About

Calm Capital buys and invests in profitable companies with simple business models (something grandma can understand). Typically, these companies have been in business for several years, have an established customer base, don't require significant effort or a large team to operate, and have good margins. Calm works with the selling-founders to make sure there is a mutually beneficial outcome — offering simple terms and a streamlined process. 

The Calm Way

Our companies and investments share these common threads.

Patient
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We don’t hurry or rush. We don’t succumb to FOMO (fear of missing out). We’re patient. This doesn’t mean we’re lax or slothful. Patient is thinking long-term and focusing on sustainable growth. We think. We don’t react. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.

Purposeful
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Our actions and ventures are steadfast and intentional (“by design”) — including our work, the companies, and what we’re building. Each company within Calm solves a problem and/or adds unmatched value to its customers. The work we do is important.

Profitable
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The final thread of Calm is profitable. Profitable businesses last and create opportunities for long-term growth and sustainability for its owners, team members and customers. Profit enables us to stay patient and is a measure of the value we bring to the market and in the communities we serve.

Team

Marty Balkema
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Co-founder, Managing Partner

Over the last 21 years, Marty has progressed from writing code as a software engineer to leading product teams across a wide variety of industries for companies like Mitsubishi, Caterpillar and Lifetime Fitness. Building on these experiences, Marty co-founded Augusto, a software development company, LOFT, a software support service, and the 1099 contractor platform, CrewPay.

Marty resides along the southern coast of North Carolina with his wife and four kids — where you’ll find him cruising on open water or putting on fast greens.

Connect with Marty here.
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David Horne
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Co-founder, Managing Partner

After a brief stint playing professional golf, David worked in marketing until going out on his own in 2008. Since then, he’s launched several startups and built a few creative agencies, including Honestly, a marketing, advertising and design collaborative. In addition, David is also a co-founder in LOFT and CrewPay with Balkema.

David resides in his home state of North Carolina, bouncing between the Sandhills and the Outer Banks with his wife and two sons.

Connect with David here.
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