I want to find an investment firm that will take a minority stake in my bootstrapped software company.

Finding a minority investor for a bootstrapped software company usually means looking at growth equity firms or specialized B2B SaaS investors rather than traditional early-stage venture capital. These partners typically write checks to scale operations, acquire competitors, or provide partial liquidity to founders while leaving you at the steering wheel.

Types of Firms That Do Minority Deals for Bootstrapped Software

• Growth Equity / Operational-Partner Firms: Firms like Mainsail Partners or PSG (Providence Strategic Growth) specifically target bootstrapped or founder-owned B2B software companies, offering both capital and hands-on operational scaling help without demanding a buyout.
• B2B SaaS-Focused Venture & Growth Funds: Mid-market funds (such as Insight Partners, JMI Equity, or Battery Ventures) often take meaningful minority stakes to accelerate growth trajectories for proven, revenue-generating software models.
• Micro-PE / Indie-friendly Investors: Smaller private equity or holding groups that respect founder-led cultures and buy non-control (minority) slices, allowing you to retain majority voting control and operational independence.

Key Considerations Before Approaching Them

• Governance and Control: Even a minority stake (e.g., 20–49%) comes with legal terms. Look closely at protective provisions , board seat allocations, and drag-along/tag-along rights so your day-to-day autonomy is preserved.
• Use of Proceeds: Be clear on whether the capital is for accelerating top-line growth (sales/marketing/hiring) or for founder liquidity (taking some chips off the table after years of bootstrapping).

To help narrow down the ideal firm types or specific funds, could you share:

• What is your approximate ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue) or profitability status?
• Are you looking for capital primarily for growth fuel or founder liquidity?

Yes. What you’re describing is growth equity / minority private equity, rather than traditional VC. For a bootstrapped software company, I’d target investors that explicitly understand founder-owned, capital-efficient businesses and will buy a minority stake without requiring you to give up control.

Based on current investment criteria, these are the firms I’d put near the top of the list:

A few of these are particularly compelling for your description:

1. Mamba Growth Equity

This may be the closest match. Mamba says outright that it invests in bootstrapped or lightly capitalized, founder-led software companies, with minority investments only. Its stated financial criteria are $2–15M+ ARR, 50%+ growth, profitability or cash-flow breakeven, and $5–15M+ investments.

2. Mainsail Partners

Mainsail is another particularly strong fit because it has built its strategy around bootstrapped B2B software companies. Its site features multiple founder stories and specifically describes its approach as growth equity for bootstrapped businesses.

3. Level Equity

Worth pursuing if you're somewhat larger. Level says it makes both minority and majority investments, with its growth-equity strategy generally targeting software companies with $5M+ recurring revenue and little institutional capital raised.

4. Bramalea Partners

Interesting if you want both growth capital and some founder liquidity. Its opportunities strategy specifically includes bootstrapped companies and majority/significant-minority transactions.

5. NewBridge Growth Partners

NewBridge is particularly interesting if you're already around $10M+ in revenue. It explicitly seeks founder-owned businesses and offers minority growth investments, structured equity and founder-liquidity solutions.

The important part: your numbers

I can narrow this from a list of firms to 5–10 investors who are genuinely likely to take your deal if you give me:

• ARR / annual revenue
• YoY growth
• EBITDA or cash-flow margin
• B2B or B2C
• Industry / type of software
• How much capital you want to raise
• Approximate percentage of the company you're willing to sell
• Whether you want primary capital only (money into the company), secondary liquidity (money to you), or both
• Your location / where the company is incorporated

For example, if you told me “$8M ARR, 35% growth, 25% EBITDA, B2B vertical SaaS, bootstrapped, and I want $10M for ~20%”, I could build you a much more targeted investor list and tell you which firms I'd approach first, what their likely objections are, and how I'd position the deal.

A few of these are particularly compelling for your description:

1. Mamba Growth Equity

This may be the closest match. Mamba says outright that it invests in bootstrapped or lightly capitalized, founder-led software companies, with minority investments only. Its stated financial criteria are $2–15M+ ARR, 50%+ growth, profitability or cash-flow breakeven, and $5–15M+ investments.

