You've built a successful business. Now what?
We are an entrepreneurial husband-and-wife team committed to acquiring and growing a great business for the long term. Let us work with you to design a fully custom succession plan that brings your personal and professional goals to life.
Start a Conversation
You've built a successful business. Now what?
We are an entrepreneurial husband-and-wife team committed to acquiring and growing a great business for the long term. Let us work with you to design a fully custom succession plan that brings your personal and professional goals to life.
Start a Conversation
You've built a successful business. Now what?
We are an entrepreneurial husband-and-wife team committed to acquiring and growing a great business for the long term. Let us work with you to design a fully custom succession plan that brings your personal and professional goals to life.
Start a Conversation
What We've Heard from Founders Like You
What We've Heard from Founders Like You
So you've been considering the idea of a transition. Here are some of the things we've heard from others in your shoes. If any of these sounds like you, we may be a good fit to partner.
So you've been considering the idea of a transition. Here are some of the things we've heard from others in your shoes. If any of these sounds like you, we may be a good fit to partner.
“I've explored selling to PE before but it felt quite transactional. It didn't feel like they understood my business. I want a long-term solution and would rather not sell my company to a fund that's just going to sell it again in a few years.”
“I've explored selling to PE before but it felt quite transactional. It didn't feel like they understood my business. I want a long-term solution and would rather not sell my company to a fund that's just going to sell it again in a few years.”
“I've explored selling to PE before but it felt quite transactional. It didn't feel like they understood my business. I want a long-term solution and would rather not sell my company to a fund that's just going to sell it again in a few years.”
“I’m not ready to walk away completely, but I’d love to have the flexibility to gradually step back. Finding a partner who can enable that transition is crucial to me.”
“I’m not ready to walk away completely, but I’d love to have the flexibility to gradually step back. Finding a partner who can enable that transition is crucial to me.”
“I’m not ready to walk away completely, but I’d love to have the flexibility to gradually step back. Finding a partner who can enable that transition is crucial to me.”
“After all these years, I’m ready to retire, but finding someone who cares about my business as much as I do, someone who sees it as a long-term commitment — that’s the most important thing to me. I want to make sure my team and customers are in good hands.”
“After all these years, I’m ready to retire, but finding someone who cares about my business as much as I do, someone who sees it as a long-term commitment — that’s the most important thing to me. I want to make sure my team and customers are in good hands.”
“After all these years, I’m ready to retire, but finding someone who cares about my business as much as I do, someone who sees it as a long-term commitment — that’s the most important thing to me. I want to make sure my team and customers are in good hands.”
"I built this business because I love the industry, but running the day-to-day operations has taken away some of that joy. I want to focus on the parts I enjoy without all the other responsibilities weighing me down."
"I built this business because I love the industry, but running the day-to-day operations has taken away some of that joy. I want to focus on the parts I enjoy without all the other responsibilities weighing me down."
"I built this business because I love the industry, but running the day-to-day operations has taken away some of that joy. I want to focus on the parts I enjoy without all the other responsibilities weighing me down."
“I know this business can grow, but we need more capital and expertise to take it to the next level. I don’t want the pressure to achieve hyper-growth; I just want a sustainable path forward.”
“I know this business can grow, but we need more capital and expertise to take it to the next level. I don’t want the pressure to achieve hyper-growth; I just want a sustainable path forward.”
“I know this business can grow, but we need more capital and expertise to take it to the next level. I don’t want the pressure to achieve hyper-growth; I just want a sustainable path forward.”
"I built this business from the ground up and I want our legacy to continue. I'd rather it grow independently, under our brand name, than get absorbed by a competitor or a big corporation. My legacy means a lot to me, and I want the business to continue standing on its own."
"I built this business from the ground up and I want our legacy to continue. I'd rather it grow independently, under our brand name, than get absorbed by a competitor or a big corporation. My legacy means a lot to me, and I want the business to continue standing on its own."
