Michael D. Weiss
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Hey Michael — congrats on launching W8 Capital. came from a similar-ish path (IB → growth equity) and been thinking a lot about healthcare platform origination. would be good to connect.
Hey Michael, similar background though I was in London at Greenhill & Treis not in Chicago scaling healthcare platforms. origination was always the same story for me — clear thesis, decent relationships, but no proprietary system of record tying anything together. every deal 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 Michael, looks like we share a similar background, though I was in London doing growth equity deals at Treis not in Chicago building out healthcare platforms like you're doing with W8. 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 W8 Capital? — Russ
hey Michael — 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 everything ends up out of sync. been helping a few funds like Mentmore work through that. curious if you've run into the same thing at W8? — 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: Michael D. Weiss Title: Chief Executive Officer & Partner Fund: W8 Capital Background: Michael D. Weiss is a versatile serial entrepreneur and strategic investor based in the Greater Chicago Area, currently serving as the CEO and Partner of W8 Capital. His current professional focus is leading W8 Capital, a healthcare-focused investment firm that consolidates his decades of operational and strategic expertise into a single platform for building scalable, long-term businesses. He is deeply involved in a diverse portfolio of healthcare companies, including Local MD Urgent Care (Founder), Health Vax, Simple Laboratories, Molecular Direct, and Polaris Pharmacy Services, where he serves as a Strategic Advisor and Partner following the 2025 sale of UVANTA Pharmacy of Northern Illinois. His background is characterized by a "build and scale" philosophy across multiple industries. He transitioned from an Executive Director and Corporate Strategic Advisor role at BRIA Health Services (2016–2025) to a powerhouse investor and serial founder. Beyond healthcare, he founded Spirit Hub, an e-commerce platform for independent distilleries that eventually pivoted to an omnichannel retail model, and AirShock, a specialized packaging company. His education includes a degree from Touro University, and he possesses core skills in management, mergers and acquisitions, team leadership, strategic investment, and business development. Key Insights from Recent Posts: December 31, 2025: Michael reflected on a year of "tightening systems, refining leadership, and doing the unglamorous work that actually sustains growth." He emphasized a focus on "operational discipline, regulatory rigor, and building teams that can scale responsibly," noting that "2026 will be a year of growth, but only because 2025 was a year of preparation." November 2, 2025: He announced a major milestone regarding the sale of UVANTA Pharmacy of Northern Illinois to Polaris Pharmacy Services. He stated, "The sale... and formation of a multi-state specific joint venture with Polaris represent far more than a transaction. It’s the start of a partnership built on alignment, shared purpose, and a clear vision for growth." October 20, 2025: Officially introduced his current main platform, stating: "Over the past few years I have focused on building organizations that last. That work has now come together under one platform called W8 Capital... We see opportunity where others see complexity." September 8, 2025: He demonstrated his commitment to education and tax strategy by promoting a 1031 exchange webinar, calling it a "Very rare opportunity to learn from one of the industry experts!" June 17, 2025: Michael shared a vulnerable take on past ventures, specifically mentioning Spirit Hub: "Some businesses have a shelf life... That doesn’t mean they failed. I’ve learned over time that the ventures we walk away from often become our most valuable assets." June 15, 2025: He highlighted his commitment to authenticity on social media, asserting, "I write every post. I think through every word... LinkedIn is not just a place to broadcast headlines. It’s where we share real perspective." May 30, 2025: Celebration of a major expansion for Local MD Urgent Care, acquiring five new clinics. He credited his team for a "defining stretch" and reiterated his mission: "When we started Local MD Urgent Care in 2018 it was with a belief that local high-quality care should be the rule, not the exception." March 24, 2025: He praised the acquisition of Wiz by Google, noting that building a $32 billion exit "takes relentless focus, unmatched execution, and the kind of personal sacrifice most people will never see." Fund details: - Description: W8 Capital is a strategic healthcare investment firm dedicated to building scalable, integrated platforms that deliver superior clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, and long-term financial returns. Our investment thesis is centered on identifying high-potential healthcare and ancillary businesses, combining operational expertise with capital, and leveraging platform strategies to accelerate growth. We focus on companies where strategic alignment, disciplined execution, and expansion of core and ancillary services can create sustainable enterprise value. We seek to partner with management teams, strategic partners, and limited partner investors to drive transformation through operational optimization, platform integration, and targeted M&A. While our primary focus is healthcare, we selectively pursue complementary growth opportunities in real assets and alternative investments to enhance portfolio diversification and risk-adjusted returns - Website: https://www.w8cap.com - Location: Evanston, Illinois, United States - Lead qualification: Research: - Query: =W8 Capital Michael D. Weiss recent investments fund thesis - Answer: Michael D. Weiss leads W8 Capital, focusing on healthcare platform investments for growth and better outcomes. W8 Capital's investment thesis centers on scalable, integrated healthcare platforms. Michael D. Weiss is also a Strategic Advisor for Polaris Pharmacy Services.