About

Calm Capital buys and invests in good businesses. These companies possess immense durability, strong client relationships, capable staff, and profitable earnings. We work with selling-founders to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome, offering straightforward terms and a simple process.

We’re not a traditional private equity, venture, holdco, or search fund. And we’re not really set up to make angel or early-stage investments. But retiring business owners really like our commitment to leading their businesses well after they’re ready to pass the mantle.

The Calm Way

How we do things around here.

Principled

Everything we do is done with steadfast intention and integrity. Calm Capital companies solve essential problems for their customers.

Patient

We don’t hurry or rush. We don’t succumb to FOMO (fear of missing out). We think. We don’t react.

Persistent

We keep going with unrelenting optimism and continual improvement.

Performance-oriented

We achieve results with an attitude of stewardship. Profitable businesses create long-term above average returns for its partners, team members and customers.

Perpetual

We’re opportunistic long-term thinkers with no exit strategy.

Team

Marty Balkema

Co-founder, Managing Partner

Over the last 25 years, Marty has progressed from writing code as a software engineer to leading product teams across a wide variety of industries for companies like Mitsubishi Caterpillar and Lifetime Fitness. Building on these experiences, Marty co-founded and operated multiple software companies before starting Calm Capital with David.

Marty resides along the southern coast of North Carolina with his wife and four kids — where you’ll find him cruising on open water or putting on fast greens.

Connect with Marty here.

David Horne

Co-founder, Managing Partner

After a (very) brief stint playing professional golf, David worked in marketing until going out on his own in 2008. Since then, he launched several startups and built a few creative agencies before co-founding Calm Capital.

David resides in his home state of North Carolina, bouncing between the Sandhills and the Outer Banks with his wife and two sons.

Connect with David here.