One sourcing engine, Seven Kinds of Buyers
OutSearched generates proprietary, direct-to-owner deal flow for lower middle market buyers. We work with LMM private equity firms, independent sponsors, search funds, family offices, corporate development teams, business owners, and individual buyers. We tailor sourcing to each buyer’s mandate.
Who does OutSearched serve?
Every buyer type has a different mandate, timeline, and set of economics. We tailor our sourcing approach to each.
- Lower Middle Market PE
Platform plays and bolt-ons that bankers haven't seen
Run platform and add-on mandates concurrently across your investment thesis. We integrate with your internal BD team or operate as a stand-alone origination function.
- Independent Sponsors
Deal-by-deal economics demand off-market sourcing
Independent sponsors win on entry multiple, and auction-bid deals don’t pencil. We help you reach owners early, build conviction, and bring LPs deals they couldn’t have found themselves.
- Search Funds
One deal. And you need to beat private equity to it
Searchers increasingly lose to private equity. You need one sizable acquisition, and you need an early position with the owner to win it before a process forms.
- Family Offices
Direct, discreet, and built around your principles
Family offices want what bankers can’t deliver: discretion, direct seller conversations, and quiet optionality. We provide patient, off-market coverage that protects your name in the market.
- Corporate Development
Targets that are truly accretive, before they reach the market
Corporate development teams need targets that add real value. We build the target list and the messaging, reach companies that are not yet for sale, and convert ideas into signed LOIs.
- Business Owners
Horizontal or vertical roll-ups to scale quickly
Business owners need to stay focused on operations while still building an acquisition pipeline. We build that pipeline without distraction, so you can grow through roll-ups on your timeline.
- Individual Buyers
Reach owners first, before you're one bid in a crowded process
Self-funded and ETA buyers need proprietary access to owners and a disciplined path from first outreach to LOI. We run the engine so you can move quickly and acquire with conviction.
How each buyer type maps to a mandate
The same proprietary sourcing engine, calibrated to what each buyer optimizes for.
| Buyer type | Typical mandate | What they optimize for | How OutSearched fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| LMM Private Equity | Multi-thesis · platform + add-ons | Concurrent deployment across the portfolio | Embedded internal BD or stand-alone fractional sourcing, run in parallel |
| Independent Sponsors | $2M-$5M EBITDA · 1–3 sectors | Entry multiple and LP-ready conviction | Early, off-market access to owners before an auction forms |
| Search Funds | National search · single deal | Winning one sizable deal against PE | Direct-to-owner positioning to get there first |
| Family Offices | Unlimited scope · direct holding | Discretion and patient optionality | Quiet, confidential coverage and direct seller conversations |
| Corporate Development | Narrow focus · specific companies | Strategic, accretive fit and synergies | Targeted outreach to named companies, converted to LOIs |
| Business Owners | Vertical or horizontal roll-up | Growth through acquisition, without distraction | A built and managed pipeline alongside daily operations |
| Individual Buyers | Single acquisition · direct-to-owner | Speed to a qualified, ownable opportunity | Proprietary outreach and qualification through to LOI |
Whoever you are, the mandate is built around your buy-box
Buyer types differ, but the discipline is the same. Every engagement is calibrated to three things before a single message goes out.
Geography
Single market, regional, or national, mapped to your footprint or expansion plan.
Sector & service lines
New or repeat service lines define qualification criteria, capability, and cost synergies.
Ownership structure
Founder-led, owner-operator, or management-in-place, qualified by the transition dynamics that fit your thesis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does OutSearched serve?
OutSearched serves seven types of lower middle market buyers: lower middle market private equity firms, independent sponsors, search funds, family offices, corporate development teams, business owners pursuing roll-ups, and individual buyers. We tailor sourcing to each buyer’s mandate, timeline, and economics.
Does OutSearched only work with institutional private equity?
No. While lower middle market private equity is a core audience, OutSearched also works with independent sponsors, search funds, family offices, corporate development teams, business owners, and individual buyers. The common thread is buyers who need proprietary, direct-to-owner deal flow rather than crowded banker channels.
What size deals does OutSearched source?
OutSearched focuses on the lower middle market. Platform mandates typically target $2MM to $5MM EBITDA, portfolio add-ons target $750K to $1.5MM EBITDA, and independent sponsor mandates typically run $2MM to $10MM EBITDA across one to three sectors.
How is sourcing tailored to each buyer type?
Every mandate is built around your buy-box: geography (single market, regional, or national), sector and service lines, ownership and management structure, and the number of mandates running concurrently. We calibrate outreach and qualification to those specifics before launching.