The People Behind the Platform

Operators. Advisors.
Builders.

Sandalwood West built on 10+ years of hands-on acquisitions and operations. Our team brings together operators, strategists, technologists, and advisors who share one belief: that Main Street businesses deserve great owners.

Leadership

The Founding Partners

Ankit — Founder & Managing Partner Founder & Managing Partner

Ankit

Founder · Managing Partner · 10+ Years

Ankit founded Sandalwood West as a vehicle to grow a family business and build partnerships grounded in shared values. Over more than a decade, he has sourced, structured, and operated the majority of the firm's acquisitions — from a coastal California motel to an industrial laundry operation in Calgary — while building a team and advisory network capable of handling businesses across industries.

A serial entrepreneur with a track record spanning Education, Hospitality, Agriculture, Inventory Management, and Commercial Laundering, Ankit is focused on growth through acquisition and investment, and is passionate about collaborating with owners who care about what they leave behind.

Education Hospitality Agriculture Inventory Mgmt Commercial Laundry 10+ Yrs Acquisitions
Andrew — Business Partner Business Partner

Andrew

Business Partner · Operations

Andrew and Ankit aligned naturally over years — sharing the same thinking, the same values, and the same long-term orientation toward business. Andrew joined the Sandalwood West journey with the Valley Inventory acquisition and remains a business partner in the firm.

An operations-driven leader with extensive experience in both large and small enterprises, Andrew brings operational rigour and a builder's mindset to every business he touches.

Operations Manufacturing Hospitality Growth Strategy

Family Office Core

The Family Office

Jay — Technical Partner Technical Partner

Jay

Technical Partner · Co-Owner, Family Office

Jay is a co-owner of the Patel Family Office. He leads the firm's technology strategy — evaluating and advising on technical infrastructure and diligence in investments. Jay bridges the gap between operational needs and modern tech capabilities, introducing the firm to AI and cloud infrastructure.

Technology Strategy AI & Cloud Infrastructure Patel Family Office Investment Diligence

"Sandalwood West was built to grow a family business and align ourselves with partners who share our values. The family office is a long-term vehicle — not a fund, not a roll-up."

The Patel Family Office is co-owned by Ankit and his cousin Jay. Together they represent the continuity and conviction at the core of every deal — a long-term orientation that no outside capital or quarterly reporting cycle can replicate.

Operating Partners

Operators on the Ground

German Ochoa
Operating Partner

German Ochoa

Operating Partner · CPG & Supply Chain

Entrepreneur, sales executive, and supply chain leader with 9+ years across CPG, retail, and financial services. German founded Go North Imports and expanded distribution to 500+ stores including Kroger, Fred Meyer, and Safeway. He held buying roles at Kroger and drove $10M+ in remittance partnerships at Western Union. He is the West Coast partner at Cuatro Vientos specialty coffee.

CPG Supply Chain Retail Sales Distribution

Advisory Board

Our Advisors

Dean DeRaad

Advisor · Manufacturing & Operations

Results-driven COO and operations engineer with 30+ years scaling manufacturing plants worldwide. Dean has launched 24/7 production facilities, achieved world-record daily output rates, and led operations for companies in New Zealand, Sweden, and across the US. His background spans avionics, automotive manufacturing, and sustainable building materials.

Manufacturing COO Process Improvement QC

Stacy Gianoulis

Advisor · IT Strategy & M&A

VP-level IT executive, serial entrepreneur, and M&A consultant with 18+ years at Boston University and experience advising private equity firms and investors on deal sourcing, financial modeling, and due diligence. Stacy has decreased acquisition sourcing costs by 30% using AI-assisted deal identification and brings deep expertise in organizational transformation and digital strategy.

IT Strategy M&A Due Diligence Digital

Sumit Khandelwal

Advisor · Private Capital & Investment Strategy

Seasoned investment professional with 14+ years across private capital investing, investment banking, and leveraged finance. Sumit was the founder principal of the alternative investing business at UTI Capital — one of India's largest asset management firms — which he grew to US$250M+ AUM before relocating to the US to pursue proprietary investments. Previously VP at Religare Capital and Analyst at JP Morgan across India and SE Asia. Sumit stress-tests investment ideas and brings institutional-grade deal evaluation to the platform.

Private Capital Investment Banking M&A Deal Origination JP Morgan

Extended Team

Supporting the Platform

Maria Artemisa

Associate · Legal & International Trade

Maria brings a law degree with experience in international trade and agriculture to the Sandalwood West team. As the firm's associate, she supports deal structuring, cross-border operations, and regulatory compliance — adding a dimension of legal and sector-specific depth to the platform.

Law International Trade Agriculture Compliance

What unites us is how we think

01
Long-Term Orientation
We are not building for a quick exit. The family office structure means we hold what we buy and build for the next decade, not the next quarter.
02
Values-Aligned Partners
Every partner, advisor, and operator in this network joined because our goals aligned — not because of opportunity alone. Alignment comes first.
03
Operator-First Culture
We don't manage from a distance. We get into the business, understand the floor, and make decisions with full context. Our advisors have all done the same.
04
Diverse Depth
From CPG to avionics, from IT transformation to international trade — our team's breadth means we can evaluate and improve almost any Main Street business.