Preserving your Legacy with Integrity and Care
About
Mission
Pinestone Capital was founded with the goal of acquiring and leading a high-quality business through its next stage of growth. Rooted in entrepreneurial experience, the firm’s Principal understands the risks, sacrifices, and resilience required to build a business, and is committed to carrying your company forward with care.
Our Difference
Pinestone Capital brings together experienced investors and advisors backing Austin to craft a tailored succession plan that safeguards your legacy and keeps your business in trusted hands. We are committed to preserving the foundation of people, culture, and reputation that makes your company successful. Our focus is on working closely with you to ensure a thoughtful transition and a hands-on, committed operator post-closing.
Austin Porter
Company Principal
Austin founded Pinestone Capital to bring together his passion for entrepreneurship and his experience working alongside CEOs of small and mid-sized businesses. He has spent his career working closely with owner-operators across a wide range of industries and understands the pride, responsibility, and complexity that come with building a business.
Coming from an entrepreneurial family, Austin has seen firsthand the commitment and tradeoffs required to grow something meaningful over time. Outside of work he enjoys reading, golfing, skiing, traveling, and spending time with his wife and their Labrador.
As he works to acquire and operate a business, Austin is supported by a group of experienced investors and mentors who will provide guidance, perspective, and long-term support. With a background in operations, valuation, and transactions, he is focused on becoming a thoughtful steward of one great business. He looks forward to working with you to create a smooth, mutually beneficial transition.
Your Business
Business Attributes
Services based business
Straightforward business model
Unique competitive advantage
Diverse and loyal customer base
Strong management team
Requires minimal ongoing capital investment
Industry Profile
Strong industry growth
Fragmented industry or niche
High barriers to entry
Low cyclicality or seasonality
Stable regulatory environment
Financial Criteria
Recurring or repeat revenue
Track record of consistent growth
Revenue of $10-30M+
Margins of 15%+
Annual earnings of $2M+
History of stable profitability
How We’re Different
People First
We are committed to preserving the core foundation that makes your company successful. We recognize that employees are a company’s most valuable asset, and we are dedicated to carrying forward your founding vision and culture.
Leadership
Following a successful transition, I am fully committed to leading and operating your organization. I am prepared to be hands-on and deeply involved in the business.
Legacy Preservation
Our objective is to build upon the strong reputation you’ve created, while respecting the key pillars of your success—your employees, customers, suppliers, and the communities that have supported you.
Transparency
Throughout the transaction process, challenges may arise, and we will work together to address them through open and transparent dialogue.
Single Business Focus
We are dedicated to acquiring and leading one exceptional business for the long term, giving it our full commitment and focus. We will work closely with you to craft a tailored succession plan that reflects your goals and preserves what makes your business special.
Confidentiality
We understand the sensitive nature of these discussions, and we are committed to treating all information with the utmost confidentiality and respect.
Our Process
We will schedule a confidential initial discussion to learn more about your business. We are interested in hearing about your objectives and goals to determine if there may be a mutual fit.
1
Intro Calls
During this phase, we’ll work to get a better understanding of your business. To do so, we may request important details like recent financials and operational highlights to guide our preliminary valuation. Everything you share will be kept strictly confidential as outlined in our non-disclosure agreement.
2
NDA and Initial Diligence
We’ll arrange an in-person visit during the early diligence phase to gain a deeper understanding of your business, conduct on-site diligence, and walk you through the next steps of the process.
3
4
In-Person Meetings
Letter of Intent
Our goal is to develop a succession plan uniquely tailored to you and your business. In this phase we’ll outline a proposed transaction structure and valuation in a Letter of Intent (LOI), which will ultimately form the basis of the purchase and sale agreement.
At this point, we’ll involve trusted legal and accounting professionals to help support the due diligence process. We recognize this stage can feel detailed and lengthy, but we will make it a priority to keep communication clear and ensure you feel fully informed throughout the process.
5
Confirmatory Due Diligence
At this point, we’ll sign the final agreements, ensure funds are transferred to you and any other required parties, and mark the closing with a well-deserved celebration together.
6
Closing
Frequently Asked Questions
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“Stone” draws from the brick manufacturing company my grandfather founded and operated diligently for decades, built on craftsmanship, hard work, and perseverance. “Pine” represents resilience and steady, patient growth. Together, they reflect my belief in building an enduring business with care, discipline, and a long-term mindset.
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We offer a long-term succession path for founders who care deeply about their people and the business they’ve built. With the backing of experienced investors, we bring practical operating experience, steady capital, and a hands-on approach to care for one exceptional company over the long term. If you’re looking for a trusted next owner who will respect your legacy and build on it thoughtfully, Pinestone Capital may be a good fit.
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That’s completely normal and more common than you might think. It’s hard to step away from something you’ve spent years—often decades—building. This isn’t just a business; it’s your life’s work. Our goal isn’t to rush any decisions, but to be a thoughtful resource as you consider what comes next.
Even if you’re just starting to explore, we’d welcome a conversation to share what we’re seeing in your industry, talk through what can influence your business’s value, and help you understand the options available to you.
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Pinestone Capital is backed by experienced entrepreneurs and investors across Canada, the U.S., and Europe. This group brings deep operating and investing experience across many industries, strong board-level insight, and the ability to fund transactions from approximately $10 million to $50 million or more, while supporting long-term growth. This group combines experience and financial strength, giving Pinestone Capital the resources, relationships, and insight needed to continue your legacy.
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We take a flexible, collaborative approach. I would step in to lead the business on Day 1, while working closely with you during a 6–12 month period to ensure a smooth transition. There are several ways you can remain involved, and we’re open to structuring both the transition and the transaction in a way that reflects your goals and creates a mutually beneficial outcome.
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Your people are at the core of what makes your business special, and our intention is to help them thrive for years to come. We believe strong companies are built by strong teams, and we’re committed to preserving your culture, supporting your employees, and providing stability for your customers and the broader community.
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We can start with a simple, confidential introductory conversation to understand your goals. From there, we learn more about the business, share a preliminary valuation range, and discuss whether a partnership could be a good fit. If we both feel aligned, we can move toward a formal offer and thoughtful transition plan.
Earn a referral fee by introducing us to the business we acquire
Why?
Many of the best businesses never formally go to market. Our investors consistently tell us that their most successful deals came through trusted introductions. If you know a business owner who may be thinking about selling, we’d love to be introduced.
Who can refer?
Anyone. CEOs, founders, searchers, lawyers, accountants, bankers, brokers, investors, or friends of business owners. If you have a genuine connection—professional or personal—we’re happy to listen.
What’s the reward?
Anyone who directly introduces us to the business we ultimately acquire will be eligible for a referral fee. If you make the introduction that leads to our acquisition, your contribution will be recognized, and is a function of the size of the acquired company.
How do I get started?
Simply send me an email using the button below. We’ll follow up with a short legal agreement so everything is clear and in place if your introduction results in our acquisition.