Welcome to Deep Roots.
About us
We’re Mike and Jae—longtime friends, parents, and founders of Deep Roots, based in the Tri-Valley area of the East Bay. After 20+ years in corporate and entrepreneurial roles across different industries, we found ourselves drawn to something closer to home: the neighborhood businesses that shape where we live, how we raise our kids and how we spend our time.
Mike has a grade school daughter and son who are involved in art, dance, theater, kung-fu, cheer and soccer. Jae’s teenage daughters are competitive in gymnastics, swimming and flag football. They love to bake; and—inspired by their dad’s entrepreneurial spirit—they have a small (and growing) business of their own, offering private gymnastics coaching to younger kids in the community.
Through cheering from the sidelines, volunteering at school, attending recitals and performances, and supporting local shops and services, we developed a deep appreciation for the heart, hustle, and care behind the businesses that have added so much to our lives.
That’s why we started Deep Roots: to invest our energy and experience into growing enduring local businesses that matter: respected, resilient and deeply connected to the people they serve.
We bring experience, heart, grit, and a long-term mindset to every partnership. Our goal is to be the kind of successors you can feel good about—people who will honor what you’ve built and carry it forward with care, purpose and pride.
Our focus
We’re looking for a business to call home.
Mike and Jae aren’t chasing the next big exit. We’re not here to flip or roll up. We’re looking for a business we can run, grow, and love for the long haul. Our goal is to run a business we want to wake up to every day: one that customers love, that employees feel proud to be a part of, and that the community would miss if it were gone.
We’re especially drawn to businesses that already have strong bones and a great reputation—businesses in the $500K to $1M+ revenue range, based in the East Bay. The industry doesn’t matter as much as the people, the relationships, and the potential to keep building something meaningful.
We come to this with humility and respect. We know that selling a business isn’t just a transaction. It’s deeply personal. We want to learn and would consider it a real bonus to work alongside an owner who’s willing to teach us and invest in us as the next caretakers of their business.
If we sound like the kind of partners you’re looking for, we’d love to start a conversation!
Meet Mike and Jae
Mike and Jae have worked across healthcare, consumer goods, and non-profits—as entrepreneurs, operators, strategists, and consultants. What unites us is a deep respect for enduring businesses and a desire to be hands-on stewards of one we can grow with, and grow into,
for years to come.
Mike // Partner
Mike has spent the past five years running a small consulting business, building on a career shaped by curiosity, collaboration, and a passion for helping others. His connection to small business runs deep—he grew up living above the pharmacy his parents ran, watching his father build a pharmaceutical distribution company from the ground up while his mom cared for customers at the counter. That early experience instilled a deep appreciation for hard work, tenacity, and personal relationships.
Known for his big-hearted leadership, Mike is most proud of the lasting relationships and meaningful impact he’s built across his corporate and consulting career, which has focused on helping companies connect with customers through new products and experiences, brand strategy and marketing.
Outside of work, Mike mentors former colleagues and serves as Board President of the Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area. He’s also an active PTA parent, co-chairing the Exceptional Education Committee at his kids’ schools.
Jae // Partner
Jae was raised in Los Angeles, the youngest of five children to parents who ran small businesses—from a fast-food shop to a neighborhood general store. He grew up watching them work tirelessly and take pride in knowing every customer by name.
Those early experiences shaped his belief in the power of local business and his long-term goal: to own and operate a business rooted in the same kind of connection and care. Jae comes into this having worn many hats—entrepreneurial and corporate—across finance, ops and retail team management. He has been a CEO of multiple start-ups and a COO for a large hospital.