Meet the new funds driving employee ownership—Monarch and Liquidus Partners
Want to learn more about employee ownership (EO) investing? Join this free webinar, our next EO Fund Spotlight, on November 6th, from 11am-12:30pm PT (2pm-3:30pm ET).
In this upcoming Spotlight, we’re excited to highlight two funds that are newer on the scene and generating buzz–and actively raising: Monarch Investment Partners and Liquidus Partners are part of a new wave of capital driving employee ownership. They’re pairing smart finance with strategies that keep businesses locally rooted and help workers build wealth.
Liquidus Partnersfills a key gap for ESOP-owned firms: liquidity for selling owners, and flexible capital after the sale. Led by Brendan Richardson and impact-investing pioneer Geoff “Chester” Wooley, Liquidus uses private credit to fuel growth and resilience in employee-owned enterprises.
Monarch Investment Partners blends private equity rigor with a commitment to long-term worker prosperity. Co-founders Katie Kimble and Michael McGinley bring deep experience across private equity, hedge funds, and ESOP advisory, unlocking growth capital for companies transitioning to employee ownership.
You don't need any background in EO investing to join—just curiosity, interest, and a desire to learn! Please join us.
Katie is the Co-Founder of Monarch, bringing 20 years of experience in private equity, hedge funds, and real estate. Previously a Managing Director at Fundamental Income and a leader at Mesirow Financial, an employee-owned firm, she has a deep understanding of ownership structures and financial growth. A CPA and CAIA, she holds multiple undergraduate and graduate degrees from Villanova University. Passionate about employee ownership, Katie is dedicated to building lasting relationships and championing success for businesses and their people.
Michael is the Co-Founder of Monarch and a recognized leader in the ESOP industry with over 20 years of experience. Before launching Monarch, he led the ESOP sell-side and capital raise practice at Prairie Capital Advisors, advising business owners, boards, and trustees on ownership transitions, M&A, and valuations. A published expert on ESOPs, he holds an MBA in Finance from Georgia State and a BS from Georgia Tech. With multiple industry accreditations, Michael is deeply committed to helping businesses and their employees build lasting financial success through employee ownership.
Brendan Richardson, General Partner & Co-Founder of Liquidus Partners
Brendan is a serial entrepreneur and a “recovering” Private Equity/VC investor. He has been directly involved with start-ups and high growth companies as a venture capitalist, board member, entrepreneur and limited partner for 30 years. His most recent endeavor is launching Liquidus Partners with his co-founder, legendary Impact Investor Geoff “Chester” Wooley. Liquidus is a private credit fund providing liquidity and capital solutions to ESOP-owned middle market companies. Prior to Liquidus, Brendan was a co-founder and the founding CEO of two technology start-ups. He is also an adjunct professor who teaches popular courses in Entrepreneurial Finance and VC investing.
By attending this session, you will learn the story and unique models behind two new EO funds and the growth of the employee ownership investing marketplace.
P.S. In case you missed it—you can now watch the recording of our July EO Fund Spotlight, where we featured three catalytic, place-based funds.
Join us at SOCAP on October 28 for an exclusive preview of the field’s new blueprint for growth
Due to high demand, we've opened up more seats at our SOCAP breakfast gathering on October 28th, where we are thrilled to launch and preview the 2025 Employee Ownership Capital Roadmap!
Join us for an energizing morning of community, strategy and vision as we preview the 2025 Employee Ownership Capital Roadmap—a bold national initiative to mobilize $1B into employee ownership by 2030 and set the stage for 10x growth beyond that.
Built with insights from funders, investors, wealth advisors and field leaders nationwide, the Roadmap highlights the most catalytic strategies to unlock capital, engage new investors and grow the ecosystem of funds and infrastructure EO needs to scale.
Be part of the conversation shaping the future of employee ownership—and the capital markets that will fuel it.
Capital is a barrier to — and the biggest opportunity for — the growth of employee ownership. The Ownership Capital Lab focuses on capital as a growth and scale lever for employee ownership, and we have a vision to grow capital to finance employee ownership by $1B in the next 5 years. The Lab focuses on strategies for financing employee ownership with capital that allows for a slice of the value and return to accrue to the employees., identifying, piloting and supporting the uptake of (or directly launching) these strategies. The Ownership Capital Lab is fiscally sponsored by The ImPact.
Donate to help us grow employee ownership
Your support is not just a donation—it's an investment in a movement that’s reshaping the future of work. By contributing to the growth of employee ownership, you're helping create a world where opportunity is available to all, where businesses are rooted in communities, and where wealth is shared more fairly.
Here’s how your donation directly impacts lives:
Empowers workers
Reduces wealth inequality
Fosters stronger workplaces
Strengthens local economies
Builds an economy for all
Will you help us scale this powerful movement? Your donation will be the catalyst for a brighter future.
