Mike Mao is the Owner and Principal of Oravae Investments.

I'm actively searching for a business to acquire and operate full-time in Southern California.

My parents escaped the Cambodian genocide with nothing and built a life in America through relentless work and sacrifice. I'm the first in my family born in the United States, and that heritage shaped everything—my work ethic, my gratitude, and my drive to build something lasting. Now I'm channeling that into acquiring a business I can grow, steward, and eventually pass down to my own children.

I'm not looking for a turnaround or a quick flip. I'm looking for a well-run, profitable business where I can preserve what the founder built while bringing my own skills to make it even better. My philosophy is simple: products should get better over time, but customer service should be excellent every day. I believe businesses endure because of how they treat customers and employees—and I see investing in both as a duty, not an option.

What I bring:
20+ years across product leadership, finance, and operations at Deloitte, Protiviti, Cisco, Infoblox, and Cast & Crew. I've built dashboards that democratized KPIs across organizations, developed 5-year operating plans that led to PE acquisitions, launched products that generated $63M+ in revenue, and scaled teams through COVID and industry upheaval. I understand financial rigor from my audit roots and operational excellence from leading product teams.

Where I am in my search:
SBA pre-qualified. Actively evaluating deals. In conversation with brokers and lenders across Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties. Member of Searchfunder, SoCal ETA, OC ETA, and UW ETA communities.

What I'm looking for:
B2B services, home services, healthcare services, light manufacturing, logistics, IT/MSP, or professional services businesses with $600K–$1.2M in SDE, recurring revenue, and a team I can invest in.

If you're a business owner thinking about your next chapter, a broker with a listing that fits, or a fellow searcher who wants to connect—I'd welcome the conversation.

📧 mike@oravaeinvestments.com