Sterling Partners

We like businesses whose success depends on a deep and direct relationship with their customer. 87 isnt another incubator. Or accelerator. Or scaler. 87 is here to build. To get our hands dirty. To go from idea to impact faster than you probably thought possible. Were picky, passionate, and persistent about with whom and how we work. We like busine... sses whose success depends on a deep and direct relationship with their customer. We like a founder with more than a resume, someone who lives the life he or she is selling. We prefer not to rely on the next venture dollar to keep the lights on. In short, were midwesterners who think making a profit is, you know, sort of a key component of a company. Our process is a little bit different than other folks. The team comes from all over the map, bringing different brains, skills, and talents to the table. From the moment we buy into a pitch, our wheels are turning, cranking out bottoms-up business models, figuring out audiences, racing to find product/market fit, and generally executing the ten thousand things that have to happen to go from zero to hero right alongside you. You see, our team has built and launched everything from toothpaste to tech brands. We know the booby traps and the power-ups and, unlike many of the other folks, we dont just preach from a slick boardroom - were there turning the knobs with you. Whether its setting up a tech stack for recurring billings, recruiting a CFO, creating a content calendar for launch, or negotiating a lease with a tricky landlord, our team and vetted global network of experts-on-tap ensure that our companies are never more than a phone call away from a solution. 87 is your partner, your problem solver, and your player-coach. Were not for everyone, but maybe were for you. 87 was developed within and is part of Sterling Partners , a multi-strategy investment firm founded over 35 years ago. While separate from Sterlings broader private equity practice, 87 and our founder partners leverage Sterlings robust and sophisticated ...Read More