Mako Capital Group Unveils New Private Equity Firm Targeting Founder-Led Ventures
On March 31, 2026, Mako Capital Group, headquartered in vibrant Miami, made its official debut as a fresh entity in the private equity landscape. This ambitious firm is distinctly focused on acquiring lower-middle market businesses primarily in the healthcare and financial services domains, appealing to entrepreneurs and founders. The inception of Mako is the brainchild of three affluent executives who bring extensive experience from their previous roles in influential institutions. The founding trio includes Angel Morales, Pete Amaro, and Oscar Munoz, each with remarkable backgrounds in investment strategies and operational excellence.
Angel Morales previously co-headed BAML Capital Partners at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and co-founded Morales Capital, establishing a solid foundation for Mako's investment philosophy. Pete Amaro boasts a wealth of experience in growth equity investments and has held strategic positions in notable companies like L'ATTITUDE Ventures and The Raine Group. Meanwhile, Oscar Munoz, having served as the CEO of United Airlines, brings executive leadership skills honed through decades of managing large-scale operations across various sectors.
Mako’s fundamental strategy hinges on forming partnerships with founder-led businesses, with a keen focus on essential service industries such as healthcare. The firm aims to leverage its substantial industry expertise to drive transformations within their portfolio companies, encouraging operational improvements that stimulate value creation. Mako is particularly interested in capital-light and recession-resistant business models that demonstrate potential for growth in fragmented markets.
Upon launching, Mako revealed its first two investments: Mangrove Health and Arbor Reciprocal Exchange. Mangrove Health represents Mako's commitment to enhancing healthcare services, specifically community-based preventative care. The platform works tirelessly to connect patients with essential public benefit resources, exemplifying Mako's dedication to social determinants of health.
On the other hand, Arbor Reciprocal Exchange embodies Mako’s foray into innovative financial services. This member-centric homeowners’ insurance platform prioritizes transparency and accessibility, catering specifically to the interests of policyholders while streamlining the insurance experience for Texas homeowners.
Mako Capital Group’s mission is not merely to invest but to also build long-lasting partnerships with the founders and management teams it collaborates with. Morales articulated this week, saying, "Mako was established to help founders and management teams nurture their businesses with intention and expertise." Both Amaro and Munoz echoed similar sentiments, underscoring the importance of operational support in realizing long-term visions for their collaborators.
As Mako seeks to establish a foothold in the private equity market, the firm targets businesses with EBITDA ranging from $5 million to $15 million and concentrates its capital investments between $25 million and $50 million per deal. By adopting a thesis-driven investment approach, it strategically aligns itself with entities that not only need capital but also operational guidance, thereby fostering robust growth pathways.
Overall, Mako Capital Group is set to pave a new pathway in private equity by prioritizing founder-led businesses and emphasizing operational expertise alongside investment capital. As they continue to expand their portfolio, industry onlookers are eager to see how their dedicated approach shapes the future of lower-middle market companies in the sectors of healthcare and financial services. With bold ambitions and a unique founding vision, Mako is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the landscape for burgeoning enterprises in these critical industries.