LNK Partners Named to Inc.’s List of Founder-Friendly Investors for Three Years Running
October 26, 2022
The annual roundup highlights the private equity and venture capital firms with the best track records of success in backing entrepreneurs.
Inc. announced its fourth annual Founder-Friendly Investors list, honoring the private equity and venture capital firms with the best track records of success backing entrepreneurs. Last year was the first that Inc. shifted focus from previous lists—which were called the Private Equity 50—and this year will continue the trend, including venture capital firms. Inc. has honored LNK Partners in this list for three consecutive years.
The final list recognizes 184 firms that entrepreneurs collaborate with and trust as they receive the financial support they need to help drive growth. All 184 have successful track records of remaining actively involved with the businesses in which they invest.
“Fully investing in an entrepreneur and their innovative vision involves far more than the financial investment. By developing relationships with and supporting entrepreneurs for the long term, these private equity firms are more than investors; they’re partners,” says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. media.
Approximately two-thirds of LNK’s investments have been in founder-led businesses. Most recently, LNK made a minority investment in the comfort-focused lifestyle brand Tommy John.
As a partner to founders, LNK works hard to provide support whenever and wherever it is needed. Sometimes that assistance comes in helping to determine high-level strategic priorities. In other instances, it may mean supporting the execution of tactical initiatives. In all situations, LNK is not interested in “running the business” but rather in partnering with great management teams and working hard to support them in any way possible as they build outstanding consumer and retail companies.
To compile the list of Founder-Friendly Investors, Inc. went straight to the source: entrepreneurs who have sold to private equity and venture capital firms. Founders filled out a questionnaire about their experiences partnering with private equity and venture capital firms and shared data on how their portfolio companies have grown during these partnerships.
Introduced in 2019, the Founder-Friendly Private Equity Firms list quickly established itself as one of Inc.’s most resourceful franchises. It has become a go-to guide for entrepreneurs who want to grow their companies while retaining an ownership stake.