Operator-Led Business Acquisitions
Preserving What You Built.
Building What Comes Next.
Sidero acquires and operates established small businesses with a long-term view. We work with owners who care about their employees, customers, and legacy — and who want a respectful transition into what comes next.
We acquire and operate established small businesses — and we care deeply about the people, customers, and legacy behind them. We are not here to flip a company or erase what made it successful. We are operators first, acquirers second.
Our Approach
A Different Kind of Buyer
Not all buyers want the same things, and not all of them have the experience to lead a company once the deal is done. Before we tell you what Sidero is, it helps to be clear about what we are not.
What we are not
- We are not financial buyers who treat every company like a spreadsheet.
- We are not strategic buyers trying to absorb your company into a larger machine and erase its identity.
- We are not looking to protect short-term margin by cutting the people who helped build the business.
- We are not first-time buyers hoping to learn how to run a company by experimenting on yours.
What we are
- We are operators first and acquirers second.
- We are a team built on operational experience, long-term ownership, family, discipline, and grit.
- We bring structure, systems, capital relationships, and hands-on operational support.
- We want to build on what you created — not erase it — and share success with the people who helped create it.
Our Philosophy
Operators First.
Acquirers Second.
Acquiring a company is only the beginning. The real work starts after closing — leading people, serving customers, protecting the culture, improving systems, and growing the business without breaking what already works. Sidero is built around that reality.
A Respectful Transition
How We Approach a Transition
A good transition honors what came before while building for the future. We move carefully, and we earn trust before we make changes.
- 01
Listen first
We start by understanding the business, the people, and what made it work.
- 02
Protect what works
We identify the strengths worth defending before we touch anything.
- 03
Keep the business stable
Customers, employees, and operations stay steady through the change.
- 04
Learn from the team
The people who built the company know it best. We learn from them.
- 05
Build a thoughtful plan
We create a transition plan that fits the business, not a template.
- 06
Improve systems over time
We strengthen operations gradually, never all at once.
- 07
Grow without breaking the culture
We build for the long term while protecting what makes the place special.
Who We Serve
Owners We Work With
If any of this sounds like you, a conversation may be worth your time.
What We Look For
A Strong Business With a Story Worth Continuing
We look for established businesses with loyal customers, a capable team, and a track record of steady performance. A few of the things that tend to make a good fit:
Acquisition criteria
- $400,000+ in SDE / EBITDA preferred
- 5+ years in business
- 5+ employees, with some management depth preferred
- Recurring, repeat, or project-based revenue
- Businesses with their own labor force are attractive; subcontractor-supported models can also be considered
- Open to full exits, partial exits, owner transitions, and flexible structures
Geography
We have deep roots in the DMV and give preference to the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia area. We are also open to well-run, remote-operated businesses anywhere in the United States.
Industries we know well
A broad set of established, service-driven businesses — including, but not limited to:
Flexible transition structures
Every owner's situation is different. Some want a clean exit and a graceful handoff. Others want to step back gradually, stay involved in a part of the business, or keep some ownership as the next chapter unfolds. We are open to full exits, partial exits, phased owner transitions, and structures designed around what matters most to you.
About
Meet Kay Fakunle, Founder of Sidero
Kay has done nearly every kind of job there is — from waiting tables to leading at the C-level. Over more than 20 years, he has worked at every level of small, medium, and large organizations, including in and around Fortune 500 environments. That range gives him a rare view of how a business actually runs: from the front line to the boardroom.
He is a deeply curious person who has lived on four continents and traveled to more than forty countries, and counting. What he loves most is the work itself — building great, high-performing teams, solving hard problems, and getting the best out of people. His experience spans operations, people management, technology, change management, service design, and real estate investing, and he is right at home in service businesses.
Kay has DMV roots going back to 1993. He is an immigrant and a married father of three. Importantly, he has lived through acquisitions from the employee and operator side — which makes him especially sensitive to how a team actually experiences a change in ownership. He knows how to step into an organization, create structure, and improve performance without breaking morale or what already works.
"I know selling a business is not just a financial decision. For many owners, the business carries years of sacrifice, relationships, reputation, and responsibility. My goal with Sidero is to create a respectful path for owners who want the next chapter to honor what they built."
— Kay Fakunle, Founder
Why Sidero
The name Sidero carries roots tied to iron and strength — permanence, stewardship, and trust. That is the kind of owner we aim to be: steady, durable, and committed for the long term. We bring real operational experience and the patience to lead a business well after the deal is done.
Start a Confidential Conversation
Let's Talk About What Comes Next
Conversations are handled with discretion. Reaching out does not commit you to anything. It simply starts a private conversation.
Prefer to reach out directly?
Email Connect@Sidero.comBooking a call is the fastest way to connect.
We work with experienced financing, legal, accounting, and advisory partners.
Any transaction would be subject to diligence, financing, and mutually acceptable terms.
Initial conversations are confidential and exploratory.