Unlocking potential in people and businesses
Celium Capital backs entrepreneurial leaders to buy, operate, and grow a great business.
This is called search fund investing.
We provide engaged, long-term support backing searcher entrepreneurs through:
We invest in searchers who aim to run a business, create value, and become great leaders in the process.
We’re here to support your journey on your terms.
- No cookie-cutter structures
- No standard monthly calls
The right help, at the right time, to help you win.
That’s why we foster a collaborative network of searchers, CEOs, operators and investors - a space to share learnings, tackle challenges, and grow together.
The right CEO-investor partnership unlocks meaningful business and personal growth.You can expect Celium to be an engaged investor to help you win. We bring:
- 20+ years of private equity deal experience to find and buy one great company
- Access to seasoned executives with expertise in areas that matter
- A supportive thought partner to help you grow
The search fund model pairs ambitious entrepreneurs with experienced investors to find, buy, and grow one great business.
Searchers often buy a business from a retiring founder providing a smooth path to succession.
Born in the U.S. in 1984, the search fund model has delivered strong returns:
~30% IRR and ~5x MOIC*.
The search fund journey is a path of leadership, resilience, and transformation.
These four phases are more than steps — they’re a framework for building lasting value.
Searcher(s) raises €200-700k from 10-20 investors to fund search costs.
Searcher(s) identifies and negotiate an acquisition. They present the deal to their investors to raise follow-on equity funding for the purchase, typically €5-15m.
Searcher(s) grows the business as CEO with support from the investor and board. They create meaningful equity value for themselves and shareholders alongside value for their stakeholders.
Searcher(s) create liquidity for investors through a sale (or other means). Searcher(s) crystallise ownership of 20% - 30% of the upside.
Celium Capital was founded in 2025 by Zita Saurel to bring her 20+ years of large-cap private equity experience and network to the search fund ecosystem.
As a founding member of Hellman & Friedman’s European team, Zita helped build the platform from the ground up — leading investments and debt financings across tech, media, business services, and financial services.
Over her career, she has supported founders and executive teams through inflection points: strategy shifts, innovation, IPOs, cost efficiency, leadership transitions, and more.
Zita is the sole investor in Celium Capital. That means quick decisions, patient capital, and direct access to experience that matters.
Ready to Build with Us?
We back searchers across EMEA, with a focus on Spain.
If we sound like the type of investor you’re looking for, we’d love to hear from you
info@celiumcapital.com
Camino de la Fuente, 8
28109 Alcobendas
Spain
Backing leaders to build, grow, and lead with confidence.
