Our Marketplace
Two organizations. One commitment.
Up & Over Advisors and Steward Market
Up & Over Advisors was founded on a belief: business transitions should serve people, not just balance sheets. Steward Market was built to take that belief further.
What is Steward Market?
Steward Market is a values-first marketplace for ethical business transitions. It connects mission-driven sellers with values-aligned buyers, intermediaries, and capital partners. It makes values, intent, and fit visible from the start, so the right conversations happen between the right people.
How the two are connecteD
Hannah Sandmeyer founded both. Up & Over Advisors and Steward Market share the same core commitment: ownership transitions that protect people, mission, and long-term impact.
In practice, the two work in tandem. Up & Over Advisors works exclusively with buyers, sourcing and qualifying off-market acquisition opportunities. Steward Market provides a place for buyers, sellers, intermediaries, and capital partners to discover one another. Up & Over Advisors clients also receive a buyer profile on Steward Market as part of their search.
Why Steward Market exists
Traditional M&A infrastructure was not built with mission-driven businesses in mind. Steward Market responds to that gap. It is a structured environment where sellers can explore with dignity, buyers can find businesses that want to be built up rather than stripped down, and all parties can see alignment before a conversation ever starts.
We design the environment. Participants own the decisions.
M&A as a force for good
Making M&A more accessible and regenerative takes more than a transaction. People need to understand their options, find each other, and have the right support to move forward.
Our ecosystem connects the stories, relationships, and sourcing work that help make that possible.
Ethical Exits: Stories that inform
Hear from owners, buyers, and practitioners about what changes when a business changes hands. Their experiences make ownership options more tangible and give you better questions to ask about your own next chapter.
Steward Market: Discovery and connection
Find business owners, buyers, advisors, and capital partners who care about what happens next. Steward Market makes values, ownership goals, and intent visible alongside financial criteria, so people can explore fit before a conversation begins.
Up & Over Advisors: Buyer-side sourcing
For buyers who need a focused acquisition search, we research privately held companies, approach owners, and qualify interest and fit. Our work helps turn an acquisition goal into conversations worth pursuing.
You can enter wherever you are. Learn from an owner’s experience, explore the marketplace, or bring us a specific acquisition search. Brokers, capital providers, attorneys, and other advisors contribute throughout the process, wherever their expertise is needed.
Questions people are asking
I want to find an aligned buyer. Where do I start?
Steward Market gives you space to describe your business and what matters for its future. Explore buyer profiles and decide whether there is mutual interest in a conversation. If you’re still considering what a good transition means, Ethical Exits offers owner stories and perspectives.
I already work with a broker. Can I still use Steward Market?
Yes. It’s nonexclusive and can complement your broker’s work and wider listing strategy. It does not replace your broker or provide brokerage services.
I’m a broker. How can I participate?
A partner profile can make your expertise visible. With a seller’s consent, you can represent them on the platform and engage buyers and capital partners through mutual interest. Share relevant stories with clients, like Molly McCartan’s conversation about the part of selling no one prepares you for.
I want to buy a business. Steward Market or Up & Over Advisors?
Steward Market lets you explore listings, create a buyer profile, and connect around shared interests. Up & Over Advisors provides a dedicated buy-side search, including research and outreach to businesses that may not be listed. You can use either or both. Hear a purpose-driven buyer’s perspective in our conversation with Peter Georgariou.
I provide capital. Where do I fit?
A partner profile can help owners and buyers understand the transitions your capital supports. Explain your mandate and approach so people can assess fit. For a broader conversation about capital and ownership, listen to Katie and Brian Boland.
I’m an attorney, wealth advisor, or other professional. How can I engage?
Use a partner profile to explain your expertise and when you’re most useful, from early preparation to transaction design and life after a sale. Relevant Ethical Exits conversations can help clients explore questions before decisions become urgent. You don’t have to fit into a single stage to contribute.
What could a different kind of buyer look like?
A purpose-driven strategic buyer: A certified B Corp seeks consulting firms and describes a long-term approach that preserves people, purpose, and operating identity. Explore the buyer profile
An employee-owned acquirer: A New England ESOP holding company seeks businesses it can steward over the long term. Its current focus includes healthcare and education. Explore the buyer profile
A pathway to shared ownership: A certified B Corp and public benefit corporation is acquiring bookkeeping firms with open-book management, profit sharing, and a goal of moving acquired staff toward employee ownership over time. Explore the buyer profile
A buyer exploring shared ownership: A Michigan manufacturing buyer proposes transitioning acquired businesses to an employee ownership trust, cooperative, or ESOP, depending on fit. The buyer is currently raising acquisition capital. Explore the buyer profile