Helping Companies Grow Revenues, Improve Profits and Increase Shareholder Value

We make businesses more valuable

We specialize in transforming privately-held companies into highly attractive acquisition targets by improving revenue growth, expanding profitability, and driving operational efficiencies. With over 30 years of hands-on experience as private equity investors and business operators, we bring a unique set of skills and strategies to our clients, developed from decades of successfully building, operating, and exiting companies across a variety of industries. We know the challenges that you face firsthand, and we guide you through them with a strategic, results-driven approach that brings your business’s true potential to the forefront.

​Our approach is anything but conventional. We believe in a partnership that aligns our interests with yours, so we don’t succeed unless you do. By working closely with founders and their teams, we unlock hidden value in companies and help them reach their goals faster than they could on their own. 

​We also know exactly what potential acquirers want to see when looking at your business. We are able to combine an operational view point with an acquirer's mind set and can position your business to truly maximize value. We know what acquirers want, how to build those qualities into your business, and how to make your company irresistible to financial or strategic buyers.

​We bring not only insights as investors but also the tenacity and adaptability of operators who have faced the same pressures and decisions that you deal with daily. Our process is a deep dive into understanding your business at every level, helping you identify opportunities you might not have recognized and turning those into measurable results.

​What makes our work together even more distinctive is our commitment to shared success. We are invested in their success, quite literally—our compensation is directly tied to the real improvements we achieve together. This unique, low-risk approach ensures that you are working with people who genuinely care about creating value and delivering lasting change. Our clients appreciate that this is not a transactional relationship; it’s a true partnership.

When companies work with us, they're collaborating with genuine partners who are in it with them, fully dedicated to propelling their business forward.  Most advisors would never go there. We do-- because we're confident that we can add meaningful value to businesses and....if we choose to work with you, it means that we see real potential in your company.

​​Our commitment to delivering real impact goes beyond quick fixes. Together, we’ll build a foundation that empowers your business to thrive long after our partnership ends. With us, you are choosing a partner who brings insight, experience, and a commitment to excellence in every facet of your business.

The cost of not investing in business improvement

Statistics speak for themselves: companies that actively work to increase revenue, improve operational efficiency, and expand profitability with expert advice and guidance consistently outperform those that don’t. Here are some of the stats

  • Higher Revenue Growth: Companies that invest in revenue growth initiatives typically achieve revenue increases 15-25% faster than companies that don’t prioritize strategic growth. In competitive markets, even a small edge in revenue growth can lead to compounded advantages over time. (Source: McKinsey & Company)​

  • Increased Efficiency Yields Higher Margins: According to a Bain industry report, companies that adopt operational efficiency practices, like streamlined processes and productivity improvements, see 10-30% higher profitability compared to competitors. Improved efficiency means not only higher margins but also greater resilience during economic downturns. (Source: Bain & Company Insights)

  • Enhanced Valuations at Sale: Statistics show that companies supported by external business improvement professionals often secure sale valuations that are 30-40% higher than those that operate without outside expertise. Buyers are willing to pay a premium for well-run, high-margin businesses with consistent growth and strong operational foundations. (Source: Harvard Business Review)

  • Reduced Risk of Failure: Research suggests that companies that don’t invest in operational support are 50% more likely to fail within five years than those that do. The risks of stagnation, operational inefficiencies, and declining profit margins increase dramatically without strategic interventions. (Source: KPMG)​

  • The Power of a Strong Advisor: Companies with strategic advisors show 40-60% faster growth rates and maintain 20% higher EBITDA margins than those without advisors. Advisors provide a vital outside perspective that can accelerate your success and help avoid costly mistakes. (Source: Boston Consulting Group)

  • Higher Sale Success Rates: Small-to-midsize businesses with optimized operations and profitability enhancements have a 60% higher likelihood of closing successful sales than those that have not taken steps to prepare. In an acquisition or merger, buyers scrutinize metrics like operating margins, revenue consistency, and potential growth avenues, all of which advisors help to optimize. (Source: Deloitte)

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What We Do

Business owners come to us when they want change NOW. For the select​ companies we work with, we focus on three main objectives in order to get them moving in the right direction:

1. Accelerate Growth

Maximizing revenue is about more than just increasing sales; it’s about strategically positioning your company to capture new market opportunities. Drawing from our extensive experience in go-to-market strategies, end-market expansion, and revenue acceleration, we help companies not only reach more customers but engage them more effectively.

