A capital advisor to founders, families, and managers committed to independent ownership.
Who we are
We've spent years on both sides of the table. That experience shapes who we call, what we ask for, and how we protect your interests when it matters most.
Based in Austin, we work with business owners looking to grow, management teams working toward ownership, and families thinking about the next generation. Our job is to help you find capital that lets you move forward on your own terms.
That means knowing which capital partners are flexible, which will support you without taking the wheel, and which ones are actually aligned with what you're trying to accomplish. Those decisions shape the future of your business and the people behind it. We don't take that lightly.
Michael Trachtenberg — Founder
Cedar Elm was founded by Michael Trachtenberg. Before starting the firm, he advised companies on M&A and capital raising transactions as an investment banker at Deutsche Bank, then spent more than a decade as an investor at alternative asset managers Brigade Capital Management and Union Place Partners, where he invested across the full capital structure, from senior loans through common equity. He also founded Main Street Capital Network, a community of more than 250 private equity funds, family offices, and accredited investors. That experience — on both sides of the table — informs how Cedar Elm works and who we work with.
A capital advisor to founders, families, and managers committed to independent ownership.
A capital advisor to founders, families, and managers committed to independent ownership.
A capital advisor to founders, families, and managers committed to independent ownership.
A capital advisor to founders, families, and managers committed to independent ownership.
A capital advisor to founders, families, and managers committed to independent ownership.
A capital advisor to founders, families, and managers committed to independent ownership.
What we do
Capital for every chapter of your business, structured to preserve your independence.
01
Growth Capital
Capital to scale — new markets, new capabilities, or getting ahead of demand.
02
Acquisition Financing
Financing structured so you can move decisively when the right opportunity appears.
03
Management Buyouts
For management teams ready to own the business they've spent years building.
04
Family Successions
Financing to pass the business to the next generation on terms that work for your family.
05
Shareholder Dividends
Liquidity without loss of control — take money off the table while staying in the driver's seat.
06
Shareholder Buyouts
Capital to buy out a partner, consolidate ownership, or simplify a complex ownership structure.
07
Debt Refinancing
Better terms, more flexibility, or a cleaner balance sheet — a debt structure built for where your business is today.
Who we work with
We work with owners, families, and management teams of middle-market businesses with stable operations and durable cash flows. We're most active in:
01
Business Services
02
Distribution & Logistics
03
Industrial Services
04
Manufacturing
05
Residential Services
06
Tech-Enabled Services
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be ready to raise capital to talk with you?
Not at all. Some of our most valuable conversations happen well before a transaction is on the table. If you're starting to think about the future — even loosely — we're happy to talk.
How do you handle confidentiality?
We take it seriously from the first call. We're happy to sign an NDA before any detailed discussions, and we run every process with discretion, so your employees and customers only find out when you're ready.
What does the process look like?
Every engagement is different, but a typical capital raise moves through a few key phases. We start by getting to know your business and what you're trying to accomplish — that shapes everything that follows. From there, we put together the materials that tell your story to potential capital partners, identify who the right partners are, and reach out to the ones most likely to be a genuine fit. As interest develops, we help you evaluate your options, negotiate terms, and work through due diligence. We're with you at every step, from that first conversation through the day you close.
A capital advisor to founders, families, and managers committed to independent ownership.
A capital advisor to founders, families, and managers committed to independent ownership.
A capital advisor to founders, families, and managers committed to independent ownership.
A capital advisor to founders, families, and managers committed to independent ownership.
A capital advisor to founders, families, and managers committed to independent ownership.
A capital advisor to founders, families, and managers committed to independent ownership.
Let's talk
We're happy to talk whenever you're ready.
Whatever you're working toward — growth capital, a buyout, or planning for the next generation — we'll help you think through what's possible and what makes sense for you.