Investing Family Capital in
Who we are
Skydeck, based in Chicago, is a private investment firm investing capital on behalf of the Polsky family. Skydeck targets direct investments in lower-middle market companies in majority or minority equity positions. Additionally, Skydeck invests in opportunistic and income producing real property with experienced operators. Because of our proprietary capital base, Skydeck is not bound by any pre-defined time horizons or investment hurdles, and can be very opportunistic.
The foundation of Skydeck is the experience and entrepreneurial spirit of its founder, Michael Polsky, who founded Indeck Energy Services, Skygen Energy and his latest venture, Invenergy. The name Skydeck pays homage to the successful exits of Skygen and Indeck. These three successful businesses were built from the ground up into multi-billion dollar enterprises. Today, Invenergy is North America’s largest independent, privately held renewable energy provider and is leading the industry and country to a clean energy future.
- We understand the needs of business owners and executives. We have been in your shoes.
- We have flexibility on structure, time horizon and risk management.
- We use debt sparingly. We manage risk and do not have IRR hurdles to satisfy.
- We act fast. Our decision-making process is nimble, and our diligence is efficient.
- We let managers operate autonomously. We engage in board level discussions and are a non-intrusive partner to executives.
Investment criteria
Private Equity
- Majority or minority equity investments in operating companies
- $3-10 million in EBITDA for majority investments, flexible on minority
- Sectors we like: services, manufacturing, consumer, healthcare
- Business characteristics we like: consistent cash flows, attractive return on capital, recurring demand, low customer concentration, potential for growth
- Management team and sponsors to have a material financial investment in the company
Real Estate
- Collaborating with like-minded sponsors/operators willing to invest along side Skydeck in a material way
- $3-10 million equity investments with control over major decisions
- Preference for non-institutional, income oriented investments with high quality cash flow including sale-lease back opportunities with strong credits
- Long-term hold periods, resilient assets able to perform through multiple market cycles
Meet our team
The Skydeck team works efficiently and effectively in a true partnership form.
Jon Taiber
Founder and Director, Skydeck
312-582-1402 / jtaiber@polskyholdings.com / 
Jon Taiber has nearly two decades of experience in the finance, accounting and family office industries. Taiber has led and managed 50+ direct investments in private equity, early stage companies and real estate. In 2013, Taiber co-founded Skydeck.
In 2001, Taiber was recruited to run Polsky Holdings. While at Polsky Holdings, Taiber was responsible for all wealth management functions including the allocation of capital across traditional and alternative asset classes as well as direct investments. Additionally, he is a member of the founding group at Invenergy, which has grown to be the largest privately held renewable energy company in North America.
He has served on the boards of the Polsky Foundation, Structurlam, United Oilfield Services, Buzz Referrals, and Conservatorio S.A. as well as a member of Adams LaSalle Institutional Apartments LLC.
An Iowa native, Taiber earned a BBA, with distinction, from the University of Iowa and holds a CPA certification.
Tim Parker
Director, Skydeck and Polsky Holdings
312-582-1254 / tparker@polskyholdings.com /
Tim Parker has significant accounting and tax experience serving clients during his stint in public accounting. Additionally, Parker managed the tax and financial reporting process for a private equity backed international manufacturer working closely with management on mergers, acquisitions and strategic divestitures.
In 2015, Parker was recruited to run Polsky Holdings, the family office for the Polsky family. He is responsible for overseeing all financial functions including oversight and reporting on investments, treasury, asset management, tax planning and compliance.
A Chicago native and Certified Public Accountant, Parker attended DePaul University College of Commerce earning his Bachelor of Science in accounting. He is married with one child.
Evan Wood
Financial Analyst
312-582-1423 / ewood@polskyholdings.com /
Evan Wood brings a strong finance background in both family office and institutional operations, specializing in private equity and alternative funds. Wood has significant experience in the financial reporting process and valuations, while overseeing audit and tax preparation.
In 2017, Wood was recruited to join Polsky Holdings and Skydeck, where he is responsible for executing the investment functions of the group, portfolio asset management, and performing diligence on acquisition opportunities.
An Iowa native, Wood holds an MBA, with distinction, from DePaul University, earned a BBA, with honors, from Drake University, and holds a CPA certification. He is a dedicated runner.
Michael Polsky
Founder, President & CEO, Invenergy
Michael Polsky is an energy industry entrepreneur and founder, president and CEO of Invenergy, North America’s largest independent renewable power generation company. Polsky founded and scaled three power generation companies. In 1985, he co-founded and was President of Indeck Energy Services where he led the development and financing of one of the first independent power generation portfolios growing to $300 million in value. In 1991, Polsky founded SkyGen Energy building the company into North America’s largest privately-held cogeneration portfolio before being acquired by Calpine Corporation in 2001 for $650 million. In 2001, Polsky founded Invenergy, which provides innovative power generation and storage solutions around the world to create a future based on clean energy. With nearly 800 employees on four continents, Invenergy has raised over $20 billion to invest in wind, solar and natural gas projects.
Polsky chairs the Chicago-Booth Entrepreneurship Advisory Board, and is a member of the University of Chicago Board of Trustees where the family has provided significant financial support to the establishing the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He is also the co-founder and co-chair of the Clean Energy Trust, a nonprofit providing technical training and seed funding to start-up companies. Additionally, Polsky also serves on the boards of the Argonne National Laboratory and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Foundation.
He holds an MSME Degree from Kiev Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
Portfolio Companies
Skydeck maintains a diverse portfolio of private equity and real estate investments in addition to several opportunistic investments in venture and public companies. While Skydeck was founded in 2013, Polsky has been making successful direct investments in private equity, venture and real estate for over two decades.
Waste processing and
recycling services
Heart failure monitoring and management platform
STEM online
learning platform
The best self-service key duplication kiosks
Fresh food served fast at value prices
Addiction treatment programs that work
The software that powers energy retailers
Mass Timber is changing the way we build
A fundamentally new way to pay
Create the perfect packaging
Cancer risk assessment solutions.
Quick and convenient personal loans
Empowering people with diabetes to live a better life
Tea beverages inspired by mixologists and nutritionists
Leading provider of additive manufacturing solutions.
Representative Real Estate Investments
Shoreham Solar
Acquisition of approximately 150 acres of land on Long Island and leased on a long-term basis to a solar energy project.
Adams LaSalle Institutional Apartments
Strategic partnership in the acquisition and management of over 3,000 multi-family unit portfolio following the 2008 financial crisis.
The Tannery Creative Office Campus
15 acre campus of creative office assets located in Milwaukee’s urban core and opportunity zone.
Post Office Distribution Center
US Postal Service distribution facility strategically located on 9 acres in the Milwaukee CBD and adjacent to a major transportation center.
WGN Corporate Campus
10 acre site containing mission critical operations and located in the highly desirable Roscoe Village neighborhood in Chicago.
Hyde Park Places
Portfolio of three vintage apartment buildings in the Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood repositioned as economically priced market rate apartments.
731 S. Plymouth
Historic building in Chicago’s Printers Row neighborhood currently serving as a student dormitory scheduled to be repositioned as market rate apartments.
Crown Frost Campus
Creative office campus located in the Northeast Arts District of Minneapolis.