"I built this business from the ground up and I want our legacy to continue. I'd rather it grow independently, under our brand name, than get absorbed by a competitor or a big corporation. My legacy means a lot to me, and I want the business to continue standing on its own."
Our Approach
Our Approach
We founded Firstlight as a response to what we've heard.
We founded Firstlight as a response to what we've heard.
Raise capital
Raise capital
We carefully curated a group of investors and mentors who are fully aligned with our mission to grow a single business over the long-term, unencumbered by 3-to-5 year fund life cycles. This group consists of world-class entrepreneurs who have grown small-to-medium sized businesses to become multi-billion-dollar enterprises and who support building for the long-term.
We carefully curated a group of investors and mentors who are fully aligned with our mission to grow a single business over the long-term, unencumbered by a 3-to-5 year "fund life cycle". This group consists of world-class entrepreneurs who have grown small-to-medium sized businesses to become multi-billion-dollar enterprises and who support building for the long-term.
Buy a single company
Buy a single company
We are looking to acquire one exceptional business in an industry we are passionate about. During the acquisition process, we work closely with you to create a transition plan that aligns with your personal and professional goals — whether that's staying involved in the business, taking some liquidity while participating in the upside, or a full sale. We are entrepreneurs, not a fund. There is no "this is how we do things". Everything is on the table for discussion. We aim to structure a fully custom deal that honors you and the business you've built from the ground up.
Grow for the long term
Grow for the long term
We are hungry for growth. Though we bring a well-rounded set of capabilities from our previous careers as investors, operators, and product builders, we recognize that there is much more for us to learn.
As we grow the company, we will seek guidance from those who built it in the first place (this would be you, if you choose to stay involved, and / or long-time employees) and from our deep bench of mentors who have scaled their own businesses.
Why Partner with Us
Why Partner with Us
We are committed to designing a fully custom succession plan tailored to meet your goals. We are not private equity, and we are not venture capital. There is no "this is how we do things". Everything is on the table for discussion. We take a collaborative approach to ensure a fair and equitable ownership transition, with the common goal of looking out for your employees and growing your company for the long-term.
We are committed to designing a fully custom succession plan tailored to meet your goals. We are not private equity, and we are not venture capital. There is no "this is how we do things". Everything is on the table for discussion. We take a collaborative approach to ensure a fair and equitable ownership transition, with the common goal of looking out for your employees and growing your company for the long-term.
This is not "one of many" for us. We’re all in for your business. Our focus and resources are dedicated solely to making your company as successful as possible.
One of One
This is not "one of many" for us. We’re all in for your business. Our focus and resources are dedicated solely to making your company as successful as possible.
One of One
This is not "one of many" for us. We’re all in for your business. Our focus and resources are dedicated solely to making your company as successful as possible.
One of One
We deeply respect the legacy you’ve created and are committed to preserving your company’s reputation, standards, and impact within the communities you serve.
Legacy Preservation
We deeply respect the legacy you’ve created and are committed to preserving your company’s reputation, standards, and impact within the communities you serve.
Legacy Preservation
We deeply respect the legacy you’ve created and are committed to preserving your company’s reputation, standards, and impact within the communities you serve.
Legacy Preservation
While we would step into the CEO role on Day 1, we envision a transition period where you can guide us in learning the business. From there, you can stay involved, move to an advisory role, or exit entirely — whatever suits you best.
Role Flexibility
While we would step into the CEO role on Day 1, we envision a transition period where you can guide us in learning the business. From there, you can stay involved, move to an advisory role, or exit entirely — whatever suits you best.
Role Flexibility
While we would step into the CEO role on Day 1, we envision a transition period where you can guide us in learning the business. From there, you can stay involved, move to an advisory role, or exit entirely — whatever suits you best.
Role Flexibility
We recognize the hard work and dedication you've invested in your business, and we're committed to offering a fair price that reflects its true value.
Great Price
We recognize the hard work and dedication you've invested in your business, and we're committed to offering a fair price that reflects its true value.
Great Price
We recognize the hard work and dedication you've invested in your business, and we're committed to offering a fair price that reflects its true value.
