Michael Arrieta

CEO at Garden City - We buy & permanently hold small to mid-sized businesses

Michael Arrieta is the Founder and CEO of Garden City Companies, a purpose-driven holding company that acquires and permanently holds family-owned businesses.1 3 Here are some key details about Michael Arrieta:

Professional Background

Michael started his career selling Cutco knives at age 17 while in high school and continued through college.2 After graduating from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor's degree in Business Management, he went on to have a successful career in technology and entrepreneurship:

He was an early employee at DocuSign, rising to become Global Vice President, General Manager, and Chief of Staff to the CEO.1 2
In 2016, he founded MAV Ventures, a venture capital group that has invested in over 100 companies and funds.2 3
He co-founded New Story, a non-profit that has built over 2,000 homes in developing countries.1 4

Garden City Companies

In 2020, Michael founded Garden City Companies, which has the following characteristics:

It's a people-first holding company that buys, grows, and permanently holds exceptional family-owned businesses.2 3
The company has raised nearly $250 million from mission-aligned investors.3
Their approach focuses on three main areas: building a people-first culture, technology enablement, and strategic sales.5

Recognition and Other Roles

Michael has been named to Forbes' "30 under 30" list for his social entrepreneurship work.1 3
He serves on the board of Cambia Health Solutions, a company with over 5,000 employees and $12 billion in annual revenue.2 4
He is also a board advisor for various companies including Rhone Apparel, Extend, and Embark.2