RAW Ventures
Operator-led acquisition & investment
Deal Structures
Ten ways to structure a transaction — built around the owner, the team, and the next chapter. Not a spreadsheet.
Ten Structures
Most owners end up somewhere between two of these. That is the point — we design the deal around you.
100% buyout.
We acquire the business outright. Clean transition, full liquidity at close, and an operating plan that protects what you built.
Best for: Owners ready for a complete exit.
Seller retains minority ownership.
We take a majority stake while you keep meaningful equity — and a second bite when we exit together down the road.
Best for: Owners who want liquidity but believe in the next chapter.
Take chips off the table while staying involved.
Sell a portion of your equity for personal liquidity, de-risk the family balance sheet, and keep running the business you love.
Best for: Owners not ready to step away.
Expand without selling control.
Non-control capital to fund acquisitions, expansion, or working capital. You keep the wheel; we bring the fuel and the network.
Best for: Profitable operators with a clear growth thesis.
Strategic partnership structure.
Project- or entity-level partnership where we contribute capital, expertise, or distribution — and share upside on what we build together.
Best for: Operators with an opportunity bigger than their balance sheet.
Flexible seller-financed transactions.
We structure a portion of the purchase price as a seller note — often improving total proceeds and tax treatment while keeping the deal close-able.
Best for: Owners optimizing for net proceeds and certainty.
Participate in future growth.
Bridge valuation gaps with performance-based payments. You share in the upside you helped create — without operating forever.
Best for: Businesses with a clear next leg of growth.
Transition ownership internally.
Back your existing leadership team with capital and structure so the people who built it can own it. Legacy stays inside the building.
Best for: Owners with a strong #2 and a team worth backing.
Joint venture opportunities.
Co-develop land and infill assets across the U.S. (Texas preferred). We bring capital, entitlements expertise, and a builder network across DFW and beyond.
Best for: Landowners and developers with the right dirt.
Prepare for future transition.
A multi-year glide path: stabilize, professionalize, and transition — to family, management, or RAW — on a timeline that respects the team.
Best for: Owners 3–7 years from a transition.
Curious which structure fits your situation.
Side-by-Side
A practical look at control, liquidity, and the kind of owner each structure is built for.
| Structure | Seller Retains | Control | Liquidity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Full Acquisition 100% buyout. | 0% | Buyer | 100% at close | Owners ready for a complete exit. |
Majority Recapitalization Seller retains minority ownership. | 10–40% | Shared, RAW-led | Majority at close | Owners who want liquidity but believe in the next chapter. |
Partial Buyout Take chips off the table while staying involved. | 50–80% | Seller-led | Partial at close | Owners not ready to step away. |
Growth Capital Expand without selling control. | 80–100% | Seller | Capital in, not out | Profitable operators with a clear growth thesis. |
Joint Venture Partnership Strategic partnership structure. | Negotiated | Shared | Project-based | Operators with an opportunity bigger than their balance sheet. |
Seller Financing Exit Flexible seller-financed transactions. | 0% | Buyer | Cash + note | Owners optimizing for net proceeds and certainty. |
Earn-Out Structure Participate in future growth. | 0% | Buyer | Cash + earn-out | Businesses with a clear next leg of growth. |
Management Buyout Transition ownership internally. | Exit | Management | Full at close | Owners with a strong #2 and a team worth backing. |
Land Development Partnership Joint venture opportunities. | Negotiated | Shared | Project-based | Landowners and developers with the right dirt. |
Succession Planning Prepare for future transition. | Transitions over time | Phased | Staged | Owners 3–7 years from a transition. |
Want a tailored comparison for your business.
FAQs
The questions owners and brokers ask us most often — answered like operators, not lawyers.
No. About half of our conversations end up as something other than a 100% buyout — partial buyouts, recaps, growth equity, or JVs. We start with what the owner actually wants.
Straightforward deals close in 45–90 days. Land and JV structures vary based on entitlements and diligence scope. We are responsive and decisive — no committee theater.
Typically $1M–$25M in revenue and $300K–$10M in EBITDA. Healthy margins matter more than size — we have done thoughtful deals at both ends of the range.
Almost always, yes. We back operators and protect culture. If we are buying a brand and a team, we are not in a hurry to break either.
We are operators using our own capital and a small circle of aligned partners — not a fund clock, not a roll-up thesis. Decisions are made by the people you meet on day one.
Never. Initial conversations, NDAs, and indications of interest are at our cost. If you bring us a real opportunity, we move quickly and quietly.
Have a question we did not answer.
Built Around The Owner
One confidential conversation. No fees, no committee, no pressure.