Meet Graham Butler

Graham’s career spans the entire business lifecycle, from founding to acquiring niche manufacturing companies. With over 15 years in San Diego, he’s deeply rooted in this community and committed to preserving local business legacies while driving innovation and growth.

A Unique Blend of Technical and Business Expertise

Graham combines hands-on technical expertise with strategic business acumen, bringing a rare combination of operational experience and proven M&A success. His background includes:

Private Equity & M&A Experience

• Raised and managed an equity acquisition fund through Avon Growth Management
• Successfully acquired and integrated 4+ businesses in a multi-state roll-up strategy
• Built a $22M company with 204 employees, becoming one of two national market leaders
• Led the company through a successful exit to a strategic buyer in 2021
• Demonstrated ability to secure both equity and debt financing for acquisitions

Entrepreneurial Success

• Co-founded SonaCAD Design, scaling to ~40 employees across London and Bangalore
• Founded Intrepid Cycles, capturing 25% market share and securing $120K in angel investment
• Built international operations and distribution networks across six continents
• Deep experience in manufacturing setup, operations consolidation, and enterprise system integration

Corporate & Technical Leadership

• Currently managing data center automation and robotics programs at Google
• Previous experience in strategic consulting for Nissan’s autonomous vehicle division
• MBA summer internship at Danaher Corporation developing strategy for $2.4B market opportunity
• MEng in Mechanical Engineering from University of Sheffield
• Proven track record delivering data-driven decision making and process optimization

International & Cross-Cultural Experience

• Bilingual in English and Portuguese, working proficiency in Spanish
• Managed distributed teams across multiple continents and time zones
• Previous engineering work at International Potato Center in Peru
• Built supply chains spanning Brazil, China, and the United States

Why San Diego

Graham has called San Diego home for over 15 years. This is more than a search for an acquisition—it’s a commitment to this community. He understands the value of local businesses, the importance of preserving jobs and relationships, and the responsibility that comes with taking over someone’s life’s work.

Our Approach

Respect for What You’ve Built We know your business represents years of hard work, relationships, and sacrifice. We approach every opportunity with the respect it deserves.

Transparent Process From initial conversation to closing, we believe in clear communication, realistic timelines, and no surprises.

Long-Term Ownership We’re not flippers. We’re looking for a business to own and grow for years to come, preserving what works while thoughtfully implementing improvements.

Team Continuity Your team is your business’s most valuable asset. We’re committed to maintaining culture and providing opportunities for growth.