Great Price
We are flexible to offer creative financing structures (e.g. seller’s note, etc), allowing you to earn an above-market return on your proceeds while saving on taxes.
Tax Advantaged Exit
We are flexible to offer creative financing structures (e.g. seller’s note, etc), allowing you to earn an above-market return on your proceeds while saving on taxes.
Tax Advantaged Exit
We are flexible to offer creative financing structures (e.g. seller’s note, etc), allowing you to earn an above-market return on your proceeds while saving on taxes.
Tax Advantaged Exit
We are ready to invest our energy and significant capital behind growing your company over the long-term. With rollover equity (not required, only if you want it!), you’ll have the opportunity to financially benefit from the upside as your company continues to thrive.
Second Bite of the Apple
We are ready to invest our energy and significant capital behind growing your company over the long-term. With rollover equity (not required, only if you want it!), you’ll have the opportunity to financially benefit from the upside as your company continues to thrive.
Second Bite of the Apple
We are ready to invest our energy and significant capital behind growing your company over the long-term. With rollover equity (not required, only if you want it!), you’ll have the opportunity to financially benefit from the upside as your company continues to thrive.
Second Bite of the Apple
Book a Meeting
Book a Meeting
Book a Meeting
Our process.
Our process.
A collaborative approach to ownership transition
A collaborative approach to ownership transition
Week 1
Week 1
Intro Call
We're always eager to meet and learn from successful entrepreneurs. Rest assured that all the Information you share with us will always be kept confidential. During this intro call, we’ll talk at a high level about your business and your goals. We'll also share more about ourselves and answer any questions you may have.
We're always eager to meet and learn from successful entrepreneurs. Rest assured that all the Information you share with us will always be kept confidential. During this intro call, we’ll talk at a high level about your business and your goals. We'll also share more about ourselves and answer any questions you may have.
Week 2
Week 2
In-Person Meeting
Tired of Zoom? Us too. We are ready to visit you in-person to get a deeper understanding of your business and your goals. At this stage, we'll also ask for some basic financial information, which will help us communicate an initial value range for your business. We also welcome any further questions you may have as you evaluate whether we are the right people to carry your legacy forward.
Tired of Zoom? Us too. We are ready to visit you in-person to get a deeper understanding of your business and your goals. At this stage, we'll also ask for some basic financial information, which will help us communicate an initial value range for your business. We also welcome any further questions you may have as you evaluate whether we are the right people to carry your legacy forward.
Week 3
Week 3
Letter of Intent
During this process, we may request additional information about your company. If we're interested in moving forward, we’ll submit a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) that lays out the proposed valuation and other key terms of our partnership. We will then work together to agree on terms and sign the LOI. Our goal is to arrive at a price and structure that is favorable for you.
During this process, we may request additional information about your company. If we're interested in moving forward, we’ll submit a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) that lays out the proposed valuation and other key terms of our partnership. We will then work together to agree on terms and sign the LOI. Our goal is to arrive at a price and structure that is favorable for you.
Weeks 4-15
Weeks
4-15
Weeks
4-15
Due Diligence
Once the LOI is signed, we start the legal documentation process. During this time, we will also continue to learn more about your company to complete our final diligence. We know you have a business to run — we're committed to keeping this process as efficient as possible, asking only for information that we truly need. You will get transparency and authenticity from us throughout the process.
Once the LOI is signed, we start the legal documentation process. During this time, we will also continue to learn more about your company to complete our final diligence. We know you have a business to run — we're committed to keeping this process as efficient as possible, asking only for information that we truly need. You will get transparency and authenticity from us throughout the process.
Week 16
Week 16
Close & Celebrate!
On closing day, we will complete the final paperwork, wire you the funds, and celebrate this exciting new chapter together! By this point, we will have also co-developed a post-close plan to ensure a seamless transition.
On closing day, we will complete the final paperwork, wire you the funds, and celebrate this exciting new chapter together! By this point, we will have also co-developed a post-close plan to ensure a seamless transition.
