I'm Rob Levin — Navy veteran, founder, operator, investor, and the guy running CIS Partners, a boutique M&A advisory firm that helps founder-led B2B businesses navigate exits, growth capital, and the messy middle of getting transaction-ready. I've sat on both sides of 20+ deals, which means I've seen what works, what doesn't, and what keeps founders up at 3am.

This site is where I write about all of it — the mechanics of dealmaking, where capital is flowing, what's actually happening in the lower middle market, and the occasional detour into culture, AI, combat sports, and whatever else catches my attention.

If you're a founder, CEO, or operator trying to build something worth buying, you're in the right place. If you're just here for the commentary, that's fine too.