In pursuit of honoring legacies & sharpening futures.
52.3% of small businesses in the US are owned by 55+
99.9% of US businesses are
small businesses (under 500 employees)
45.9% of Americans are
employed by small businesses
Versatility and precision, sharpening business performance.
Chapter I
The Great Leap
For millions of years, the world was a place of blunt force. To survive, you had to rip, tear, or smash. In the world of business, that "primitive" era hasn't ended—giant PE firms still operate by smashing cultures and ripping out assets to get to the marrow.
KNIFE Capital marks the transition from force to finesse.
A knife is the first true "civilization cheat code." It is the technology that allowed humanity to stop reacting to the world and start reshaping it. We are not here to smash what you’ve built; we are here to apply a sharp, precise edge to a legacy that deserves to endure.
Chapter II
The Tool of the Husbandman
In the history of the Inland Northwest, the knife was the essential partner of the steward. It was used to graft new life onto old roots, to prune away the weight that hinders growth, and to prepare the harvest.
Most businesses today are facing a "ripping" point—an aging owner-operator, a lack of succession, and the looming threat of closure. We don't see these businesses as problems to be solved with a hammer; we see them as living organisms that need the precision of the knife.
"We provide the 'Sharper Edge' transition: a surgical, honorable exit for the owner that keeps the heart of the business beating for the employees and the community."
Chapter III
The Basalt Foundation
We are rooted in a landscape of Basalt—the very stone that provided the first edges for humanity. Like that stone, our foundation is rugged and unyielding. We believe that a functioning business is a sacred trust.
The Problem
When an owner-operator reaches the age of 55, they shouldn't have to watch their life's work be "torn apart" by market indifference or smashed by blunt-force capital.
The Cheat Code
We bring the tools—software, operational strategy, and storytelling—that multiply the strength of the original foundation. We don't replace the legacy; we sharpen it.
Replacing the blunt force of traditional private equity with the precision of a craftsman’s tool. We provide aging owner-operators with an honorable, "sharper edge" transition that prevents business closures and preserves local legacies. By grafting modern strategy onto deep-rooted foundations, we sharpen vital companies to ensure they remain vibrant for the next generation.
KNIFE Mission
Because civilization didn't begin with a hammer; it began with an edge.
The Edge
01Applying precision to operational 'silt' to find the core value. We cut the noise.
The Graft
02Joining our modern energy to the deep roots of established brands. New growth on old stock.
The Preservation
03Preventing the decay of 'Main Street' by keeping doors open and jobs local.
The Release
04Providing a clean, sharp payout for the fathers and mothers of industry.
The Sharper Edge.
Are you ready to sharpen your legacy? We are looking for businesses in the Inland Northwest with strong roots and owners ready for an honorable transition.