Keeping Business in the Family
Brothers aiming to acquire and operate one outstanding owner-led British business.
About Us
By 2030, nearly one million UK small businesses are expected to change hands due to retirement.
50% of SMEs lack a succession plan and 80% fail to sell - owners face a real risk of business closure.
Castelnau's mission is to offer business owners a clear, flexible and smooth succession path. We give you the dream exit while honouring your legacy and committing to long-term growth.
Why Castelnau
An approach grounded in family values and dedicated to the foundations of your life's work.
Preserve your legacy
Your business is built on years of hard work, relationships, and values – we’ll protect your people, culture, and reputation
We’re in it for the long-haul
Unlike Private Equity, we’re not here for a quick exit. Our goal is long-term sustainable growth.
Single-business focus
All of our time and resources are dedicated to acquiring and leading a single, great British business. Not managing a portfolio.
Proven operators
20 years collective experience across sales, finance, strategy, legal and ops. We are fully prepared to take over on day one, giving you the freedom to transition out of the business immediately, should you wish.
Committed capital
Backed by leading institutional investors and successful entrepreneurs with a proven track record of successfully acquiring and growing SMEs.
Simple process
A transparent process for a seamless acquisition and transition. We’ll work hand-in-hand to make selling your business easy and hassle-free.
Darshan Chohan
Co-Founder
Darshan is a corporate lawyer turned SME and enterprise sales operator. Darshan grew up in London with roots in small business ownership across the UK and Australia.
Prior to founding Castelnau, Darshan built a career as an M&A lawyer at magic circle firm Linklaters before leading Commercial and Sales at a high-growth tech startup as employee #8. Darshan holds a Law degree from Cambridge University and an MBA from INSEAD.
Outside of work, you'll find Darshan on the golf course, enjoying live cricket or indulging his foodie fantasies.
Miguel Limón
Co-Founder
Miguel brings a mix of strategy, operations and finance experience to Castelnau. Born and raised in Mexico with a background in family business, Miguel moved to the UK in 2019 to pursue his MBA. He met his wife, Shreya, and never looked back, settling down in West London.
Before Castelnau, Miguel was a Management Consultant at Kearney with a decade of experience in finance, retail, energy and private equity across Europe, North America and the Middle East. Miguel holds a degree in Economics and Applied Math and an MBA from London Business School.
Outside of work, Miguel is a Formula One super fan and an avid (but average) 5-aside footballer.
Miguel and Darshan met in 2019 through Darshan's sister, and Miguel's now wife, Shreya. Despite coming from different walks of life, they quickly built a relationship grounded in mutual trust and family values. Living together on Castelnau road in South-West London when the pandemic struck deepened their bond and forged the origins of Castelnau.
Miguel and Darshan grew up around small business ownership and saw firsthand the long-term positive impact well-run companies have on families and communities. As they shaped their careers through roles in management consulting, corporate law and as operators in SMEs, both brothers remained drawn to entrepreneurship through family business. Shreya and Miguel married in Mexico in April 2024 and Darshan married his childhood sweetheart, Devina, in May 2025. That summer, Miguel and Darshan decided to pursue succession entrepreneurship together.
They founded Castelnau with the sole mission to acquire and grow one outstanding British business. Castelnau gives owners the dream exit alongside a commitment to honour their legacy, values and build for the long term.
Our Story
What we look for
Business Profile
B2B services, SaaS or tech-enabled services. Ideally, a mission critical offering.
Financials
£1 - 8m EBITDA with recurring or highly predictable revenue and strong margin potential
Succession Plan
Owner-led and looking to transition out operationally, ideally into retirement
Market Position
Differentiated service offering or defensible market position (e.g. niche expertise, IP, regulatory barriers) alongside strong growth potential.
1
Explore
Introductory conversations to get to know each other and understand your business, its history, and your goals. Focus is on a mutual discovery of fit.
Our Process
2
Assess & Agree
Following efficient and transparent information exchange, a Letter of Intent (LOI) setting out key terms is agreed and signed. We enter a period of exclusivity and a detailed assessment of the business takes place.
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3
Transact
Solicitors prepare legal documents, our team of investors commit capital and we plan for the future - all in parallel.
4
Transition
A seamless and carefully planned leadership handover takes place, supporting the owner and ensuring the business is ready for the next phase of growth.
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Our Team
We are supported by an exceptional team of SME-focused entrepreneurs and institutional investors from the UK and globally.
Selected Institutional Investors
Referrals
Castelnau is looking for introductions to great British businesses which may be considering a change of ownership.
If you know a company that fits the bill, send it our way. If the deal completes, we'll make it worth your while with a £10,000 bonus.
How it works:
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Complete the short form.
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We confirm whether an introduction makes sense.
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All conversations are strictly confidential and handled by Castelnau.
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If the transaction completes, you get £10,000 as a referral bonus
Contact Us
Please reach out to us if you are a business owner, advisor or want to learn more. We look forward to hearing about your legacy and exploring how we can support your business’s next chapter.
You can also reach us via email: contact@castelnaucapital.co.uk