Ascend seeks to partner with management teams seeking to rapidly reach the top by building exceptional companies that in many instances will transform their industries. We look for: Companies with sustainable competitive advantages. Strong management teams with both substantial domain expertise and a history of building enterprises. Sound business models with the opportunity for rapid growth and high operating margins. Robust operating plans with clear milestones to guide the ascent and manage growth. The potential for market leadership in a sizable and growing market. At Ascend, we place special emphasis on partnering with entrepreneurs, and look for senior management teams with exceptional vision, passion, fortitude, and the ability and desire to lead the company to success and through the challenges that it will face along the way. In addition to the focus described above, we follow basic criteria: