November 27, 2023

Gauge Capital Announces Strategic Investment in East Coast Institute for Research

Southlake, TX – Gauge Capital (“Gauge”), announced that it has partnered with the founders and management team of East Coast Institute for Research (www.eastcoastresearch.net) (“ECIR” or the “Company”) to provide growth capital and recapitalize the Company. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Jacksonville, FL, ECIR is a clinical research site management organization focused primarily on the cardiovascular and metabolic therapeutic areas with eight sites across northern Florida and Georgia. The Company has established itself as a market leader in the clinical research industry due to its strong patient recruitment and retention capabilities and longstanding investigator and sponsor relationships.

“We are excited to partner with Gauge for the next chapter of ECIR’s growth. We look forward to leveraging the resources and support from an investment partner with significant experience while maintaining our focus on quality and an exceptional study participant experience. Gauge’s investment in the business will allow us to accelerate our growth, further invest in our infrastructure, and execute on our vision” said Co-Founder Rushab Choksi. “The Gauge team embraces our commitment to elevating and transforming the clinical research industry and aligns with our values and mission.”

"ECIR has always been focused on providing study participants and providers with ground-breaking new research opportunities all while providing the peace of mind that comes from a relentless focus on quality. In partnering with Gauge, we are excited to continue to deliver for our communities and do our part to help develop life-changing therapies” said Rebecca Goldfaden, Chief Operating Officer of ECIR.

David Friedman, Partner at Gauge Capital added, “Rushab, Rebecca and the entire ECIR management team have built an impressive organization with a unique focus on its culture and employees that we are confident can serve as an exemplar for what quality clinical research can and should be. ECIR’s commitment to good clinical practice is reflected in their successes to date, and we look forward to partnering with the team to further invest in the business, expand access to research, and accelerate our shared vision for growth.”

As part of the partnership, David Friedman, Stan Dennis, and Colin Santoro from Gauge Capital and Gauge Operating Partners Dr. Bruce Given and Brett McClung have joined the Company’s Board of Directors.  Provident Healthcare Partners served as sell side advisor to ECIR and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. served as buy side advisor to Gauge. McDermott Will & Emery served as legal advisor. 

About Gauge Capital (www.gaugecapital.com)
Gauge Capital is a leading middle-market private equity firm based in Southlake, Texas. Gauge invests in five key sectors: business services, food & consumer, government & industrial services, healthcare, and technology. The Firm manages more than $3.0 billion in capital and in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, Inc. Magazine named Gauge one of the top private equity firms for founders. In 2021, 2022, and 2023 Gauge was also named to the Top 50 PE Firms in the Middle Market by Grady Campbell. In 2022, Gauge ranked in the top 5 out of 517 private equity firms in the HEC Paris – DowJones Small-Cap Buyout Performance Ranking. For more information, please contact Andrew Peix, Managing Director of Business Development at apeix@gaugecapital.com. 

Disclaimer: From time to time, Gauge may be recognized or ranked by independent third-party rating services or publications. Such recognitions or rankings are generally based on information prepared or submitted by the recognized advisory firm, and are usually limited only to those advisory firms who choose to participate in such surveys. Any third-party recognition or ranking that may be included should not be construed as a guarantee that any client or prospective client will experience any specific level of investment performance or receive any specific level of customer service, as a result of such recognition or ranking. Furthermore, any such recognition or ranking should not be construed as an endorsement by any of Gauge’s clients. As such, clients and prospective clients should not put undue reliance on any of these statements.