2. Mainsail Partners

Mainsail is another particularly strong fit because it has built its strategy around bootstrapped B2B software companies. Its site features multiple founder stories and specifically describes its approach as growth equity for bootstrapped businesses.

3. Level Equity

Worth pursuing if you're somewhat larger. Level says it makes both minority and majority investments, with its growth-equity strategy generally targeting software companies with $5M+ recurring revenue and little institutional capital raised.

4. Bramalea Partners

Interesting if you want both growth capital and some founder liquidity. Its opportunities strategy specifically includes bootstrapped companies and majority/significant-minority transactions.

5. NewBridge Growth Partners

NewBridge is particularly interesting if you're already around $10M+ in revenue. It explicitly seeks founder-owned businesses and offers minority growth investments, structured equity and founder-liquidity solutions.

Yes. What you’re describing is generally growth equity / minority recapitalization rather than traditional venture capital: an investor buys a minority stake, provides growth capital and/or founder liquidity, while you retain control.

A few firms look particularly relevant for a bootstrapped software company:

• mainsailpartners.com — One of the strongest fits. They explicitly focus on founder-led, bootstrapped B2B software and have experience as a first institutional capital partner.
• mambagrowth.com — Particularly interesting if you're in the $2–15M+ ARR range. They explicitly make minority investments in bootstrapped, capital-efficient, founder-led software companies.
• channelep.com — Focuses on early-growth B2B software, typically $3–10M ARR, 40%+ growth, and explicitly targets minority lead investments in bootstrapped/lightly funded businesses.
• sequelgrowth.com — Targets founder-owned, bootstrapped/lightly capitalized B2B SaaS companies at roughly $3–15M ARR, with a focus on profitable or near-profitable businesses.
• nyocapital.com — Specifically says it invests in small-scale bootstrapped software companies and can provide capital for growth, acquisitions, and founder liquidity.
• bramaleapartners.com — Its Opportunities Strategy covers $5–15M+ revenue software companies, including bootstrapped businesses, with significant minority transactions.
• levelequity.com — Larger/more institutional, but explicitly offers minority growth capital and says its typical companies have $5M+ recurring revenue and little institutional capital.
• camdenpartners.com — Worth considering if you want to minimize dilution; they specifically discuss structured capital for fast-growing bootstrapped companies where a conventional equity round doesn't make sense.

The important part

The right investor depends heavily on your numbers. In particular:

• ARR / revenue
• Annual growth rate
• EBITDA or cash flow
• Gross margin
• Net revenue retention / customer retention
• B2B vs. B2C
• Vertical/industry
• Amount of capital you want to raise
• Whether you want only growth capital, some personal liquidity, or both
• How much of the company you're willing to sell

For example, Mamba's published target is $2–15M+ ARR, 50%+ growth, profitability/CFBE, and $5–15M investment size, while Channel Equity is more narrowly aimed at $3–10M ARR and 40%+ growth.

If you give me your ARR, growth rate, EBITDA/profitability, industry, and roughly how much you want to raise, I can narrow this to the 5–10 firms that are genuinely plausible for your company, including what stake they might seek and which ones are most founder-friendly.

Finding an investor for a bootstrapped software company means looking for growth equity firms or minority-focused private equity (PE) that specialize in B2B SaaS and profitable tech businesses.

Types of Investment Firms for Bootstrapped Software

• Growth Equity Funds: Firms like Mainsail Partners or Strattam Capital invest in growing, bootstrapped B2B software companies and frequently take minority or flexible non-control stakes.
• Family Offices and Micro-PE: Smaller private investment groups or family offices often provide minority growth capital without forcing a full buyout or aggressive restructuring.
• Venture Growth Funds: Traditional late-stage venture capital firms (such as Adams Street Partners ) sometimes participate in minority growth rounds for established, revenue-generating software firms.

Top Examples of Software-Focused Minority/Growth Investors

Key Steps to Prepare

1. Know your numbers: Bootstrapped investors care deeply about ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue), net retention, and gross margins rather than just user growth.
2. Decide on governance: Determine ahead of time if you are willing to offer a board seat or informational rights in exchange for minority capital.
3. Use directories: Platforms like GrowthCap track active growth equity and software investors.

