You've built something real. Now you're stuck.

The problems stacking up:
1. Founder fatigue with no clear path forward
2. No time to build the systems and processes needed to scale
3. Limited access to professional capital or M&A expertise
4. Flying blind financially without proper reporting or clarityAnd your options feel broken:
1. Sell 100% and walk away from what you built
2. Partner with private equity that optimizes for profit over people
3. Hire consultants who leave you with slides, invoices, and no real changeThere's a better way.

Who we partner with.

We partner with owner-operators who have built real, respected businesses—and want to take the next step with the right partner beside them.The Right Business Fit:
$2M-$15M revenue with strong cash flow in light commercial HVAC/MEP or industrial services. Based in the Southeastern US with recurring revenue and a leadership team that wants to stay and grow.The Right Owner Fit:
Takes pride in their culture, wants to stay involved 3+ years, open to accountability, and interested in joining a small network of owner-operators who support each other.What We're Building Together:
We're building a network of 4-5 independently run companies where owners support each other and scale together. You retain 15-49% equity and continue building alongside us. We buy, scale, and hold over decades—preserving what made you successful in the first place.

Mario Montag

Mario is an operator-turned-investor who has spent his career building, scaling, and leading real businesses.Mario started investing in small business M&A when he joined Fruition Capital as a Partner. While the work sharpened his investing discipline, his operating background ultimately led him to start Apala Capital—to move back toward hands-on partnership, small company operations, and long-term growth alongside owners.Before Apala, Mario led operating teams across industrial, HVAC, and building automation businesses, including as General Manager of Turntide Technologies' Automation business prior to its acquisition by BrainBox AI (Trane HVAC). Earlier, he founded and scaled Predikto, a predictive maintenance software company acquired by a Fortune 50 company, where its technology was deployed across industrial assets, transportation, and energy systems.Mario began his career leading ERP and analytics transformations at PwC and McKinsey, work that shaped his focus on systems, clarity, and execution. He is also an EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) coach for leadership teams.He brings a practical, hands-on approach shaped by sitting in the owner's seat—and knowing firsthand how heavy it can get.

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Michael Bonanni

Michael brings deep operational and financial discipline from scaling and exiting a complex service business.Prior to Apala, Michael built and scaled Fireguard into one of the largest fire and life safety service providers in the Mid-Atlantic. Under his leadership, Fireguard transitioned from a project-based model to a recurring service platform with more than 7,500 properties under contract across five states, before successfully exiting to private equity.Earlier in his career, Michael worked in investment banking and now leads due diligence and investment decisions as a Partner at Fruition Capital. He is known for combining rigorous financial thinking with real-world operating judgment.Michael focuses on building durable systems, accountable teams, and businesses that perform well without burning out their leaders.

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