Sleeping Giant Capital co-invests in SignComp

CEO-in-residence program is paying dividends

By Mark Sanchez

The clip also featured Owen sharing an anecdote about a former employer who told her to avoid dwelling in “pity city” — which Owen then used in a rallying cry to employees at the end of the video.

“So, people, leave pity city. Let’s get it done,” she said.

The video sparked backlash on Twitter, though Owen did not specifically say employee bonuses were canceled. Following the meeting, Owen — a former executive at

A Kalamazoo-based investment firm launched to nurture a new generation of entrepreneurs and retain local ownership in companies going through a transition found a strong match in SignComp LLC.

Sleeping Giant Capital invested in a SignComp, a Walker-based company founded in 1986 that engineers and produces custom extrusions for the sign industry for customers in North America, Europe, Pacific Rim, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Central and South America.

The deal was Sleeping Giant Capital’s second investment and the first in which an entrepreneur completed the firm’s 11-month residency training program, then made an accompanying investment and now leads the company as an owner/operator.

“It’s our full model, from sourcing, training, supporting the CEO and sourcing the deal, fundraising, closing the transaction and supporting the company on a go-forward basis,” Sleeping Giant Capital Managing Partner Doug Lepisto said. “It’s our whole model being deployed.”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Justin Murray succeeded prior owner Jason Lamberts as president after going through Sleeping Giant Capital’s CEO-in-residence program. Both Lamberts and Murray each hold a minority interest and serve on SignComp’s board of directors under the new ownership.