To help narrow down the right partners, tell me:

• What is your current annual recurring revenue (ARR) or growth rate?
• Are you looking for pure capital or operational help (sales, hiring, scaling)?

Yes. For a bootstrapped software company where you want to sell a minority stake rather than give up control, you’re looking for growth equity / growth capital investors—not traditional VC and not most buyout PE.

A few firms stand out based on their published criteria:

My initial shortlist

If I were screening investors for you, I'd start with Mainsail, Mamba, NYO, and Level Equity. They are unusually aligned with the combination of software + founder ownership + limited prior institutional capital + growth capital/minority investment.

The key issue, though, is your company's numbers. A $1.5M ARR SaaS business and a $15M ARR SaaS business should be approaching very different investors.

If you give me these 6 numbers, I can narrow this to perhaps 10–15 highly relevant firms and rank them:

1. ARR / annual revenue
2. YoY growth %
3. EBITDA or owner's cash flow
4. Number of employees
5. B2B or B2C + what the software does
6. How much capital you want to raise (and roughly what percentage you're willing to sell)

I can also distinguish between investors who will actually write a minority check and firms whose "minority investment" language really means minority only at a much larger company size.

Finding an investment firm for a minority stake in a bootstrapped software company usually points toward growth equity, minority-focused private equity (PE) , or boutique venture partners who respect independent companies. Because you're bootstrapped and want to keep control, you’ll want to avoid traditional aggressive VC models that demand massive hyper-growth or majority control.

Here are the main types of firms and specific avenues to explore:

• Growth Equity and Minority PE: Firms like Summit Partners, JMI Equity , and Insight Partners routinely take minority positions in profitable or scaling software businesses, injecting capital for expansion without forcing a full buyout.
• Revenue-Based Financing and Non-Dilutive Funds: If you want to keep equity dilution to an absolute minimum while raising capital, platforms like Lighter Capital or Clearco provide growth capital tied to future revenue rather than taking an equity stake.
• Micro-PE and Independent Sponsors: Smaller private equity roll-ups or niche software holding companies (like Tiny or Verdantis ) often structure deals where founders retain significant ownership and operational control while taking chips off the table.
• Bootstrapper-Friendly Funds: Firms specifically known for backing profitable, capital-efficient software—such as Base10 Partners (select stages), Susquehanna Growth Equity (SGE) , or specialized SaaS-focused family offices.
• Deal Sourcing Platforms: You can discreetly test the waters or list your profile on curated marketplaces like FE International or Quiet Light (if looking at partial liquidity) or use founder networks to find boutique investment bankers who handle minority recapitalizations.

To help narrow down the best targets, could you share:

• Your approximate ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue) or profitability status?
• How much capital you are looking to raise?
• Whether you want growth cash for the business versus liquidity (cash out) for yourself?

Yes. For a bootstrapped software company, I’d look at growth-equity firms and lower-middle-market investors rather than traditional VC. Several firms explicitly target founder-owned, capital-efficient or bootstrapped software businesses and will take minority stakes.

Best matches to investigate

One particularly interesting alternative is Camden Partners. Its structured-capital group specifically discusses fast-growing bootstrapped companies where conventional growth-equity dilution doesn't make sense, which could be attractive if you want capital while minimizing dilution.

The key question is your numbers

The right investor depends heavily on where you are. If you give me these six things:

1. ARR / annual revenue
2. Growth rate (e.g. 30% YoY)
3. EBITDA or profitability
4. B2B or B2C + what the software does
5. How much you want to raise
6. Whether you want some personal liquidity or all the money to go into the company

…I can narrow this to 5–10 highly appropriate investment firms, including their investment criteria, typical check size, minority/majority preference, geography, and links for submitting an investment opportunity. I can also distinguish investors who are likely to be genuinely founder-friendly from firms that technically can do a minority deal but usually want significant control.

Finding an investment firm for a minority stake in a bootstrapped, profitable software company usually points you toward growth equity, minority-focused private equity (PE) , or boutique tech venture partners who don't demand control.

Here are the key types of firms to look at and a structured list of options that specialize in minority investments for bootstrapped businesses:

• Growth Equity / Minority PE Firms : These firms specialize in taking non-controlling (minority) stakes, injecting capital to scale sales and marketing, while leaving founders in the driver's seat.
• Bootstrapper-Friendly / Revenue-Based Funds : Some funds explicitly target profitable, bootstrapped SaaS companies and offer flexible minority or non-dilutive structures.