Our Founders
Our Founders
Queris has spent her career as an investor and as an operator, while Ashwin has spent his career as a product builder. Together, we bring a well-rounded set of capabilities to help carry forward the legacy of your company and drive its continued success.
Alongside our professional careers and inspired by our upbringing in entrepreneurial immigrant families, we jointly founded ventures in real estate, e-commerce, and software over the past six years. Through these experiences, we discovered a shared passion for building something enduring with talented, values-driven people (and realized we actually have a ton of fun along the way!). We founded Firstlight to align our personal and professional interests so we can dedicate 100% of our focus towards building something big that lasts.
On the personal front, we met in 2016, got married in 2024, and currently reside in San Francisco with our fun-loving Bernese Mountain Dog.
Queris has spent her career as an investor and as an operator, while Ashwin has spent his career as a product builder. Together, we bring a well-rounded set of capabilities to help carry forward the legacy of your company and drive its continued success.
Alongside our professional careers and inspired by our upbringing in entrepreneurial immigrant families, we jointly founded ventures in real estate, e-commerce, and software over the past six years. Through these experiences, we discovered a shared passion for building something enduring with talented, values-driven people (and realized we actually have a ton of fun along the way!). We founded Firstlight to align our personal and professional interests so we can dedicate 100% of our focus towards building something big that lasts.
On the personal front, we met in 2016, got married in 2024, and currently reside in San Francisco with our fun-loving Bernese Mountain Dog.
Queris Au-Kumar
Co-Founder
Born in Hong Kong, Queris moved with her family to Fremont, California when she was 11. From an early age, she watched her father build his construction business despite having no formal higher education. His success instilled in her a deep respect for entrepreneurship and afforded her the opportunity to be the first in her family to attend college. Queris started her career in investment banking at UBS and private equity at Clearlake Capital, where she worked closely with entrepreneurs, advising them on transactions and investing behind their growth. Inspired by her father and the entrepreneurs she worked with, she eventually took a leap into the startup world as the first business hire and chief of staff at Poggio, an Accel-backed sales AI company, where she worked alongside the founder to scale the business. Queris holds a BS in Business Administration and a BA in Political Economy from the University of California, Berkeley. In her free time, Queris enjoys skiing, trying new recipes, and going on adventures with their Bernese Mountain Dog.
Queris Au-Kumar
Co-Founder
Born in Hong Kong, Queris moved with her family to Fremont, California when she was 11. From an early age, she watched her father build his construction business despite having no formal higher education. His success instilled in her a deep respect for entrepreneurship and afforded her the opportunity to be the first in her family to attend college. Queris started her career in investment banking at UBS and private equity at Clearlake Capital, where she worked closely with entrepreneurs, advising them on transactions and investing behind their growth. Inspired by her father and the entrepreneurs she worked with, she eventually took a leap into the startup world as the first business hire and chief of staff at Poggio, an Accel-backed sales AI company, where she worked alongside the founder to scale the business. Queris holds a BS in Business Administration and a BA in Political Economy from the University of California, Berkeley. In her free time, Queris enjoys skiing, trying new recipes, and going on adventures with their Bernese Mountain Dog.
Ashwin Kumar
Co-Founder
Ashwin was born and raised in San Ramon, California, where his entrepreneurial mindset was shaped by his parents’ journey as immigrants from India. His career in software engineering and product management at Tableau and Salesforce, along with his experience as an investor at Spike Ventures and MVP Ventures, instilled in him a deep desire to become an entrepreneur and lead an organization of his own. An adventurer at heart, Ashwin brings to his work in business the same determination that led him to summit Mount Whitney and complete a 200-mile bike race from Seattle, WA to Portland, OR. He is excited to bring this drive and focus to building something meaningful. Ashwin holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS in Symbolic Systems from Stanford University. In his free time, Ashwin enjoys scuba diving, racket sports of all kinds, and Japanese food.
