Securing Your Legacy. Anchoring the Future.
Half Hitch Partners is a well-capitalized, hands-on investment firm led by a proven operator, growing service businesses built to last, where the company’s success is shared by the people who power it.
“We measure success by the jobs we create, the wages we grow, and the engagement of our people and communities, not just our growth and profitability.”
Built to Hold Strong
The half hitch knot is a foundational knot to all other knots that become stronger when put under stress and reliable to stand the test of time. It is the role Half Hitch Partners intends to play for the companies it acquires – time tested, foundationally strong and reliable.
My grandfather, a navy sailor and sheet metal tradesman, taught me the half hitch, along with the importance of hard work, doing things the right way without shortcuts, and doing everything with integrity. Half Hitch Partners has an unwavering commitment to the people who have reliably built amazing companies with perseverance and integrity and our mission is to sustain and grow those organizations for the betterment of the employees they partner with and the communities they serve, leaving all those who touch those organizations far better off than when we found it. We value people. We value the bonds we create through our work. We are anchored for decades ahead.
Who We Are
Eric Kristensen is the Founder and Managing Partner of Half Hitch Partners. Most recently, Eric acquired and led Emporos Systems Corporation, a national pharmacy software provider based in Charlotte, North Carolina, as CEO. He grew revenue almost 5x, nearly doubled the team, and built a culture recognized for top-decile employee engagement. In 2024, Emporos joined RedSail Technologies. The Emporos brand continues today, nearly the entire team stayed on, and many of the leaders Eric developed have stepped into senior roles across RedSail.
That experience shaped Half Hitch Partners. Eric saw what a team can build when it’s invested in. He founded Half Hitch with patient, long-term capital so the next company can keep compounding for decades.
Eric also invests in and serves on the boards of other small and medium-sized businesses across a variety of industries and is active across the search fund community.
Eric received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University where he also played Division 1 baseball.
Eric lives in the Bay Area of California, with his four children and his wife, Maria, who is a mission-driven Nurse Practitioner deeply committed to public health and caring for the most vulnerable in their community. Her daily dedication to helping others directly inspires Eric’s own mission: to make a meaningful, lasting impact on the lives of the employees he leads and the communities they serve.
"Eric is among the absolute finest CEOs I have worked with. He possesses a rare combination of sharp financial discipline, deep operational grit, and unquestioned integrity. As an investor and board member, I watched him steer Emporos with complete transparency, driving exceptional value while building an outstanding culture. Any business owner looking for a steward to honor their legacy and protect their company’s future couldn't find a better partner than Eric."
- Kevin Oxendine, Board Member, Investor, and Operating Executive
Let's Discuss Your Business
Whether you are actively looking to transition your business, or just want to understand your options for the future, I would love to connect. All conversations are strictly confidential.
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