On a mission to partner with exceptional operators to acquire and elevate one market-leading business.
About Us
We're a team of close friends whose dynamic partnership is built on complementary skill sets, diverse backgrounds, and a shared passion for building high-performing teams. Our professional journeys have taken us through various industries, where we've honed our operational expertise and developed a keen eye for growth opportunities.
Both our partnership and our friendship has been strengthened through shared adventures across continents, time spent with each other’s families, and even as ice hockey teammates. As we continue our entrepreneurial journey, this strong personal bond now serves as the foundation of Emerald Square Ventures.
We're excited to combine our combined operational experience, unwavering trust, and entrepreneurial drive to acquire a thriving business we can elevate for the long-term.
Ben Joers
Co-Founder, Managing Partner
Ben comes from a family of entrepreneurs in Seattle, cultivating a deep-seated business acumen from a young age. By 16, he had started his first business, transforming a 1975 AMC Jeep into a thriving mobile ice cream business. This drive continued through his years at Middlebury College, where he led in academics, student government, and multiple organizations. Professionally, Ben honed his skills in investment banking at Piper Jaffray, providing advisory services for clients across the Financial Services sector. He then transitioned to private equity investing at CVC Capital Partners, where he led due diligence efforts on investments in North America and Europe across various industries (including Healthcare, Industrials, Financial Services, Business Services, and more). During his tenure at CVC, Ben also ran point on new sourcing strategies and drove strategic finance initiatives at multiple portfolio companies.
During his time pursuing his MBA, Ben worked with the executive teams at FSI and TopQuadrant, where he evaluated adjacent market expansion, implemented the Entrepreneurial Operating System, managed projects focused on institutionalizing roles and responsibilities across teams, and built data and analytics dashboards for senior leaders.
Ben received his MBA from The Wharton School, specializing in Management and Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and holds a BA in Economics from Middlebury College.
Eddie Hannush
Co-Founder, Managing Partner
Growing up outside of Philadelphia in a first-generation American household, Eddie had his entrepreneurial spirit sparked early. He was inspired by his parents' ambition to build and grow their own business. At Duke University, he was running a successful custom apparel business while studying Political Science and Entrepreneurship. Professionally, Eddie further developed his skills at Amazon, excelling as an SMB Account Executive before moving to the Enterprise Sales team, where he broke sales records, and drove innovative partnerships. As the Business Lead on the Mars, Inc. account, Eddie orchestrated cross-organizational partnerships that ranged from Amazon Ads to Alexa devices, Thursday Night Football, and Prime Video. He led the Amazon team consulting the Mars Wrigley CMO, brand executives, marketing leadership, and agencies to consistently exceed revenue quotas.
During his time pursuing his MBA, Eddie worked with the executive team at Eleven Software, where he developed new commission structures for the sales team, negotiated with software vendors, and managed systems integration for Eleven's acquisition of and merger with a top competitor. He also worked with the executive team at CampMinder where he orchestrated an analysis of their expansion into the event management software market, leading to a product feature roadmap to boost per-camp GMV.
Eddie received his MBA from The Wharton School, also specializing in Management and Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and holds a BA in Political Science and Entrepreneurship from Duke University.
The Emerald Square Approach
Our Investment Philosophy
We are looking to acquire one great business.
We are focused on businesses that have differentiated products and services. We look for enterprises with a high degree of recurring revenue, asset-light operating models, actionable sales growth opportunities, who compete in industries with strong prospects. Additionally, we prioritize businesses that have demonstrated stable profitability margins or have a clear path to profitability.
Lastly, we are looking for owners who are interested in selling a majority of ownership in their enterprise, (ideally above 60%), and a broader management team who is looking to grow the business with us in the years ahead.
Elevating Your Enterprise
Our goal is to grow and nurture a business with the around-the-clock dedication it deserves. We bring sales growth and financial operations expertise, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a genuine passion for helping businesses thrive. We possess the resources and know-how to ensure a smooth transition that builds on the legacy of the company’s exceptional operators.
As your strategic partners, we are committed to bringing 100% of our time to guide your business into its next chapter of growth. At the heart of Emerald Square's doctrine is a people-centric approach to business transitions. We deeply value the long-term vision of the companies we acquire, and we operate with trust and transparency. Alongside your team, we will optimize outcomes for all involved, sharing in the risks and rewards.
The Right Fit
Emerald Square offers a unique transition opportunity for owners and operators seeking a dedicated partner. Unlike most private equity firms, we commit our full-time careers to your company, ensuring no competing priorities. Your company is not just one asset in a broad portfolio. We work closely with you to structure a tailored transaction that preserves your legacy and positions your business for long-term success.
Our experience and capital resources allow us to think boldly and invest in your company's future, ensuring sustained success and a thriving legacy. Backed by a diverse investor group with over $1BN in available capital, we have the resources and flexibility to support your company's growth objectives.
We would love to hear from you
Please provide your email so that we can schedule an introductory call if you are interested in hearing more about Emerald Square’s mission and how we can work together.
We respect your privacy and will keep all information and conversations strictly confidential.
ben@emeraldsquareventures.com eddie@emeraldsquareventures.com