SteeplechasePartners

Steeplechase Partners

Kansas City area

Steeplechase Partners is a Kansas City holding company that buys and runs established small businesses for the long term.

We look for profitable, owner-run companies whose sellers care what happens to their people after the sale. Conversations are confidential.

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About

Nate Hagerty

Nate Hagerty

Nate Hagerty has spent most of his career building and running small companies.

He started out in ministry. In 2007 he founded the company that became TaxProMarketer and grew it with no outside capital to more than 25 employees. It made the Inc. 5000 in 2022. Along the way he learned to build teams that trust each other and say what they think. He also learned that people do their best work when they get real rest, so the company ran on seven-week sprints followed by one-week breaks.

In 2023 he handed the CEO role to a successor. In 2024 the company made the Inc. 5000 again under the new CEO. That is how Nate works now. He puts capable leaders in charge and builds companies that run well without his day-to-day control.

Today Nate leads Steeplechase Partners. He's looking for an established business to own and grow. Through Steeplechase Partners he is managing partner of Paradox Holdings and a founding partner of Paravel Insights. He is also a partner in Literal Agency.

History

  1. 2001–2003Young Life. Nate starts out on Young Life field staff, mentoring high school kids and giving them spiritual direction.
  2. 2003–2007Marketing Director, regional tax practice. He moves into marketing and runs it for a tax practice. That's where he learns what tax firms need from marketing, and it's the idea behind the company he starts next.
  3. 2007TaxProMarketer, founder. In May 2007 he starts the company as HerdBuilder Marketing, doing email and newsletter marketing for tax professionals. He builds it with no outside capital, grows it past 25 employees, and makes the Inc. 5000 in 2022. The team works in seven-week sprints followed by one-week breaks. In 2023 he hands the CEO role to a successor, and in 2024 the company makes the Inc. 5000 again under the new CEO.
  4. 2022–nowLiteral Agency, partner. In August 2022 he becomes a partner in Literal Agency.
  5. 2022–nowParadox Holdings, managing partner. In December 2022 he becomes managing partner of Paradox Holdings, a holding company for agencies and projects. Steeplechase Partners is one of its partners.
  6. 2023–nowParavel Insights, founding partner. In June 2023 he helps found Paravel Insights, which brings his marketing work back to the faith-based causes where he started. Paravel helps those causes grow, build their brands, run events and raise money. Paradox Holdings owns a stake in it.
  7. TodaySteeplechase Partners. Nate is looking for an established business in the Kansas City area to own and grow.

What happens when you reach out

  1. A first call. We get to know each other. You tell us about your business and what you want for it and your people, and Nate tells you about himself and how he works.
  2. An NDA. If it makes sense to keep talking, we both sign a nondisclosure agreement before you share any financials.
  3. An ongoing conversation. From there we keep talking, at your pace.

All of it stays confidential.

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