About
A founder who now sells companies for other founders.
John Norton is a Managing Director at ACT Capital Advisors, where he leads the Technology Practice and represents sellers across industries in Oregon and Southwest Washington. He's based in Vancouver, Washington — just across the Columbia River from Portland.
Before joining ACT in 2016, John spent his career on the other side of the table: building and selling companies himself. That perspective — knowing what it feels like to be the one with the livelihood on the line — shapes how he approaches every engagement.
Career
From founder-operator to trusted advisor.
- 2016 — Present
Managing Director, ACT Capital Advisors
Leads the Technology Practice at ACT and represents sellers across industries throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington.
- 2015
Sold iHost Networks
Sold the company he built as President to a private buyer.
- President, iHost Networks
Founder-operator
Grew iHost — a provider of web hosting, domain registration, and eCommerce services — from a few hundred small-business customers to more than 14,000.
- 1999
MicroCrafts, Inc. acquired by Metamor Worldwide
Partner in a custom software engineering firm that ranked #3 on Deloitte's Seattle-area Fast 50 before being acquired by publicly traded Metamor Worldwide.
- University of Washington
B.A. Economics · Husky Crew (4-year letterman)
Studied economics, rowed for four years on the Husky Crew Team.
Selected closed deals
Recent transactions at ACT.
Full deal history and current listings on the ACT Capital Advisors bio.
Best way to get to know me? Lunch.
Bring your business, your questions, or just curiosity about the M&A market. My treat.