Our Story
Built by Operators. Backed by Conviction.
Automotive Partners was founded on a simple belief: the best independent shops in America deserve a better path forward than selling to a stranger or closing the doors.
Our Mission
We exist to build the nation's premier automotive services group — one great shop at a time. Not by stripping assets or imposing corporate bureaucracy, but by partnering with the operators who built these businesses and giving them the capital, systems, and network to reach their full potential.
We believe the fragmented independent repair market is one of the most compelling consolidation opportunities in American business. And we believe the right way to capture it is to treat every acquisition like a partnership — because it is.
Transparency First
We show our work. Every valuation, every term, every decision — we explain our reasoning and invite hard questions.
Operators, Not Financiers
Our team has run shops, managed technicians, and dealt with the daily reality of the business. We don't just model it — we understand it.
Long-Term Thinking
We're building something that lasts. That means making decisions that are right for the business over years, not quarters.
Fair to Everyone
Fair prices for sellers. Fair returns for investors. Fair treatment for the teams who keep the shops running.
Leadership
The Team
Co-Founder & Partner
James Irvine
James is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and community builder with a track record of scaling businesses across industries. As CFO of SQRL Holdings, he helped grow the company from 60 to over 350 locations while raising new debt and equity capital. He is a partner at Seedfunders and 305 Works, where he coaches early-stage startups on fundraising, financials, and growth strategy. James also founded Pitch Night, a monthly startup competition that has showcased hundreds of companies and built a community of over 10,000 members across multiple cities.
Co-Founder & Partner
Joseph Stornelli
Joseph is a serial entrepreneur and technology executive with over 15 years building and scaling businesses in the New York metro area. As founder and CEO of ARIUM, he pioneered a SaaS-model IT services firm delivering complete technology infrastructure — from internet to device — for a single scalable monthly fee. An active investor and startup mentor, Joseph brings a builder's mindset and a deep tristate network to Automotive Partners, connecting portfolio companies to the advisory and funding resources that accelerate growth.
Operations analyst
Edward Wilbur
Edward brings a decade of institutional finance experience across real estate, media, and venture-backed retail. He has managed finance functions at Condé Nast, Newmark, Proskauer Rose, and DoubleVerify, where he built financial frameworks, led capital raises, and partnered with executive teams on strategy and investor reporting. At Automotive Partners, Edward oversees financial operations, deal structuring, and margin optimization across the portfolio — bringing the rigor of institutional finance to the independent shop market.
Track Record
Our Portfolio
Three acquired shops across the New York metro area, generating strong cash flow and anchoring our regional expansion strategy.
All acquired shops continue operating under their original names and with their original teams. We add resources — we don't replace what works.
Footprint
NY Metro Expansion Map
Three operating locations across Long Island and Westchester, with three target markets identified for near-term acquisition.
Locations
Acquired
Syosset Auto
Syosset, NY
Merrick Auto
Licensed DealershipMerrick, NY
Straub Automotive
Westchester, NY
Target Markets
Nassau County
Nassau County, NY
Suffolk County
Suffolk County, NY
Westchester County
Westchester County, NY