Excited to Join the Community – Self-Funded Search with Achilles Healed Co.

Hi everyone, Excited to formally introduce myself here after launching my self-funded search a few weeks ago. My name is Devin Hedgepeth, and I’m leading a self-funded search under Achilles Healed Co., with the goal of acquiring and operating a service-based small business or franchise. My background includes time at Bain & Company, advising founder-led and PE-backed businesses, and prior to that, I supported multi-site franchisees at ExxonMobil in the field. I also earned my MBA from Stanford GSB. The name Achilles Healed comes from my personal story—after three career-ending Achilles ruptures as a Division I football player, I rebuilt my identity around resilience, leadership, and long-term growth. That mindset is the foundation for how I intend to lead a business—with empathy, grit, and operational focus. I’m targeting businesses with $500K–$2M in SDE/EBITDA, ideally in industries like B2B services and niche contracting. Primary focus on Dallas and Houston markets with secondary on Chicago and Los Angeles. Open to franchising as well. Looking forward to learning from this community and happy to connect with others in the trenches. Best, Devin Hedgepeth achilleshealedco.com redacted