Navigating Business Building. Together.
Winning through meaningful partnerships every step of the way.
0
Year Founded0+ Years
of Combined Private Equity Experience0+
Platform and Add-On TransactionsOur Philosophy
We’re in your corner. We understand that businesses aren’t built overnight and we’re committed to helping our partners tackle the challenges encountered along the way.
Partnership is Personal
Relationships built on trust create value. Direct communication and honesty are our only way
Culture is Key
We value what you’ve built and know that a strong culture is essential for continued success
Build with an Operational Mindset
We employ an operational lens and collaborate with management teams to navigate challenges and strengthen business foundations
Invest for Transformational Growth
We invest alongside hungry entrepreneurs to transform businesses and drive sustainable growth
Our Team
Our team has 20+ years of private equity experience building platforms in the middle market.
Scott Leffler
Co-Founder &
Managing Partner
Scott Leffler | Co-Founder & Managing Partner
After working together for 10 years, Scott and Phil Taub established Navigant Capital Partners in 2021. That same year, Scott and Phil led the firm’s founding platform investment, VIVE Collision, a leading collision repair operator built from scratch that today has a growing footprint of 50+ locations across 9 states. During their time building VIVE Collision, Scott and Phil were active in all operating aspects of the business, including developing critical functional departments and implementing institutional processes to position the company for scalable, long-term success.
Scott has spent over a decade in private equity, completing over 50 platform and add-on transactions across numerous industries, including insurance services, automotive, healthcare, IT services and financial services.
He began his career in the Mergers and Acquisitions group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and, subsequently, was a private equity investor at Cerberus Capital Management, Gemspring Capital and Staple Street Capital. Scott received a B.S. in Finance, Magna Cum Laude, from Georgetown University.
Favorite Quote: “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Philip Taub
Co-Founder &
Managing Partner
Philip Taub | Co-Founder & Managing Partner
After working together for 10 years, Phil and Scott Leffler established Navigant Capital Partners in 2021. That same year, Phil and Scott led the firm’s founding platform investment, VIVE Collision, a leading collision repair operator built from scratch that today has a growing footprint of 50+ locations across 9 states. During their time building VIVE Collision, Phil and Scott were active in all operating aspects of the business, including developing critical functional departments and implementing institutional processes to position the company for scalable, long-term success.
Phil has spent over a decade in private equity, completing over 50 platform and add-on transactions across numerous industries, including insurance services, consumer products, healthcare and business services.
He began his career in the Mergers and Acquisitions group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and, subsequently, was a private equity investor at Tower Three Partners, Gemspring Capital and Staple Street Capital. Phil received a B.S.B.A with majors in Finance, Accounting and Environmental Studies from Washington University in St. Louis.
Favorite Quote: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
Brendan Lawlor
Private Equity
Associate
Brendan Lawlor | Private Equity Associate
Brendan joined Navigant Capital Partners in 2025 as a Private Equity Associate.
Prior to joining the firm, Brendan spent over 2 years as an investment banking analyst and associate in the Financial Services Group at Piper Sandler, where he focused specifically on the insurance sector. Brendan advised on over 10 mergers and acquisitions and capital raising transactions in the insurance industry, totaling over $4B in enterprise value. Brendan received a B.S. in Finance from Wake Forest University.
Favorite Quote: “Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement.” – Mark Levy
Why We Are Different
Entrepreneurs at heart. We’re investors with deep operational experience that have been in your shoes. We understand that capitalizing on momentum requires nimble, strategic decision making. We move things forward, not the other way around.
Our “platform asset building” investment focus requires starting small and significant hands-on portfolio company support which traditional private equity firms cannot replicate.
Navigant Capital Partners
- Start small and scale fast “platform asset building”
Traditional Private Equity Firms
- Aversion to investing in <$5M EBITDA businesses
- Focus on capital deployment rather than platform building
Navigant Capital Partners
- First round of private equity investment
- First third-party credit facility raise
Traditional Private Equity Firms
- Multiple prior private equity investments
- Multiple prior third-party credit facilities raised
Navigant Capital Partners
- Organic and inorganic growth (high velocity M&A)
- Sustainable and scalable operational improvements
Traditional Private Equity Firms
- Cost reduction
- Financial engineering
Navigant Capital Partners
- Hands-on, operationally driven approach
- Directly support development of institutional processes positioning asset for scale
Traditional Private Equity Firms
- Board-level participation
- "Low-touch” involvement given strategy of managing dozens of portfolio companies