​2. Expand Profitability

Growth alone isn’t enough—profitability is key. Through targeted cost management, efficiency enhancements, and operational streamlining, we work to drive significant improvements in your company’s bottom line. Our experience as investors and operators in diverse sectors allows us to implement tested strategies that maximize profitability in any industry.

3. Optimize Operations

Efficient operations are the backbone of a thriving business. We specialize in helping companies develop results-driven management systems and implement KPI frameworks that ensure every team member is aligned and productive. With a hands-on approach, we work alongside client teams to make sure they have the tools to maintain operational excellence long after our engagement ends.

Our intensive focus on growth, profitability and operations

drive meaningful shareholder value for companies

Case Studies

About Us

Stephen W. Etter

Stephen brings four decades of middle market investing experience to SEEM capital. He was one of the original Founding Partners of Greyrock Capital Group.  During his tenure with the Fund, Stephen co-managed almost a billion dollars in four funds investing junior capital in dozens of middle market companies with both funded and un-funded sponsors. At Greyrock, he sat on the board of directors of numerous companies and has garnered a wide array of experience across many industries including manufacturing, food, building materials, industrial equipment, software, education and business services. 

Most recently he has worked with Acumen in an Advisory Role across both its early stage, high growth, patient capital Pioneer Investment Group as well as Acumen Capital Partners, covering the globe (Africa, Pakistan, Latin America, and the United States). He assisted in fund raising, investment selection, portfolio construction and management. His work for Acumen extended down to the portfolio level where he currently serves on the boards of numerous companies in developing countries.

His Social Impact work has been focused in four verticals; Regenerative Sustainable Agriculture, Education, Energy and Forcibly Displaced People. He has also spent a great deal of time working with Acumen Academy focused on educating future social impact entrepreneurs in their fellows program.

Stephen is a long-time member of the Professional Faculty at the Haas School of Business at U.C. Berkeley, which he joined in 1995. He teaches a variety of accounting and finance classes across both of the schools key programs (Undergraduate & MBA) and has also done extensive executive education classes in the Middle East and Bay Area. He has been awarded the Chiet Distinguished Teaching Award three times at Haas. 

Early in his professional career, Stephen worked at PWC during which time he obtained his CPA. He currently serves on the Audit Committee for the University of California at Berkeley Foundation. He previously served extended terms as a University of California at Berkeley Foundation Trustee and the San Francisco Giants Community Fund Director. Mr. Etter received his undergraduate degree and MBA from the Haas School of Business.

Eric R. Menke

Eric brings over three decades of private equity and venture capital experience to SEEM Capital. He began his career at Kidder, Peabody & Company, where he pioneered innovative financing strategies for large ESOP buyouts, overseeing over $100 million in transactions. He later transitioned to private equity, holding senior roles at MBR Associates and Champlain Capital Partners. At Champlain, Eric was a founding partner, raising and deploying $148 million in equity capital and over $500 million in debt in more than a dozen companies across sectors such as facilities services, consumer products, healthcare, and industrial products. His active leadership grew portfolio companies from under $30 million to over $150 million in revenue. 

​Prior to co-founding Champlain Capital, Eric founded Menke Equity Partners, where he focused on acquiring and scaling lower middle-market companies. His transaction experience spanned industries as diverse as musical instruments, industrial equipment, and filtration products.

More recently, Eric has worked with the venture firm Acumen, advising rapidly growing portfolio companies in Africa. His efforts center on operational efficiency, margin expansion, and revenue growth, with a focus on go-to-market strategies and market expansion. He has also been deeply involved in mentoring management teams to help them achieve consistent, measurable growth objectives.

​Beyond his professional endeavors, Eric has been instrumental in various charities and community organizations. Among his accomplishments was his successful effort to help over 400 elementary school children organize, train for, and achieve a Guinness Book of World Records.

Eric earned his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and received his undergraduate degree, cum laude, from the University of Southern California.

Contact Us

For New Deals:

Eric Menke

(415) 939-5995

emenke@seemcap.com

For Investor Relations:

Stephen Etter

(415) 531-365

setter@seemcap.com