South Pass Ventures

A deliberate buyer.
A committed operator.

Michael Sandler, through South Pass Ventures, is searching for one durable, profitable business to acquire and run — personally, directly, and for the long haul.

A note to sellers Start a conversation
10+Portfolio companies overseen
J.D. / M.B.A.UT Law & McCombs School of Business
Partnerat Temerity Capital Partners
LicensedAttorney, D.C. Bar
The name

Why South Pass.

South Pass, Wyoming was the gateway that let wagon trains cross the Continental Divide — not the riskier route through the Rockies, but the prudent choice of crossing for a generation of industrious pioneers equipped with the tools to build their new life.

South Pass Ventures is built on the same idea. Michael Sandler, equipped with operating experience, is looking for one business to buy and operate directly — not a portfolio, not a flip, and not a shortcut. A single company, chosen carefully, and run with the same commitment it took previous owners to build it.

Portrait of Michael Sandler, Founder of South Pass Ventures
About

Michael Sandler

Michael spent nearly a decade at Temerity Capital Partners, where he held senior roles overseeing 10+ portfolio companies spanning fintech, insurance, legal-tech SaaS, and professional sports. He was hands-on across every stage of the ownership lifecycle — from acquisition through operations, growth, and eventual exit.

Before Temerity, he worked in management consulting at Treliant, with stints in government at the U.S. Treasury and the House Financial Services Committee, and inside fintech startups Credit Karma and Self Financial. That combination — regulatory fluency, operating experience, and startup pace — shapes how he evaluates and runs a business today.

Michael holds a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law, an M.B.A. from the McCombs School of Business, and a B.S.M. from Tulane University. He is a licensed attorney and a member of the D.C. Bar.

He isn't looking to install a management team and step back. He's looking to partner with the existing team as the owner-operator — hands on, accountable, and personally invested in the outcome.

Fintech Insurance SaaS Legal Tech Sports Business
M.B.A., McCombs School of Business
J.D., UT School of Law
B.S.M., Tulane University
Licensed Attorney, D.C. Bar
A note to sellers

On stewardship.

If you're reading this, you've probably spent years — maybe decades — building something real. That kind of work doesn't end when the business changes hands. It deserves an owner who understands what it took to build it, and what it will take to carry it forward.

I'm not a fund looking to install a management team and move on to the next deal. I'm not interested in stripping costs, flipping the business, or optimizing it for a quick exit. I'm looking for one company — yours, possibly — that I will own and run myself, directly and for the long term.

My background is in evaluating and operating businesses across a range of industries, so I understand the difference between a company that looks good on paper and one that's actually built to last. What I'm looking for isn't a turnaround or a bet on potential — it's a durable, profitable business I can step into, respect, and grow.

Your employees, your customers, and your reputation in the market are not checklist items to me. They're the reason the business is worth buying in the first place, and protecting them is part of how I intend to earn the trust you're placing in a new owner.

— Michael Sandler

What I'm looking for

Acquisition criteria.

Revenue

Directionally $3M–$10M in annual revenue.

Profitability

Consistently profitable, with a track record to prove it.

Durability

A defensible position — loyal customers, real relationships, staying power.

Owner transition

Businesses where a founder or owner is ready for the next chapter.

Operating involvement

Michael will be the hands-on operator, not a passive investor.

Get in touch

Let's talk.

Whether you're a business owner considering a sale, or a broker or intermediary with a relevant opportunity, Michael would welcome the conversation.

msandler@southpassventures.com

Thank you — Michael will be in touch shortly.