NextGen Growth Partners (NGP), a Chicago-based private equity firm that taps Chicago’s top entrepreneurs to acquire and grow lower middle market businesses, today announced that it has added two new members to its team. Joining are Austin Ashmore and Rock Irvin, both as Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs).
With these two additions, NGP now has four total EIRs, each of whom is seeking to find a single business to join on a full-time basis and help lead it through its next phase of growth.
Mr. Ashmore and Mr. Irvin bring experience from different industries — Ashmore with a bent toward industrial services and manufacturing, Irvin more focused on product and technology optimization — and both are passionate helping entrepreneurial businesses achieve long-term growth.
Prior to joining NGP, Austin worked for Sonoco Products Company, where he focused on cost-optimization and the integration of systems and strategic acquisitions. Prior to Sonoco, Austin worked for his family’s business, Ashmore Brothers Inc., which was acquired by a strategic buyer in 2015.
“We are excited for Austin to join our team, given his strong financial and operational background. We are also thrilled to partner with him in realizing his dream of owning and growing a small business, just like his father did.” – Brian O’Connor, Managing Partner of NextGen Growth Partners.
Prior to joining NGP, Rock worked for Vista Intelligence Group, the data and intelligence division of Vista Equity Partners, as Head of Product. In this role, Rock led all product efforts for data and leading-edge technology to create new intelligence-driven solutions for new and existing companies in the Vista portfolio. Prior to his time at Vista, Rock co-founded the Data Products Team at Cars.com.
“Rock brings to the table a unique background combining financial and management skills with an obsessively data-driven mindset. Rock has done great work with Vista’s portfolio companies and we are excited for him to execute in new and more meaningful ways at NGP.” – commented O’Connor.
NGP invests in fundamentally sound businesses with between $5 and $50 million of annual revenue, primarily in the business services sector.
About NextGen Growth Partners
NextGen Growth Partners is a private equity firm that partners with the best and brightest entrepreneurial talent to acquire, operate and grow lower middle market businesses across a variety of industries. Based in Chicago, the team has a strong track record of creating value through growth and operational improvement in lower middle market businesses. For more information, please visit nextgengp.com.
