Talus Holdings Launches Headwater Cleaning, Its Newest Platform, Led by Entrepreneurial Partner Crosby Sampson
Talus Holdings is proud to announce the launch of Headwater Cleaning, our newest platform company, and to welcome Crosby Sampson as our latest entrepreneurial partner. Headwater delivers commercial janitorial services across the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro, and it represents everything our investment strategy is built around: backing a driven operator early, in an essential-services industry with room to build something enduring.
A New Platform in Commercial Cleaning
Commercial cleaning is a foundational business service — every office, clinic, warehouse, school, and retail space depends on it — yet the industry remains highly fragmented and, too often, defined by inconsistent service and vague promises. That combination of essential demand and operational underperformance is precisely where Talus invests. We look for companies and sectors that others overlook, where disciplined operations and lean practices can turn “good enough” into a durable competitive advantage.
Headwater Cleaning was built to raise the standard. The company serves the Twin Cities metro with a full range of commercial cleaning disciplines under one roof: routine janitorial programs, floor care, day porter services, post-construction cleanup, and specialty practices in medical and industrial cleaning. Every account runs against a written scope of work, and quality is verified through documented, scored inspections shared directly with the client — accountability built into the service rather than promised after the fact.
Accountability as an Operating System
What sets Headwater apart is less any single service line than the way the business is run. Each client gets a named account manager, background-checked and insured crews, a published inspection cadence, and a direct line to ownership when something needs escalation. New accounts begin with a site walk within 48 hours, followed by a line-item scope and price in writing — so clients always know what was promised, what was delivered, and who answers for the difference.
This operating discipline reflects the lean capabilities Talus brings to every platform. We invest in companies that aspire to a higher level, and Headwater’s process-driven model gives it a repeatable foundation for growth — both organically and through acquisition, with aspirations to expand across the Midwest. Guiding it all are the core principles the company was founded on: ethics and values, people first, strong leadership, and operational ingenuity.
Meet Crosby Sampson, Our Newest Entrepreneurial Partner
Headwater is led by President & CEO Crosby Sampson, who joins the Talus family of operators as our latest entrepreneurial partner.
Crosby began his career in investment banking before moving into strategic analytics and corporate development, where he was recruited to build and lead strategic analytics initiatives at a publicly traded financial institution. Along the way, he advised executives, founders, and business owners on growth strategy, acquisitions, and capital allocation, and developed the data-driven decision frameworks executive teams used to improve profitability and performance. That blend of deal experience and operational rigor — paired with a genuine commitment to preserving the legacies of local businesses — makes him an ideal fit for the Headwater platform.
Crosby is a proud Minnesota native who lives in the state with his family.
Talus provides early-stage capital to leaders looking to buy, build, and operate businesses that create lasting value for their customers and stakeholders. Our model is simple: we align interests and empower operators. Crosby embodies the kind of leadership we back — hands-on, accountable, and focused on building a company clients can hold to its word.
Serving the Minneapolis–St. Paul Metro and Beyond
Headwater is headquartered in the Twin Cities and serves Minneapolis, St. Paul, and more than 30 surrounding communities — from downtown towers to suburban campuses and industrial parks — with reach into greater Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Facility managers and business owners can request a site walk or get a preliminary estimate online at headwatercleaning.com.
Own a Cleaning Business? Headwater would love to meet you
Central to Headwater’s growth strategy is partnering with owners of exceptional local janitorial businesses — companies that operate the right way, with strong organizational principles, rigorous quality standards, and a focus on customer service. Headwater isn’t simply acquiring companies; it’s building a platform of trusted, proven businesses and helping them grow with the structure, technology, and professionalism typically found in much larger organizations, while keeping the spirit of locally owned and operated businesses intact.
Sellers who join the platform gain access to a full suite of shared corporate resources — accounting, finance, development, treasury, technology, legal, human resources, and lean operational support — along with a partner that has no investment timelines or external shareholders, so decisions are driven by what the business needs. If you’ve built a cleaning business and are considering your next chapter, Headwater and Talus approach every conversation with respect, confidentiality, and a shared goal of ensuring your legacy continues to thrive.
Visit headwatercleaning.com/partner and connect with Crosby to start a conversation.
