Funitel Ventures is seeking to acquire and operate a single small business in California that generates between $0.5M to $2.0M annual earnings, from a retiring owner.

Working with Funitel

Funitel Ventures was founded in 2025 by Hao Shi. Hao will be a full time, long term owner-operator who brings the required work ethic and leadership to the role, and the required equity to the transaction. 
Compared to other business buyers, working directly with Hao on the transaction, transition, and succession means:

Transaction

Simplifying the transaction’s financing allows us to focus on the transition. 
Financing not jeopardized by equity fundraising, common with search funds that have investors (who can say no) but zero committed capital.

Transition

Work directly with your successor.
Management not outsourced to hired third party, common with strategic/corporate acquirers.

Succession 

Identifying a long term, independent operator is better for employees, customers, and suppliers. 
Business not resold again in 5 years, common with private equity and search fund holding periods.

Investment Criteria

Business

  • Manufacturing or distribution business in California
  • long term, diversified customer base
  • Low seasonality and cyclicality
  • No offshore operations or foreign import focus

Financials

  • Generated $0.5M to $2.0M annual earnings in 2022, 2023, and 2024
  • Durable profit margins
  • Low capital expenditures and favorable net working capital
  • Clean tax filings

Ownership

  • Seeking to retire or exit, without a clear succession plan
  • Honest and motivated in a smooth transition, including employee retention and customer success
  • May include owner-operator occupied commercial real estate

About Hao

Hao Shi founded Funitel Ventures in 2025 to acquire and operate a single small business from a retiring owner. Over the past 12 years, Hao worked in finance, marketing, and capacity planning in the solar, chemical, digital banking, and gaming & lodging industries. He grew up in San Diego, earned a BA in Statistics from University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA with distinction from University of Michigan.

Behind the Name

Funitel: (noun) 
A passenger lift that transports riders both up and down a mountain, and is designed with 2 parallel ropes to minimize turbulence during inclement weather conditions. Palisades Tahoe currently operates the only funitel in North America. 
At the age of 25, Hao taught himself how to snowboard. His passion for the alpine led to the thematic design of Funitel Ventures. 
Funitel signifies a unique focus on stability, flexibility, efficiency, and a bidirectional partnership in business ownership transition.