Deep Forest AI / Acquisitions
For the business you built.Southeast U.S.
You built it.
What’s next?
Prefer an exit to another round of systems and AI investment? Explore a sale to Old Growth.
FOR OWNERS / AT YOUR OWN PACE
Where are you
in the process?
You don’t have to be ready to sell to take a useful next step.
I’m thinking
about a sale.
Get a practical introduction to the records, relationships, and decisions to consider.
Read the owner guide 02 / PREPAREI want to get
the business ready.
Answer eight questions and get three next steps. See your results without sharing your email.
Check your readiness 03 / CONNECTI’m ready to
discuss a fit.
Introduce the business and what you’re considering. A short introduction is enough to start.
Discuss your businessEXPERIENCE BEHIND THE APPROACH
Familiar with the products.
Interested in the business.
Deep Forest AI founder Pete Galloway’s background includes making and selling spill kits and distributing pipe plugs from Plug-It and Cherne.
The experience behind Old Growth12 SECTORS / SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE
Your industry.
Your starting point.
Find a preparation guide built around the way your business works.
Industrial supply & MRO
Fasteners · Bearings · Maintenance supplies
Explore the owner guideSafety & spill-control supply
PPE · Absorbents · Spill kits
Explore the owner guideHose, fittings & fluid power
Hydraulic hose · Fittings · Components
Explore the owner guideElectrical & controls distribution
Electrical supply · Controls · Components
Explore the owner guidePackaging & shipping supplies
Corrugated · Stretch film · Shipping supplies
Explore the owner guideJanitorial & sanitation supply
Paper products · Cleaning supplies · Floor care
Explore the owner guideFasteners & fixings
Bolts · Screws · Bin replenishment
Explore the owner guideBearings & power transmission
Bearings · Belts · Drives & sprockets
Explore the owner guidePipe, valves & fittings
Industrial pipe · Valves · Fittings
Explore the owner guidePlumbing & HVAC supply
Plumbing supply · HVAC parts · Contractor trade
Explore the owner guideWelding & fabrication supplies
Consumables · Welding equipment · Fabrication
Explore the owner guideTools, cutting & abrasives
Cutting tools · Abrasives · Shop supplies
Explore the owner guideA THOUGHTFUL NEXT CHAPTER
Built on understanding.
At every step.
Your business carries years of knowledge, relationships, and work. A potential change of ownership should start by understanding them.
Explore how an initial conversation could develop, from your first introduction to planning a possible transition.
Our approach to ownershipThe products, people, customer relationships, and everyday decisions that make your business work. Start with an introduction and what matters to you.
OUR ACQUISITION FOCUS
Specialist businesses.
Lasting foundations.
- Where
- Southeast U.S.
- What
- Established specialty distribution and industrial supply businesses.
- Owner situation
- Owners exploring a future sale, preparing a succession plan, or ready to discuss a transition.
- What matters
- Specialist product knowledge, established customer relationships, and an operating business to carry forward.
- Business size
- Considered business by business. A short introduction is enough to begin a fit discussion.
- Owner’s role
- Discuss the responsibilities you want to hand over, any role you would consider keeping, and your preferred timing.
Old Growth is the acquisitions division of Deep Forest AI. Our approach is to acquire and operate, with fit considered business by business.
Learn about Old GrowthBEFORE YOU GET IN TOUCH
Good questions.
Clear starting points.
What happens after I inquire?
Inquiries are reviewed by Pete Galloway, founder of Deep Forest AI, on behalf of Old Growth. The first discussion covers the business, your objectives, and a possible fit. Detailed records can wait until information handling and next steps have been discussed.
Who would own and operate the business?
Old Growth approaches these conversations as a prospective acquirer. Any proposal would need to identify the purchasing entity, funding plan, operating leadership, and the owner’s proposed role. These details belong in the transaction discussion before an owner makes a commitment.
What about my team and company name?
Tell us what you want to preserve. The people, customer relationships, and identity of the business are part of the transition discussion. Any specific commitments would need to be agreed for the individual transaction.
What should I share to start?
Your name, email, the type of business, and what you’re considering. The form also has room for the business name, state, and timing. Please leave customer lists, employee details, account numbers, and confidential documents out of the initial inquiry.
THE OWNER’S JOURNAL / BLOG
Make room for
the next chapter.

OPERATING PERSPECTIVE · 5 MINUTE READ
The product knowledge behind a repeat order
A distribution perspective informed by spill kits and pipe plugs: make product knowledge, order changes, and approval responsibilities easier to carry forward.
Read the article
CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS · 4 MINUTE READ
Will customer relationships carry through an owner handover?
Map how customer relationships work beyond the owner, with a handover worksheet for specialty distributors preparing for a sale.
Read the article
SOUTHEAST RESOURCES · 5 MINUTE READ
Selling a business in the Southeast: where to start with advice
Find public business resources in six Southeast states and prepare useful questions for your accountant, attorney, and prospective buyer.
Read the article
ACQUISITION INQUIRIES
Consider the
next chapter.
We welcome introductions from owners and advisers of specialty distribution and industrial supply businesses in the Southeast U.S.
Discuss your business