David Bartelme
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Hey David — congrats on launching Endura. Similar IB → PE background here — been deep in Midwest manufacturing origination lately. Would be good to connect.
Hey David, see we share a similar PE path, though I was in London doing growth equity not building a manufacturing holdco in Milwaukee. most funds I talk to have a database — PitchBook or Grata — maybe a CRM, and then the origination setup is mostly Excel and email from there. but proprietary deal flow still feels thin. thesis, network, and intelligence never sync into one system — so origination resets every cycle instead of compounding. do you disagree? — Russ
Hey David, see we share a similar PE path, though I was in London doing growth equity not building a manufacturing holdco in Milwaukee. most funds I talk to have a database — PitchBook or Grata — maybe a CRM, and then the origination setup is mostly Excel and email from there. but proprietary deal flow still feels thin. thesis, network, and intelligence never sync into one system — so origination resets every cycle instead of compounding. do you disagree? — Russ
hey David — this kept rattling around. when I was doing growth equity we had every subscription going — PitchBook, CRM, enrichment tools, the lot — and I still spent half my time manually pulling origination together across all of it. always wondered if that was just us being disorganised or if it's genuinely universal. did you ever run into that at Endura, or was it just us? — Russ
hey David — appreciate the connect either way. I'm in and around manufacturing origination all day — if you ever want to swap notes on what's working for Midwest deal flow, I'm easy to find. — Russ
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Hey David, looks like we share a similar IB → PE path, though I was doing growth equity for a European fund not building a manufacturing holdco in the Midwest. the typical origination setup I see is a data subscription, a CRM that's half-populated, and a lot of Excel and Outlook doing the heavy lifting. yet the off-market pipeline stays weirdly thin. the intelligence is all there but it's scattered across tools and inboxes — so nothing compounds into a real origination edge. do you disagree? Russell searchloop.ai linkedin.com/in/russellt23
Hey David, been talking to a few manufacturing funds this week and a pattern keeps showing up. most funds I talk to are still 70-80% broker-dependent for deal flow. works fine until two funds get shown the same deal and it becomes a pricing war. the proprietary pipeline is the thing that's supposed to prevent that — but it rarely gets built systematically. curious whether Endura has cracked that or if it's the same pattern. Russell searchloop.ai linkedin.com/in/russellt23
hey David — one more thought on this. at my old fund we had a solid stack and smart people, and origination still felt like it restarted from scratch every cycle. took me a while to realise it wasn't a people problem — the tools just didn't talk to each other. did you ever run into that at Endura, or was it just us? Russell searchloop.ai linkedin.com/in/russellt23
hey David — been thinking about this a lot — the difference between funds that build origination infrastructure in the first couple of years vs those that keep running on brokers and inbound. by year 3-4 the gap is pretty hard to close. curious if you've been thinking about this at Endura. Russell searchloop.ai linkedin.com/in/russellt23
hey David — appreciate you reading these either way. spend most of my time thinking about origination infrastructure for funds — if that ever becomes a thing worth talking about, I'm around. Russell searchloop.ai linkedin.com/in/russellt23
Prospect Research
## PROSPECT INFORMATION: Name: David Bartelme Title: Managing Partner Fund: Endura, LLC Background: David Bartelme is a veteran investment and operations leader based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently serving as the Managing Partner of Endura, LLC. As of May 2025, his primary focus is leading Endura, a private equity firm he founded to acquire and invest in Midwest-based manufacturing companies with a "buy and hold for a generation" philosophy. His professional background is deeply rooted in industrial sectors, having spent over 15 years at Shell Oil Company in various roles, including Staff Economist, M&A Project Coordinator, and Process Engineer. He also previously served as COO and VP of Corporate Development at Ellsworth Adhesives and was a Partner and Managing Director at Borgman Capital. Adding to his professional breadth, he is an Adjunct Faculty member at Marquette University, where he teaches Investment Banking. Educational Background: - MBA in Natural Resources, Energy & Environment from the University of Alberta (2011). - MBA focused on Energy Industry Strategy from IFP School (2011). - BSE in Chemical Engineering with a Biotechnology specialization from the University of Washington (2002). Core Skills: Investment banking, M&A, private equity, manufacturing operations, staff economics, process engineering, and strategic partnerships. Key Post Insights and Direct Quotes: December 4, 2025: David expressed gratitude for participating in an MBBI marquee event. Quote: "Thank you MBBI for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the shark tank panel at your annual marquee event." October 28, 2025: He shared an article regarding business succession. Quote: "Great description of options for selling your business." August 26, 2025: David highlighted a feature in the Milwaukee Business Journal regarding his new firm. Quote: "Thanks to the Milwaukee Business Journal for featuring Endura and our long-term approach to investing in Midwest manufacturers. We’re building durable companies with patient capital, hands-on support, and a people-first mindset." July 29, 2025: Announced the launch of his firm’s digital presence. Quote: "Endura officially launches new website." May 1, 2025: David officially announced the launch of Endura, LLC. Quote: "I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new Private Equity Firm called Endura. Endura focuses on acquiring and investing in Midwest based Manufacturing companies with the goal of growing and holding them for a generation." October 15, 2024: He was featured on the Excellence Through Execution Podcast with Jason Weseman. Quote: "David discusses how he stays innovative in the face of the amazing changes going on in the world. He also gives sound advice to new entrepreneurs starting out on their journey." October 10, 2024: David celebrated his wife's career move. Quote: "I'm proud of my wife taking on a new challenge. If anyone needs Executive Coaching and Leadership Development, she is truly the best." January 5, 2023: Announced his transition into academia. Quote: "I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Adjunct Faculty at Marquette University!" March 8, 2022: While at Borgman Capital, he emphasized the importance of financial skills. Quote: "We are hiring a Private Equity Analyst Intern... The ideal candidate is a college Junior or Senior... with strong Excel and analytical skills including financial modeling." November 15, 2019: Reflected on a speaking engagement for the Exit Planning Institute. Quote: "I spoke at the Exit Planning Institute conference. Thanks to everyone that helped to put on this event." Fund details: - Description: We grow businesses into globally competitive organizations by empowering people, reinvesting capital for long-term growth, and forging strategic partnerships. We buy companies and hold them for a generation because building a great company requires time and commitment. For manufacturing business owners seeking growth capital or planning for a transition, Endura is a trusted equity partner focused on people-first relationships and long-term growth. Our partners rely on us to help build stronger, more enduring businesses by supporting the people—and the communities—that power them every day. - Website: https://endura-llc.com - Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States - Lead qualification: Research: - Query: =Endura, LLC David Bartelme recent investments fund thesis - Answer: David Bartelme is the Managing Partner of Endura, LLC, a private equity firm focused on long-term investments in manufacturing businesses. Endura emphasizes people-first relationships and sustainable growth. Bartelme has extensive experience in operational leadership and private equity.