Traverse Partners will acquire and run one great SME in New Zealand or Australia

Founded by Charlie Wilkinson, Traverse Partners is an Auckland-based SF looking to acquire and grow one great New Zealand or Australian business for the long term. The SF is backed by local APAC and international investors, including Ambit Partners, Newton Equity Partners, Scipio, Bietou Capital, Spectra Investments, SME Capital, and Wayfinder, as well as several other local HNWIs and family offices.

Charlie is an experienced operator and investment professional with a background spanning investment, strategy, operations, M&A, and business development across the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Most recently, he worked as an Investment Manager at Invest New Zealand in New York, where he originated more than 30 investment opportunities representing over $1 billion in potential economic impact and managed relationships with institutional investors and pension funds. Previously, he held operational and commercial leadership roles at Strongarm Tech and Bulb, where he led go-to-market initiatives, cost reduction programs, technology development, and large-scale operational rollouts. He also founded a consulting practice supporting SMEs with strategy, finance, market expansion, and M&A, and began his career in strategy consulting at L.E.K. Consulting and Deloitte. Charlie has an engineering background and brings a strong combination of analytical, commercial, and hands-on operating experience.

SMEs are the backbone of the New Zealand and Australian economies, and many business owners are approaching succession. Charlie is focused on businesses in the B2B services and manufacturing sectors, with a particular interest in technical service businesses. He is looking to acquire a high-quality business with at least $1.5M in EBITDA, margins above 15%, a strong track record, and a recurring or repeat customer base. He has established Traverse to provide an attractive succession path for an owner while preserving the legacy they have built and continuing to grow the business for the long term.