About Ibi Ayorinde Every business tells a story — not just of numbers, but of people, persistence, and purpose. I founded Venture Stewards to help owners ensure that story doesn’t end too soon.

My professional path has spanned investment banking, venture capital, and private equity, where I worked as both an investor and operator. Across those experiences, one truth became clear: the businesses that sell successfully aren’t always the biggest — they’re the ones that are prepared.

I saw this firsthand when I stepped in to help lead our family-owned home care agency, an operation built with deep care for clients but lacking the infrastructure to support long-term growth. Over time, I rebuilt the back office from the ground up — implementing financial systems, renegotiating vendor contracts, and aligning our cost structure. The result was a 30% improvement in profitability, greater transparency in reporting, and a company that finally operated with the clarity and control buyers look for.

That experience reshaped my understanding of what small business owners face. Many have strong operations and loyal customers — but their businesses depend too much on their personal involvement, or their financials aren’t structured in a way that a buyer can easily step into. They’ve built something of enormous personal value, but not yet transferable value.

That’s where Venture Stewards comes in — and where my own values come to life.