Homegrown Investors: Sky Grove Taps Local Roots for Florida Growth

BROWARD COUNTY, FL – April 22, 2026 – A new private investment firm, Sky Grove Capital, has launched in Florida with a distinct strategy: harness deep local roots to acquire and grow the state's essential service businesses. Founded by Seth Bour and Matthew Joblove, both fourth-generation Floridians, the firm enters a bustling market with a promise to be more than just a source of capital, aiming to provide hands-on operational expertise to founder-led companies.

The firm is targeting a specific and vital segment of the economy—businesses providing services like HVAC, plumbing, landscaping, and property maintenance. With a focus on companies generating up to $25 million in revenue, Sky Grove is positioning itself as a partner for small and medium-sized enterprises that form the backbone of Florida's service industry.

A Market Ripe for Investment

Sky Grove's launch is timed to capitalize on Florida's relentless growth. As one of the fastest-expanding states in the nation, the continuous influx of new residents and commercial developments creates a surging, non-cyclical demand for essential property services. This demographic boom translates directly into more homes needing air conditioning repairs, more office parks requiring landscaping, and more communities needing waste management.

The essential services market in Florida, much like in other parts of the country, is highly fragmented. It is characterized by thousands of small, often family-owned businesses that have been built over decades. While many are successful and reputable, they may lack the resources, technology, or strategic framework to scale to the next level. This fragmentation presents a significant opportunity for an investor with a consolidation strategy—a role Sky Grove intends to fill through a program of add-on acquisitions for its platform companies.

"We started Sky Grove to be a practical, reliable partner for business owners," said Matthew Joblove, co-founder of the new firm. "There are a lot of great companies in Florida built over decades through hard work and dedication. Our role is to build on that reputation—bringing the capital and structure to help them grow."

Beyond the Check: A Hands-On Philosophy

Sky Grove Capital is emphasizing a model that has become increasingly popular in the private equity world, especially in the lower-middle market: the "hands-on" approach. This strategy moves beyond simply writing a check and waiting for returns. Instead, it involves actively partnering with a company's management to drive operational improvements and execute a shared strategic vision.

For a small business owner, this can mean gaining access to a level of expertise typically reserved for large corporations. Sky Grove's value proposition includes implementing sophisticated financial controls and key performance indicators (KPIs), optimizing supply chains, introducing new technologies to improve efficiency, and providing guidance on talent management and organizational structure. This operational toolkit is designed to professionalize a business and prepare it for scalable growth.

The founders bring a blend of institutional and operational experience to this task. Joblove's background includes nearly a dozen years at the global private equity firm Sun Capital Partners and a stint in investment banking at Houlihan Lokey. Bour complements this with principal operating leadership experience from the consulting giant McKinsey & Company and FIRM Realty, a Broward-based real estate portfolio management company.

"We understand scaling a business takes more than capital," said Seth Bour, co-founder. "It requires a deep understanding of how the business runs every day. We work alongside owners to strengthen that foundation and create a clear path for sustainable growth."

The Homegrown Advantage

In a competitive investment landscape, Sky Grove is banking on its local identity as a key differentiator. The founders' claim as "fourth-generation Floridians" is more than a marketing slogan; it represents a strategic advantage in a market where relationships and local knowledge are paramount.

This deep-seated connection to the state is expected to yield proprietary deal flow. Many small business owners, when considering a sale or partnership, are wary of out-of-state firms that may not understand the local culture or their company's legacy. A familiar, local partner can build trust more quickly, opening doors to off-market opportunities that would be invisible to national competitors.

This local expertise also extends to due diligence and post-acquisition growth. A nuanced understanding of Florida's diverse regional economies, its unique regulatory hurdles, and its labor markets allows for more accurate business assessments. After an investment, the firm can leverage its local network to help portfolio companies recruit talent, navigate permitting, and forge valuable customer and supplier relationships, embedding them more deeply and effectively within their communities.

A New Player in a Crowded Arena

Sky Grove Capital is not entering an empty field. Florida's attractive economic climate has drawn the attention of numerous investment vehicles, from other regional private equity firms and family offices to large national players and strategic corporate acquirers. Many are hunting for the same types of high-quality, cash-flow-positive businesses in the lower-middle market.

However, the firm's focused strategy—combining a specific industry focus (essential services), a defined size (up to $25 million in revenue), and a clear operational playbook—is designed to carve out a defensible niche. By concentrating on founder-led businesses, Sky Grove addresses a common scenario where a business owner is seeking not just an exit, but a succession plan that preserves the company's legacy while ensuring its future growth.

Ultimately, the firm’s success will hinge on its ability to execute this hybrid strategy: merging the institutional discipline and resources from their backgrounds at firms like Sun Capital and McKinsey with the trust and nuanced insight that only comes from being deeply rooted in the Florida market. For the state's many essential service entrepreneurs, this presents a new and compelling option for partnership.