Crest Capital Partners
ABOUT CREST CAPITAL PARTNERS
Crest Capital Partners is a Lisbon-based private equity firm structured as a CMVM-registered SCR and founded in 2017 by Marco Lebre, David Calem Ferreira and Inês Lopo de Carvalho. Its buy-out strategy acquires profitable, competitive Portuguese SMEs with EBITDA above €2M in partnership with founders and management, across all sectors except real estate and financial services; a second strategy targets greenfield and brownfield agribusiness, forestry and agritourism projects. The firm has raised €475M across Crest I (€100M, 2018, fully invested in 8 platforms), Crest II (€125M, closed March 2021 above its hard cap), Crest III (€140M, final close December 2025, now investing) and Crest Agro I, a fund supported by the PRR and the Banco Português de Fomento Venture Capital Programme (€34M public and €17M private commitments at contracting in December 2023). Crest has completed more than 30 transactions across 17 platforms, is a UN PRI signatory since 2018 and manages SFDR Article 8 funds. Exits include Global Safety Systems (to Halma plc, 2024), CPM-Penta (to Grupo Lappí, 2023), Arteche Paper (to Corex/VPK, 2023), Irmarfer (to Adapta Capital, 2025), Queijos Tavares (to Lactalis, 2025), Rollerdoor (to Assa Abloy, 2026), Dualparts (to Portobello Capital) and Aquabath. Current holdings include Vigobloco, James Baroud, Campotec In, BOL, Frutas Lurdes, Safiestela, Metal Group and AVK Group.
INVESTMENT THESIS
Buyouts of profitable, competitive Portuguese SMEs (EBITDA > €2M) in partnership with founders and aligned management, driving growth, internationalisation, consolidation and professionalisation; separate agribusiness strategy for greenfield/brownfield agri, forestry and agritourism projects.
INVESTMENT DETAILS
TEAM
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What stage does Crest Capital Partners invest at?
Crest Capital Partners invests at Growth stage.
What sectors does Crest Capital Partners invest in?
Crest Capital Partners focuses on Multi-sector, Agribusiness.
Where is Crest Capital Partners based?
Crest Capital Partners is a PE / VC based in Lisbon, Portugal, founded in 2017.
Who are the partners at Crest Capital Partners?
Key people at Crest Capital Partners include Marco Lebre (Co-Founder & Partner), David Calem Ferreira (Co-Founder & Partner), Inês Lopo de Carvalho (Co-Founder & Partner), Susana Querido (CFO).
What companies has Crest Capital Partners invested in?
Crest Capital Partners's portfolio includes Vigobloco, Etnaga, Pixel Light Audiovisuals, GSS Group, Gardengate, CPM-Penta Group, Campotec In, James Baroud, among others.
How much does Crest Capital Partners manage?
Crest Capital Partners manages €475M in assets / fund commitments.
Is Crest Capital Partners actively investing?
Crest III (€140M, Dec 2025) investing.
Can I invest in Crest Capital Partners's funds as an external investor?
Crest Capital Partners raises its funds from external investors (LPs). No open subscription window is publicly announced right now — prospective LPs are typically onboarded when the next fund is raised.
How do I contact or pitch Crest Capital Partners?
You can reach Crest Capital Partners via their website (crest-cp.com). You can also run your startup through Portugal VC's AI matcher to get a ranked shortlist of the investors that fit.