Buffalo Growth Partners CEO Robert Irving sits down with Alex Rawlings of Raw Selection to walk through his journey from founder to three exits in the fire & life safety industry — scaling an operation to roughly 80 technicians, participating in a 100+ acquisition private equity roll-up, and ultimately launching BGP as an independent sponsor focused on essential American service trades. Robert shares why relationships outweigh price in deal-making, and what operators-turned-investors look for when they buy.
Listen to the Episode
Episode Highlights
Founding and Scaling a Fire & Life Safety Business
Robert traces the early years of building a services company from the ground up — growing the technician base to roughly 80, professionalizing the back office, and learning the operational realities that would later shape every BGP investment thesis.
Inside a 100+ Acquisition Roll-Up
After the first exit, Robert participated in a private equity roll-up that completed more than 100 acquisitions. He breaks down what works in a high-velocity buy-and-build — and what breaks when integration discipline lags deal flow.
Why Relationships Beat Price
Robert and Alex dig into the deal-making mindset that defines BGP today: founders pick partners, not just prices. The highest bid rarely wins the best business — fit, trust, and a credible plan for employees and customers usually do.
From Operator to Independent Sponsor
The conversation closes on the launch of Buffalo Growth Partners as an operator-led independent sponsor — and why essential American service trades (generators, water testing, HVAC, fire & life safety) are the right place to compound the next decade.
Key Topics
About the Guest
Robert Irving
CEO & Managing Partner
Robert leads Buffalo Growth Partners with a hands-on, operator-first approach — bringing a decade-plus of building, exiting, and integrating industrial service businesses to every BGP partnership.
Meet the Full TeamBuilding the Backbone of America
Let's talk about how Buffalo Growth Partners can partner with your business.