About James Gerdsen
The Entrepreneur & Investor Behind the Vision
I grew up around family businesses and learned early that great companies are built by people, not capital. That belief took me inside Apollo Home Services, where I learned the work from the ground up — dispatch, callbacks, technicians, service agreements, gross margin, and family-business culture at scale.
Those years taught me that the difference between a mediocre service business and a great one is rarely demand. It is leadership, systems, culture, training, and accountability. I scaled that playbook to over $1 billion in revenue before seeing a bigger opportunity
Today through G5, I am building a permanent operating company for essential service businesses — one where technicians become leaders, leaders become owners, and local businesses become enduring institutions.
Recent Press
Where I've Been
Published & Featured
I write and speak at the intersection of ownership, operations, and the future of Main Street business. Here’s where that thinking has shown up online.
Published books
Books & Perspectives
Squirrels, Boats, and Thoroughbreds
Leading change is hard. Leading change in a traditional industry can seem impossible.
Zombies Ate My Business
The thing about zombies is you don’t know them when you see them.
About G5 Ventures
What is G5 Ventures?
G5 Ventures is a long-term, operator-led investment platform focused on building a multi-generational enterprise across four core pillars: home services, real estate, venture, and philanthropy.
Businesses should create more than profit; they should create people, opportunities, and impact.
We acquire small to mid-sized businesses with strong foundations and long-term potential, particularly in home services.
We build with a multi-generational mindset: prioritizing sustainability, resilience, and legacy over short-term exits.
To create 100,000 careers and 50 new business owners while building a $1B+ enterprise rooted in values, stewardship, and long-term impact.







Entrepreneurs' Organization
April 8, 2026