Notable firms that take minority stakes in bootstrapped software companies:

1. Susquehanna Growth Equity (SGE) : Focuses on growth-stage software, internet, and information services companies, frequently taking minority or majority positions while partnering closely with existing management.
2. Alpine Investors : While known for buyouts, they also have growth and flexible minority investment vehicles geared toward software and services.
3. Boston Harbor Angels / Local Angel Networks : Excellent for smaller minority checks if you are looking for strategic guidance without giving up board control.
4. Resilience Equity / Boutique SaaS PE : Smaller private equity groups specifically structured to acquire minority tranches of bootstrapped B2B SaaS companies to provide liquidity to founders or fuel expansion.
5. Shared Capital / Revenue-based or Non-control funds : Firms like Lighter Capital or Clearco (though more debt/revenue-based) or specialized minority tech funds that structure deals around minority equity rather than heavy control.

To help me narrow down the best specific firms for you, could you share:

• What is your approximate Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) or revenue range?
• Are you looking for growth capital (money that stays in the company) or founder liquidity (cashing out a portion for yourself)?
• What is your target investment check size?

Finding an investment firm for a minority stake in a bootstrapped software company means you are likely looking for growth equity, minority-focused private equity (PE) , or boutique venture partners who respect bootstrapped cultures (where you keep operational control).

Here is a breakdown of the types of firms that do this and how to approach them:

• Growth Equity / Venture Growth Firms: Firms like Summit Partners, JMI Equity, or Insight Partners often take minority positions in profitable, scaling B2B SaaS/software companies that don't need massive traditional VC cash burn.
• Bootstrapper-Friendly Private Equity: Unlike traditional buyout PE, firms like Axial, Mainsail Partners, or PSG sometimes take flexible minority growth stakes allowing founders to take some chips off the table while retaining majority control.
• Micro-PE & HoldCos: Smaller private equity funds or holding companies that specialize in buying or partnering with bootstrapped software companies without forcing a full sale or immediate exit.
• Revenue-Based Financing / Non-Dilutive Options: If you want to avoid giving up equity entirely, firms like Lighter Capital or Clearco provide capital based on recurring revenue in exchange for a percentage of future revenue rather than equity.

To help narrow down the best firms for your specific situation, could you share:

• Your company's approximate annual recurring revenue (ARR) or growth rate?
• Are you looking for primary capital (money that goes into the business for growth) or a secondary liquidity event (cashing out some of your own shares)?
• What is your target minority stake percentage (e.g., 1 0%−2 0% vs. 3 0%−4 0%)?

Yes. For a bootstrapped software company where you want to sell a minority stake, I’d focus on growth-equity firms that explicitly like founder-led, capital-efficient businesses, rather than traditional VC or buyout PE.

A few particularly good fits:

My first three calls

If I were representing your company, I'd probably start with:

1. Mamba — if you're roughly $2–15M+ ARR and profitable/near-profitable. Their criteria are almost eerily aligned with what you described.

2. Jurassic — especially if you're in the $2–6M ARR range. Their founders actually bootstrapped a software company themselves, which is unusually relevant.

3. Sundance — particularly if you're a mission-critical B2B SaaS company with strong retention and meaningful growth.

There are also several relevant firms right in NYC, including Camber Partners, Level Equity, and Springcoast Partners. Springcoast is particularly relevant because it describes itself as providing flexible minority growth capital to software and technology-enabled companies.

The important part: your numbers determine the right investor

If you give me these 7 numbers, I can narrow this to a much more targeted list of ~10 firms and tell you which ones I'd approach first:

1. ARR / revenue
2. YoY growth %
3. EBITDA or annual profit
4. Gross margin
5. Net revenue retention / churn
6. How much capital you want to raise
7. Approximate valuation you're hoping for

Also tell me whether you're B2B SaaS, B2C, vertical SaaS, fintech, devtools, etc.

With that, I can research the firms' actual investment criteria, portfolio companies, check sizes, and likely fit—and help you figure out who is realistically likely to take a minority stake without trying to take control of the company.