Jim Graf

I am an investment banker with Winter Park Capital, where I focus primarily on originating and advising lower middle market sell-side M&A transactions. My background is somewhat different from that of a traditional investment banker. Before moving into M&A advisory, I spent years as an entrepreneur and operator. I built an insurance business from the ground up, completed more than 20 acquisitions along the way, grew the company to more than $20 million of in-force premium and ultimately sold the business in 2026. Going through that process as an owner shaped the way I approach M&A today. Selling a business is more than a financial transaction. For many owners, it represents decades of work, a significant portion of their net worth, employees they care about and a company that has become part of their identity. My goal is to help owners understand their options, prepare appropriately and run a thoughtful process when the time is right. At WPC, I work with owners throughout the sell-side process, including evaluating the business, preparing materials, developing the buyer universe, approaching potential acquirers, evaluating offers, negotiating transaction structure and helping manage diligence through closing. We typically work with established lower middle market companies that have meaningful earnings and a defensible position in their market. Depending on the opportunity, our buyer outreach may include strategic acquirers, family offices, private equity firms, independent sponsors and other qualified investors. I particularly enjoy working with founder- and family-owned businesses where the owner wants a straightforward conversation about what their company may be worth, who the likely buyers are and what a sale process would actually look like. Not every conversation needs to result in a transaction. Sometimes the best outcome is determining that an owner should continue building the business for several more years before going to market. My approach is simple: understand the business, understand what the owner is trying to accomplish, and help determine the best path forward.

M.B.A. in Finance from Marquette University B.A. in Business Administration from Xavier University FINRA SIE Certified Florida Real Estate License 20+ years capital markets, investing, evaluation, and operating experience in public and private equity markets. Former Chief Executive Officer of Kazzcade, a leading B2B outsourced inside sales company, focused on the technology industry. Former General and Founding Partner of Chamberlin Partners, a private equity search fund. Former Director at Robert Baird, specializing in helping hedge funds identify and evaluate alpha generating portfolio investments. Lead capital raises for both private and public companies via IPO and Pipe process. Co-Founder of Quibl, an online demand aggregator for youth athletic apparel and equipment

I am proud to have over 30 years of experience in the Marketing and Advertising Business, along with an additional 9 years working in the Commercial Real Estate and Business Brokerage business. I pride myself on diligently working with my clients and have a pleasant experience in finding a buyer for their hard-earned assets.