Get to know us

Owner: Joshua Allan

A graduate of UCLA Mechanical Engineering, class of '98, I have been involved in product development, engineering and manufacturing for over 25 years. My childhood dream of working for Ferrari carried me through a stint with Daimler-Chrysler (now Stellantis) in Detroit to a Computer Aided Design specialization for Ferrari's Formula 1 team, Scuderia Ferrari, in Maranello Italy. However, I wasn't content to stay in the design offices and started competing in the Italian Formula Ford Championship. A combination of skills, networking and persistence led to a role as a Maserati Vehicle Development Test Driver, where I was able to truly live my dream of driving exotic spots cars throughout Europe.

After six-and-a-half years in Italy, I was itching to return home. Excited by the prospects of electric vehicle performance, I joined AC Propulsion as the Vehicle Engineering Manager, leading a team of engineers and fabricators to develop prototype electric vehicles for OEMs: our most notable project being BMWs MINI-E.

In 2013, I branched out on my own with the Engineering, Design and Manufacturing consultancy, known as Quickshoe Engineering. I have worked on many projects involving mechanical and electrical design. I have developed wiring harnesses, embedded systems PCBs, injection molded enclosures as well as numerous consumer electronics and medical device prototypes.

I began my business search in 2024 and since June, 2025, I have been working full-time on business acquisition. My focus has been on acquiring knowledge, developing skills, broadening my network, building relationships, seeking mentors and advisors and analyzing deals. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with buyers and sellers alike.

buyer profile

Hands-on engineering and operations leader with 25+ years spanning prototype-to-production execution, supplier management, and multi-team leadership. Former Vehicle Engineering Manager at an EV manufacturer; former Ferrari Formula 1 engineering consultant and Maserati product development test driver. Built and operated an engineering/product development business serving niche manufacturers and developed production-ready documentation, purchasing, and subcontract manufacturing workflows. Seeking to acquire and operate a niche manufacturer/distributor with established customers and products, then grow revenues through product innovation, disciplined process documentation, and digitization.

ACQUISITION FOCUS (SBA 7(a)/504)

• Target purchase price: $3M–$10M (SBA-financed) with 10-20% equity injection available

• Industries: Manufacturing and/or distribution with defensible niche; priority on automotive and medical-device-adjacent products

• Geography: West Coast + Mountain Region preferred; open to national opportunities

• Role: Intending to relocate and serve as full-time operator initially, professionalize systems, then hire/transition to a GM for day-to-day operations while remaining active in strategy, growth, and governance

VALUE CREATION THESIS

Acquire a niche manufacturer with an established product line and customer base & increase value through (1) product development and innovation, (2) process documentation & digitization of legacy systems, and (3) stronger direct customer and supplier relationships.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Owner | Quickshoe, LLC | Reno, NV | 2013–Present

• Delivered end-to-end engineering services: system definition, CAD/3D design, prototyping, testing/troubleshooting, revision control, production process documentation, purchasing, subcontract manufacturing and inventory control.

  Projects include medical devices, water processing/filtration equipment, embedded PCB/firmware, wiring harnesses, production jigs, remote monitoring equipment, and electric-vehicle-related systems.

  OEM and motorsports experience (Ferrari, Maserati, Toyota, Porsche, Audi, Ford and others).

  Built supplier relationships for small-batch manufacturing (e.g., custom cables/harnesses) and managed inventory/costing/quoting activities

Vehicle Engineering Manager | A.C. Propulsion | San Dimas, CA | 2007–2013

• Led production of 10 proof-of-concept prototype vehicles for five OEM customers & internal programs; completed under budget and drove $20M+ in revenues & follow-on orders.

  Managed scheduling/budgets and reporting; customer-facing technical leadership; supported integration from concept through execution and troubleshooting.

  Implemented CAD/EPDM practices and improved cross-company data sharing; represented company at trade shows and in media.

  Worked with DOT/EPA/customs brokers; handled limited-production regulatory and certification-oriented workstreams.

Deputy Chief Test Driver (Product Development & Vehicle Dynamics) | Maserati S.p.A. | Italy | 2004–2007

• Vehicle systems development; durability/quality/homologation testing and standards compliance verification via data acquisition/analysis, including behind-the-wheel testing.

Engineering Consultant (PLM/CAD/Process) | Scuderia Ferrari (via Mecanica Solutions) | Italy | 2001–2004

• Managed CATIA V5/VPM PLM environment; conducted production process studies to improve efficiency/quality through design methodology and parametric/knowledge-based engineering.

Applications Engineer | Dassault Systèmes / IBM Automotive Competency Center | Detroit, MI | 1998–2001

• Supported OEM implementation and related engineering workflows in automotive powertrain.

OPERATIONS & LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS

• People leadership: Managed team managers and cross-functional teams totaling ~20 (shop floor, vehicle engineering, EV motor/inverter/battery engineering, production, testing).

  Supplier management: Subcontractor bidding, costing/estimating/quoting, inventory tracking/management.

  Systems & controls: Familiar with SAP, QuickBooks, CAD/PLM best practices; experienced in digitizing legacy/paper processes to modern systems.

  Regulated/quality-adjacent exposure: Medical device design experience; access to compliance/biocompatibility expertise.

EDUCATION

B.S., Mechanical Engineering | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 1998

TECHNICAL / DOMAIN STRENGTHS

Manufacturing engineering mindset • Prototyping → production handoff • CAD/PLM/Change control • EV systems + testing/validation • Documentation & digitization of operations • Vendor/customer technical liaison • Budgeting/scheduling discipline

RACING / MOTORSPORTS DEVELOPMENT

High-performance development and testing in high-pressure competition; multiple national and regional racing championships; Mazda development driver; EV motorsports development.

90-Day Operator Plan

• Relocate and operate full-time on-site immediately post-close to ensure continuity.

  Stabilize operations: keep quoting, production, shipping, and customer communications running as-is for the first 30 days except for safety/cash/customer-retention issues.

  Customer outreach: personally contact top accounts to confirm continuity, service levels, backlog, lead times, and near-term risks.

  People/coverage: meet all key employees and supervisors; confirm roles, eliminate single points of failure, and implement immediate cross-training.

  Cash + working capital controls: implement frequent visibility on receivables, payables, inventory, payroll; tighten invoicing cadence and collections.

  Supply chain risk control: review top suppliers/subcontractors, validate pricing/lead times/quality, and identify alternates for critical components.

  Establish KPI rhythm: baseline and track on-time delivery, throughput, scrap/rework, backlog, and gross margin by product line.

  Document and standardize: map quote→order→purchasing→production→ship→invoice; create simple checklists/standard work to reduce errors and variability.

  Improve scheduling and margins: introduce lightweight production scheduling; review quoting assumptions and pricing discipline to protect/expand gross margin.

  Build the management plan: define the GM/ops lead role and begin recruiting or grooming internal leadership; deliver a 12-month roadmap by day 90 (reliability, margin, growth, and measured product innovation).

9FB Capital

As a general partner of 9FB Capital, I have access to capital, whether through private lending or equity investment, to secure funding for small to mid size businesses. This allows me to create deal structures that are best suited to the needs of business owners looking to expand or to exit entirely.

I am free to source my own deals which fit into my personal financial goals while also providing options to sellers that are looking for the higher multiples offered by PE firms.

"9FB Capital is a private equity firm focused on acquiring and scaling businesses in fragmented industries. With a commitment to conscious partnership, we work closely with business owners to preserve their legacy while unlocking new growth opportunities. Our sector-driven approach emphasizes strategic consolidation, operational efficiency, and long-term value creation, ensuring sustainable success for the companies we invest in."