Real results across diverse markets. See how we help PE firms identify and prioritize the right targets.
ArcSource supports buyers who need precision acquisition intelligence—not bloated databases, not generic lead lists, and not outsourced spray-and-pray outreach.
They share one thing in common: They care more about accuracy than volume.
Platform; Specialty Manufacturing (Industrial Equipment + Components) in the U.S. and Canada; $10M revenue minimum; PE-backed and carve-outs acceptable.
6-month Multi-Thesis Package
400+ companies, 30 datapoints each, 6 intelligence decks
17 management calls booked, 3 active deals in pipeline
Came to ArcSource explaining that another search firm was not thorough. Needed accuracy > volume. Other origination research firms did not properly cover the market.
Lower-Middle-Market Private Equity Firm
Commercial & Residential Services (HVAC, Fire & Life Safety, Mechanical Services); focused on recurring revenue; majority of business needs to be commercial; Midwest states priority but open to all U.S.; non-union; $10M minimum, excluding ESOP & minority owned.
Pilot → Extended to 12-month Enterprise Retainer
500+ companies, 30 datapoints each, 6 intelligence decks
12 management calls booked, 2 LOIs issued, 1 platform acquisition closed
The firm had an existing platform but lacked confidence that prior lists captured the full fragmented market. They needed coverage certainty and ownership clarity. ArcSource rebuilt the universe from the ground up, eliminated roll-up noise, and surfaced family-owned operators previously missed by broker-led processes.
Independent Sponsor
Vertical Market Software (Healthcare & Compliance-Driven SMBs)
3-month Single-Thesis Sprint
180 companies, 35 datapoints each, 2 deep-dive intelligence briefs
6 founder meetings, 1 exclusivity agreement signed
The sponsor needed precision over speed and couldn’t afford wasted outreach. ArcSource focused on bootstrapped, founder-led software businesses with low external visibility, prioritizing ownership structure and founder age over top-line growth signals.
Single-Family Office
Niche Consumer Manufacturing (Branded, Non-Fashion, Domestic Production)
6-month Multi-Thesis Engagement
350 companies, 25–30 datapoints each, 5 intelligence decks
9 management conversations, 1 minority investment completed
The family office wanted long-term compounders and was frustrated by brokered deals optimized for speed, not fit. ArcSource emphasized brand durability, domestic manufacturing footprint, and generational ownership—surfacing businesses aligned with patient capital rather than PE exit timelines.
Public Strategic Acquirer (Corp Dev Team)
Specialty Chemicals & Engineered Materials (North America); Bootstrapped, PE-backed, carve-outs; $1M-150M revenue; all U.S.
6-month Multi-Thesis Pilot
450 companies, 35+ datapoints each, 6 intelligence decks
4 strategic conversations initiated, 1 active diligence process
The internal team needed an external research partner that could move faster than internal resources without sacrificing rigor. ArcSource delivered a clean, defensible market map highlighting adjacency risk, customer overlap, and integration complexity—reducing internal screening time materially.
Growth Equity Firm
Multi-thesis mandate across tech-enabled B2B services, vertical SaaS, and recurring revenue industrial services. U.S.-based; $5M–$150M in revenue; 15%+ EBITDA margins; strong recurring or contractual revenue characteristics. Founder-owned businesses with no prior institutional capital.
12-month embedded research retainer supporting multiple concurrent investment theses and ongoing market expansion initiatives.
Over 2,000 thesis-aligned companies identified and structured across active mandates over the full 12 months. Quarterly intelligence decks delivered for top-ranked opportunities across each thesis.
Consistent founder introductions generated throughout the engagement, multiple recapitalization discussions initiated, and several opportunities advanced into active diligence.
The firm needed a research partner capable of scaling across multiple theses while prioritizing companies most likely to engage in recapitalization conversations—not just those that met financial criteria.
Our research spans diverse markets across the middle-market landscape. Below are examples of industries where we’ve delivered precision target lists.
inquiries@arcsourceiq.com
