LJ Campbell
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Hey LJ — we both ended up in PE from pretty different directions. been thinking a lot about origination in tech-enabled services lately. would be good to connect.
Hey LJ, we both ended up in PE though from different directions — I came through IB at CS & Greenhill in London rather than Bain into a search fund like you. origination was always the same story for me — clear thesis, decent relationships, but no proprietary system of record. the people, tools and ideas were never really connected. every deal virtually sourced from scratch, nothing compounding over time. curious if that's still how most funds operate or if I'm behind the times? — Russ
Hey LJ, interesting path — we both landed in PE, though from different angles. I came through banking at CS & Greenhill in London into growth equity, not consulting at Bain into building a search fund like you. the pattern I keep seeing with most funds is weirdly consistent — strong thesis, solid network, but no proprietary system of record. the people, tools and ideas are never really connected. every deal virtually sourced from scratch, nothing compounds on itself. curious if that resonates or if you've built something different at Shoals? — Russ
hey LJ — no worries if the timing's off. most funds I talk to have tried some version of building origination in-house — analyst pulling from Pitchbook or Grata, maybe using ChatGPT to help qualify, dumping it into a spreadsheet. each piece kind of works, but there's no system of record tying it together. the people, tools and ideas are all disconnected, so tonnes of wasted energy and everything ends up out of sync. been helping a few funds like Mentmore work through that. curious if you've hit the same wall at Shoals? — Russ
totally get it if origination infrastructure isn't top of mind right now — most funds have 10 things ahead of it on the priority list. the funds I've seen crack it early just tend to compound deal flow in a way that's hard to replicate later. if it ever moves up the list, I'm easy to find. — Russ
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Prospect Research
## PROSPECT INFORMATION: Name: LJ Campbell Title: Managing Partner Fund: Shoals Growth Partners Background: Prospect Information Summary: Current Role and Focus: LJ Campbell is currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, and serves as the Chief Executive Officer for both Léargas Security and Critical Path Security, starting in February 2026. This dual leadership role follows a strategic growth investment from Shoals Growth Partners, where LJ is also a Managing Partner. His current focus is accelerating IT and OT cybersecurity services and technology while partnering with technical founders to scale security strategies. Professional Background: LJ has a diverse professional trajectory that spans venture capital, management consulting, and public service. Prior to his current CEO roles, he was a Consultant at Bain & Company (2022–2024) in Atlanta and a Lead Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton (2018–2022) in Washington DC. His early career includes roles in venture capital as an MBA Associate at Cofounders Capital and a Summer Associate at XRC Ventures. Notably, LJ began his career in education, serving as a Middle School Teacher with Teach For America and later as President of United Educators at UNO in Chicago. He is an Eagle Scout recipient. Education: He holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) from Birmingham-Southern College. Key Skills: His core competencies include Strategic Planning, Strategy, Data Analysis, Leadership Development, and Public Speaking. He also has a strong foundational background in Educational Leadership, Community Outreach, and Program Development. Recent Activity and Direct Quotes: - March 4, 2026: Shared an announcement regarding his transition to CEO, stating: "Today, Critical Path Security and Léargas Security announced a strategic growth investment from Shoals Growth... This investment provides additional growth capital and operational resources to accelerate our IT and OT cybersecurity services and technology - while keeping day-to-day client engagements unchanged." - February 15, 2023: Commented on the state of the market during his time at Bain: "Last year presented challenges for dealmakers as inflation, interest rates, geopolitical tensions, and increased regulatory oversight placed unprecedented demand on the skills of deal executives, but M&A persevered." - July 11, 2022: Announced a career milestone: "I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Consultant at Bain & Company!" Fund details: - Description: Entrepreneur-led private investment partnership focused on acquiring and growing an enduring services business. - Website: https://www.shoalsgrowth.com - Location: Atlanta, Georgia, United States - Lead qualification: Research: - Query: =Shoals Growth Partners LJ Campbell recent investments fund thesis - Answer: Shoals Growth Partners recently invested in Shoals Technologies, a solar energy solutions provider. The firm focuses on renewable energy infrastructure investments. This aligns with their fund thesis of supporting clean energy growth.