Partnering with and Acquiring Companies in Optical, Sports & Licensing.
An independent sponsor run by operator-founders. We acquire $1M–$15M EBITDA companies from founders ready for their next chapter, and invest alongside family offices and co-investors who want industry experience on the cap table.
[ REF_01 / ATHLETE ]We invest in the following.
Three verticals where we have deep experience in operations.
Eyewear & Optical
Brands, clinics, labs, distribution, software, and technology across the full optical stack.
Sports & Licensing
Licensed sports brands, fan products, and athlete, team, and league partnerships.
Ecommerce
DTC and marketplace businesses across eyewear, sports, and licensed brands.
[ REF_02 / COATING ]Founders partnering with founders.
Axo Equity is an independent sponsor founded by entrepreneurs and executives with hands-on experience scaling businesses in optical, sports, and licensing.
[ 01 / WHAT_WE_BELIEVE ]We're not your typical hard-nosed equity firm. We see the world through a founder's lens.
We get it. Building a company is tough — it can be lonely, exhausting, and relentless. But it can also be amazing.
We're naturally drawn to innovative ideas (even if our spouses occasionally roll their eyes when we ask, "What do you think of this business idea?").
At our core, we're builders — not just financiers.[ 02 / HOW_WE_OPERATE ]
We've built and run companies ourselves — but we're not here to run yours. We bring capital and the perspective of people who've sat in the operator's seat, so you keep building while we back you.
As an independent sponsor, we structure investments on a deal-by-deal basis rather than through a committed fund. That flexibility lets us tailor our support to your unique situation instead of forcing it through a fund clock.
Let's talkLed by industry insiders.
We aren't career bankers. We've built, scaled, and exited companies inside the industries we are focused on. We speak the language of founders we are looking to work with.
Ben Rollins
3X FOUNDER · OPTICAL · ECOM
Ben has founded multiple companies in the optical industry, including a consumer lens brand and a vision-related medical device. He has licensed technologies from several of the country's top universities including Columbia, Cornell, and Utah. His entrepreneurial and operational background anchors how we partner with founders.
LinkedIn
Dan Bruton
SPORTS MARKETING · ECOMMERCE · OPTICAL · LICENSING
15+ years in sports marketing and licensing. Formerly head of marketing at Upper Deck, securing licenses with Nike, Oakley, the NFL, and NBA. University sports-marketing professor and author of the textbook Sports Marketing, used in universities across the country. Operator credibility from leading SportRx.com through exponential growth to a top-10 Outdoor Magazine workplace ranking.
LinkedInWho we partner with.
Capital Providers
We work with family offices and co-investors who want to deploy capital alongside industry veterans. Our deal-by-deal approach lets us stay focused on good companies and good people — not fund cycles.
Sellers
If you're considering a transition for your business, we provide a partner who:
- Understands your industry deeply and respects your legacy
- Offers simplicity compared to large institutional buyers
- Brings an operator's perspective — we've built companies ourselves, so we support the team without stepping in to run the business
[ REF_03 / SPORT ]Founded & invested companies.
A track record of companies our team has founded, scaled, or backed.
DTC prescription sports & sunglasses eyewear
Patented clip technology & optical distribution
Therapeutic lenses for light sensitivity (licensed)
Sensor technology
Silk-based eye drops & amniotic membrane replacements
Ready for the next stage?
Founders and operators exploring a sale — and family offices or co-investors looking to back sponsors inside optical, sports, and licensing — we'd like to hear from you.