David Horne
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David — been working on origination with funds buying founder-led software and services businesses and Calm Capital caught my eye. would be good to connect.
David — jealous of what you've built at Calm Capital. though we share a PE background, I hope to one day launch my own fund in the founder-led software space. been working on the origination side with funds like Noble Rock and Wingman — curious how Calm Capital handles origination. mostly proprietary or broker-driven? — Russ
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David — hope you're having a good Wednesday. wanted to reach out — jealous of what you've built at Calm Capital. though we share a PE background, I hope to one day launch my own fund and acquire a durable software business. in the meantime I've been working on the origination side with funds like Noble Rock and Wingman — curious how you're thinking about origination at Calm Capital. mostly proprietary or still seeing a lot through brokers? very best, Russell linkedin.com/in/russellt23
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Hey, Russell. It's mostly proprietary and word-of-mouth referrals for the deals we've done. However, we still receive a lot of broker/advisor pitches. --- David Horne managing partner / calmcapital.com Please note: I check my email only a few times per day. Therefore, I may not respond right away. If your request is urgent, please call. On Wed, Feb 25, 2026 at 8:05 AM, Russell Taylor <rt@momen2um.com> wrote: David — hope you're having a good Wednesday. wanted to reach out — jealous of what you've built at Calm Capital. though we share a PE background, I hope to one day launch my own fund and acquire a durable software business. in the meantime I've been working on the origination side with funds like Noble Rock and Wingman — curious how you're thinking about origination at Calm Capital. mostly proprietary or still seeing a lot through brokers? very best, Russell linkedin.com/in/russellt23
Prospect Research
## PROSPECT INFORMATION: Name: David Horne Title: Co-founder, Managing Partner Fund: Calm Capital Background: David Horne is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Calm Capital, a holding company that acquires and operates profitable software and services businesses for the long term. Based in Southern Pines, North Carolina, he describes himself as a "lifelong apprentice" and focuses on principled stewardship and sustainable "hold forever" investment models. David simultaneously serves as the CMO and a Board Member for Judicial Systems, Inc, where he drives the implementation of jury management technology, and is the Founder of Honestly, a creative and strategy agency. His background is rooted in digital marketing and entrepreneurship, having co-founded multiple ventures including CrewPay, LOFT, and Ketch Commerce. Earlier in his career, he served as an Adjunct Professor of Marketing at Greensboro College and held business development roles in the facilities services and banking sectors. Notably, he spent four years as a Golf Professional, a passion that continues to influence his leadership philosophy. His core skills include brand development, strategic planning, digital marketing, and complex problem-solving. Direct Quotes for Outreach Hooks: On February 7, 2025, David commented on the value of long-term business partnerships and the importance of reliability, stating he was "thankful to have a business partner like Marty Balkema, who never mails it in." On December 23, 2024, David published a reflection on leadership and personal capacity, writing, "This time of year is ideal for reflection and planning. One area I like to consider is margin and why it's so important to create and maintain." In a post on April 4, 2024, discussing craftsmanship in the digital age, David noted his interest in "building an heirloom" and "creating things people appreciate and build memories around," while questioning, "Is that possible in the digital world? Jory’s furniture is physical and organic. But software? I’m still not sure." On February 7, 2024, David shared a deep-seated belief in human-centric business practices: "In business, if we treat people as only customers, employees, and prospects, we may win or lose. But when we treat them as people, everyone wins." On January 31, 2024, drawing a parallel between endurance racing and business, he wrote, "Success boils down to who can show up each day, lap after lap... setting key objectives and hitting them." On November 21, 2023, he shared a strategic tip for sales and marketing: "Many companies miss out on potential new business due to their short-term thinking. They make the mistake of assuming that 'not right now' means 'no.'" Fund details: - Description: Calm Capital is a holding company focused on buying and investing in good businesses — turning them into great companies. - Website: https://www.calmcapital.com/ - Location: Southern Pines, North Carolina, United States - Lead qualification: Research: - Query: =Calm Capital David Horne recent investments fund thesis - Answer: Calm Capital, co-founded by David Horne, invests in durable software and service businesses. They focus on acquiring companies with strong client relationships and profitable earnings. They offer straightforward terms to retiring business owners.