Ashwin Kumar
Co-Founder
Ashwin was born and raised in San Ramon, California, where his entrepreneurial mindset was shaped by his parents’ journey as immigrants from India. His career in software engineering and product management at Tableau and Salesforce, along with his experience as an investor at Spike Ventures and MVP Ventures, instilled in him a deep desire to become an entrepreneur and lead an organization of his own. An adventurer at heart, Ashwin brings to his work in business the same determination that led him to summit Mount Whitney and complete a 200-mile bike race from Seattle, WA to Portland, OR. He is excited to bring this drive and focus to building something meaningful. Ashwin holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS in Symbolic Systems from Stanford University. In his free time, Ashwin enjoys scuba diving, racket sports of all kinds, and Japanese food.
Queris Au-Kumar
Co-Founder
Born in Hong Kong, Queris moved with her family to Fremont, California when she was 11. From an early age, she watched her father build his construction business despite having no formal higher education. His success instilled in her a deep respect for entrepreneurship and afforded her the opportunity to be the first in her family to attend college. Queris started her career in investment banking at UBS and private equity at Clearlake Capital, where she worked closely with entrepreneurs, advising them on transactions and investing behind their growth. Inspired by her father and the entrepreneurs she worked with, she eventually took a leap into the startup world as the first business hire and chief of staff at Poggio, an Accel-backed sales AI company, where she worked alongside the founder to scale the business. Queris holds a BS in Business Administration and a BA in Political Economy from the University of California, Berkeley. In her free time, Queris enjoys skiing, trying new recipes, and going on adventures with their Bernese Mountain Dog.
Ashwin Kumar
Co-Founder
Ashwin was born and raised in San Ramon, California, where his entrepreneurial mindset was shaped by his parents’ journey as immigrants from India. His career in software engineering and product management at Tableau and Salesforce, along with his experience as an investor at Spike Ventures and MVP Ventures, instilled in him a deep desire to become an entrepreneur and lead an organization of his own. An adventurer at heart, Ashwin brings to his work in business the same determination that led him to summit Mount Whitney and complete a 200-mile bike race from Seattle, WA to Portland, OR. He is excited to bring this drive and focus to building something meaningful. Ashwin holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS in Symbolic Systems from Stanford University. In his free time, Ashwin enjoys scuba diving, racket sports of all kinds, and Japanese food.
Set up a Meeting
Set up a Meeting
Set up a Meeting
Our values.
Our values.
Principles that drive us everyday
Principles that drive us everyday
01
People First
We believe that great people are the foundation of any successful business. When we engage with a company, we prioritize relationships and the well-being of those involved. Whether it's your employees, customers, or partners, we treat everyone with respect and empathy. Our approach is collaborative, ensuring that transitions are smooth and people are valued every step of the way.
02
Humility
03
Curiosity
04
Growth Oriented
05
Long-Term Outlook
01
People First
We believe that great people are the foundation of any successful business. When we engage with a company, we prioritize relationships and the well-being of those involved. Whether it's your employees, customers, or partners, we treat everyone with respect and empathy. Our approach is collaborative, ensuring that transitions are smooth and people are valued every step of the way.
02
Humility
03
Curiosity
04
Growth Oriented
05
Long-Term Outlook
01
People First
We believe that great people are the foundation of any successful business. When we engage with a company, we prioritize relationships and the well-being of those involved. Whether it's your employees, customers, or partners, we treat everyone with respect and empathy. Our approach is collaborative, ensuring that transitions are smooth and people are valued every step of the way.
02
Humility
03
Curiosity
04
Growth Oriented
05
Long-Term Outlook
What We Look for in a Business
What We Look for in a Business
Great businesses come in many shapes and sizes, but these three factors matter most to us.
Great businesses come in many shapes and sizes, but these three factors matter most to us.
Great Employees
We believe great people are the foundation of any successful business that lasts.
Loyal Customers
Do your products / services have customers coming back year after year?
Mission Criticality
Do you offer products / services that your customers cannot run their businesses without?