Solutions (ACIS), Impact Facility Services / Impact Fire, MC Sign (Stratus), National Industrial Coatings, and Diversified Human Resources.

Earlier in his career, Benshoof was an Associate at Norwest Equity Partners, focusing on management buyouts, recapitalizations, and growth investments across multiple industries, with earlier roles at an investment consulting firm and a family office. He has also been named to the ISF (Independent Sponsor Forum) Independent Sponsor Deal Series steering committee, reflecting his standing in the independent-sponsor community.

At Cervano, Benshoof positions the firm as a hands-on partner to founders, blending an "entrepreneurial ethos" with institutional credibility — providing not just capital but executive talent, industry networks, and strategic advisory support to scale lower-middle-market businesses.

• Invests in founder-led, lower-middle-market companies (~$10M–$150M revenue) via control buyouts, recapitalizations, and growth equity — a private-equity profile rather than angel/seed.
• Sector concentration in business and facility services, industrials, technology, and consumer, drawing on deep facility-services experience (HVAC, fire safety, landscaping, signage, coatings).
• Stated mission: *"to empower business leaders to achieve their vision while unlocking new opportunities for growth and success."*
• Emphasizes value creation beyond capital — "deep domain expertise and industry networks," "infusing executive talent into portfolio companies," and growth through "organic expansion and strategic acquisitions."
• Operates as an independent sponsor, raising capital deal-by-deal and frequently partnering with co-investors (e.g., Konza Valley Capital on its first deal).
• Prioritizes "people and culture" and partnerships built on "transparency and honesty"; on the FTGU deal he stressed alignment with "our investment strategy and deep facility services experience."