The New, New Colossus

Creating a new kind of independence through SME ownership

Happy 4th of July to all my American friends.

Today, I’ve been thinking about The New Colossus, the poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty.

Written by Emma Lazarus in 1883, it was originally composed to help raise funds for the statue’s pedestal — a symbol of welcome, ambition, and freedom.

In a small way, I’m doing something similar.

I back experienced ETA (Entrepreneurship through Acquisition) buyers and SME operators with co-investment capital to help them acquire and scale enduring businesses.

Over the years, I came to realise that true financial freedom comes from ownership — of assets, time, and direction.

After 25 years in institutional investing across venture capital, real assets, public equities, hedge funds, and multi-manager portfolios, I shifted focus to a different kind of asset:

Profitable, cash-generating SMEs with strong operations, loyal customers, and clear product–market fit.

Many of these businesses are entering a critical succession phase as their founders prepare to retire.

At Archimax, we partner with proven buyers and operators to support this transition.

Here’s what The New Colossus might say today, in our context:

“Give me your bold, your proven,

Your seasoned builders scaling through acquisition,

The high-conviction plays of your expanding shore.

Send these, the ready, the thoughtfully structured to me —

I lift my lamp beside the discerning door.”

We focus on post-LOI, execution-ready opportunities, typically led by operators with a track record of success.

We assess three things:

↳ the buyer

↳ the business

↳ the transaction

Then we co-invest via single-deal SPVs.

And we provide board-level support to help ensure alignment and create long-term value.

Our approach blends institutional discipline with hands-on private market execution.

We bring the rigour of fund manager selection usually found in large investment platforms to the SME buyout space.

If you’re a buyer or operator with a compelling deal and seeking aligned acquisition or growth capital, or a professional investor interested in co-investing with us, I’d love to hear from you.

Connect here