In this special launch episode of The Balance Sheet podcast, Granite Harbor Managing Partner Nick Brown sits down with Derek Taylor, Managing Partner of Granite Harbor Capital, to announce the official launch of Mariner Fund I and discuss the firm’s expansion into private markets.

Derek shares his professional background spanning transactional law, private equity real estate, owner-operator manufacturing, and lower middle-market investing, and explains how that experience informs the strategy behind Mariner Fund I. The conversation outlines why Granite Harbor formed a dedicated private markets platform and how the fund aligns with the firm’s long-standing fiduciary, planning-first approach.

Mariner Fund I is structured as an opportunity fund, allowing Granite Harbor to deploy committed capital into a curated mix of private equity operating companies, commercial real estate, and select private credit opportunities. The fund emphasizes direct sourcing, off-market transactions, and operator-driven diligence, bringing investors closer to the deal, improving alignment, and enabling faster execution.

A key focus of the fund is the Central United States, where the Granite Harbor team sees significant opportunity in overlooked lower middle-market businesses and growing secondary and tertiary real estate markets. These regions offer attractive fundamentals, strong employer-driven growth, and less competition from large institutional capital.

Throughout the episode, Nick and Derek discuss why proximity to operators and sponsors matters in private investing, how Granite Harbor’s institutional diligence process is applied across all opportunities, the benefits of consolidating multiple private investments into a single fund commitment, the fund’s target size and investment horizon, and the firm’s exit-focused philosophy. They also share representative examples of real estate and operating company opportunities currently being evaluated for inclusion in the fund.

The episode reinforces Granite Harbor’s belief that private markets can play a meaningful role in long-term portfolio construction when paired with disciplined underwriting, active oversight, and thoughtful integration into a client’s broader financial plan.

Mariner Fund I is available exclusively to qualified investors.

To learn more, visit GraniteHarbor.com or contact [email protected]

This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute an offer or solicitation. All investments involve risk. Please review all offering materials and consult your financial and legal advisors before investing.