Subscribe to unlock this article
Thanks for your support.
After several years working on Wall Street with Ardour Capital Investments, Aleutian Capital Partners, and Kaia Investment Management, Isaac Levy went on to manage Masada Capital Partners, a firm focused on technology investments. Over the past decade, he has been active in the SF space through Lava Root Ventures (LRV). Operating as a non-committed fund backed by multiple investors, LRV has supported five searchers, including Leonidas Capital, Avon Growth Management, Springline Partners, Saltspring Capital, and Clipper Capital Partners. They have also participated in four completed acquisitions: Craftsman Cutting Dies (including Unity Steel Rule & Die Co. via a build-up strategy), eCard Systems, and Hose Monster. Notably, LRV recently exited the latter two investments with strong returns, further solidifying its track record.
LRV has reinforced its commitment to the SF ecosystem by announcing the launch of its first dedicated fund, with a target of raising $30-50M in capital over the next 12 months. This fund aims to support the next wave of talented searchers acquiring and operating SMEs in the U.S. and Canada. With this new initiative, Isaac plans to expand his team and will be supported by two distinguished advisors: Robert B. Oehler, a veteran banker with over 45 years of experience, and Aviv Grafi, a seasoned tech entrepreneur who led Votiro, a cybersecurity SaaS company, from its inception to global growth and multiple funding rounds.
The fund’s objective is to back 30-40 searchers across the U.S. and Canada, building a portfolio of over 30 companies. LRV expects to write checks ranging from $300,000 to more than $1M per deal, focusing on profitable manufacturing and service companies with annual revenues between $5M and $40M. The firm brings particular expertise and interest in supply chain, food distribution, technology, and SaaS businesses.
Although the American market is highly competitive, Isaac believes there remains a strong pipeline of opportunities across various industries. LRV is committed to helping search funders identify promising targets and scale their companies effectively. According to Isaac, “The most important factor is backing the right searchers—those who can convincingly demonstrate they are in the SF space for the right reasons. They must genuinely aspire to be entrepreneurs, operate exceptional companies, and have a clear understanding of why they want to embark on this journey. Hunger and clarity of purpose are key.”
