Approach Criteria For Owners Partners Contact

You built
something real.
Let's talk about
what comes next.

If you're thinking about what comes next for the business you've spent years building, Fort Jag Capital was created for that conversation. We are based in Lexington, MA, we buy one business at a time, and a principal will be there to run it after close — not a management team hired later.

Start a Conversation What to Expect
Who We Buy From
Owners Ready
for What's Next
Retirement, a new chapter, or simply the right moment — we're built for thoughtful transitions, not rushed ones.
Where We Look
New England
Based in Lexington, MA — we look across all six New England states for businesses worth owning and running well.
Businesses We Pursue
$2M – $30M
Established businesses with $500K+ in EBITDA or SDE and at least a decade of operating history.
How We Work

One acquisition.
Total focus.

Fort Jag Capital is built around a single premise: a great business deserves a buyer who will actually run it. The principals handle every step directly — from the first phone call through closing day and beyond. When we tell you we're interested, we mean it. When we make an offer, we can move.
01
Search
Fort Jag Capital looks for established, profitable businesses across New England — the kind built on strong customer relationships and consistent cash flow. Every conversation happens with a principal, from the very first call.
02
Evaluate
The principals do the due diligence themselves — no outside teams, no hand-offs. That means faster timelines, sharper questions, and a process that respects your time and your confidentiality throughout.
03
Acquire
No committee to convene and no approval chain to navigate. The people evaluating the business are the same people signing the agreement. We work with experienced M&A counsel and respect the seller's timeline.
04
Lead
A Fort Jag Capital principal steps in as CEO and primary operator — not a passive board member or absentee owner. Our investing and operating experience from both sides of the table goes to work for the business from day one.
What We Seek

The right business
for the right owner.

We look for businesses with the fundamentals that allow an operator to focus on growth rather than survival — recurring revenue, strong margins, and a team that will thrive under continued ownership. Every criterion below reflects what we've learned works.

Revenue & Profitability
Annual revenue of $2M – $30M with EBITDA or SDE of $500K or more. A track record of consistent profitability — built steadily over time, not manufactured for a sale.
Business Model
Recurring or repeat revenue preferred. B2B services, business services, healthcare services, distribution, and light manufacturing are our best-fit sectors.
Operating History
Ten or more years in business preferred. Established customer relationships, a working team, and processes that will outlast the current owner.
Geography
Based in Lexington, MA and active across New England — from Connecticut and Rhode Island through Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. The density of established B2B service businesses across the region is exceptional, and we are active participants in that market.
Transition Readiness
Owners motivated by retirement or next-chapter plans. A thoughtful transition matters to us — employees, customers, and legacy are part of the conversation from the start.
Growth Potential
Room to grow under an operator who is fully focused on the business. We are not buying to flip — we are buying to build something that lasts.
For Business Owners

Your business deserves
the right next owner.

"The business you've built deserves an owner who shows up — someone who knows your team, earns your customers' trust, and cares about what you leave behind."

Deciding to sell is one of the most personal decisions a business owner makes. We take that seriously. Our goal is a process that feels straightforward and respectful — where you always know where things stand and who you're talking to.

The principals handle everything directly. There are no hand-offs, no intermediaries, and no surprises. Whatever you share with us stays between us.

  • You'll always know who you're talking to.
    Every conversation is with a principal — the person who will own and operate the business. No analysts, no hand-offs, no wondering who's on the other end.
  • We move at your pace — and we move decisively.
    There are no committees or approval layers here. When we're ready to move forward, we can. When you need more time, we'll take it together.
  • Your people are part of the plan.
    The employees who helped build the business are the foundation of what comes next. Retention, stability, and culture matter deeply to us from day one.
  • Everything stays between us.
    We handle every conversation with complete discretion. Your employees, customers, and competitors will never know you're exploring a sale unless you decide to tell them.
  • We've been on your side of the table.
    Fort Jag Capital's principals have spent careers building, investing in, and operating companies. We know what it takes to run a business — and we respect what it took to build yours.
The Partners

Named for a backyard fort.
Wired for the work.

Fort Jag Capital takes its name from the makeshift fort in Mark and Dan's childhood backyard — a place surrounded and protected by "jaggers," the Pittsburgh word for thorny plants. It was a place you had to earn your way into. That's still the standard.

Dan Palchak
Dan Palchak
Co-Founder

Dan grew up in Pittsburgh — a city that taught him early what it means to build something with your hands and protect it. That instinct has shaped everything since. Dan began his career in quantitative trading at Infinium Capital Management before moving to Citadel, where he led an algorithmic trading desk and was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2012. He earned his MBA from MIT Sloan, where the discipline of rigorous analysis met the practice of real operational judgment.

After years deploying capital across institutions, Dan concluded that acquiring and operating a great small business was the right next chapter. He lives in Lexington, MA — a few miles from Minuteman National Park and the Battle Road Trail — with his two kids, ages 4 and 6. Outside of work, he stays active, reads a lot, and has a habit of turning up at historical landmarks — the Jefferson Memorial photo is evidence of all three.

MIT Sloan MBA Forbes 30 Under 30 Citadel Lexington, MA
Mark Palchak
Mark Palchak
Co-Founder

Mark and Dan share more than a last name — they share a framework for how businesses should be built and owned. Mark began his career alongside Dan at Infinium Capital Management before stepping up to lead V3 Markets during a period of significant organizational stress, successfully navigating the firm to a positive outcome and eventual sale. His career has been defined by the willingness to do the hardest work at the hardest moments.

Mark went on to successfully purchase, operate, and exit Crowd Control Warehouse — growing it significantly under his ownership before completing a successful sale. He then founded Silient. These aren't footnotes; they are the operating track record Fort Jag Capital is built on. Mark holds an MBA from Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business and a dual degree in Computer Systems and Finance from the University of Dayton. He lives on Daniel Island in South Carolina with his wife and three kids — a place he and his family are proud to call home. When he's not running a business, he's studying one. Mark is a lifelong reader and a genuine believer that the best operators stay curious — that there's always something worth learning from the next book, the next deal, or the next conversation.

Notre Dame MBA Infinium · V3 Markets Silient Crowd Control Warehouse Daniel Island, SC
Where We Look

New England.
Home territory.

Fort Jag Capital is based in Lexington, MA and looks for businesses across all six New England states. The region has an exceptional concentration of established, owner-operated B2B service businesses — built over decades, deeply embedded in their communities, and often passed over by larger buyers who aren't interested in rolling up their sleeves. That's exactly where we want to be.

Massachusetts Connecticut Rhode Island New Hampshire Vermont Maine Greater Boston Lexington, MA
Lexington Boston Portland Hartford Providence Portsmouth
Start a Conversation

We'd love to hear
about what you've built.

Whether you have a specific timeline in mind or are just beginning to explore your options, we'd like to hear from you. All inquiries are held in strict confidence and reviewed directly by a principal.

Every message is read by Dan or Mark personally — not a screener, not an assistant. You'll hear back from one of us directly.

You can also reach us directly at
dan@fortjag.com

All information is kept strictly confidential. We typically respond within one business day.