Whether you need funding to help turn your startup into a successful business or to grow it into an industry leader, Inc.'s fourth annual Founder-Friendly Investors is a great place to start. Since we last published this list, U.S. businesses have had to contend with record inflation, fears of a coming recession, and a Great Resignation that, uh, just won't quit. Finding an investment partner to help you handle these challenges could make the difference between your business gaining an edge or taking a turn for the worse. After all, private equity and venture capital firms don't fear change.
They engineer it. "If they bought the business, it's not to just keep doing more of the same," says Bob Gogel, a serial CEO and longtime consultant to entrepreneurs. "It's to do some new, innovative things." While investment activity in 2022 has fallen from record levels last year, the amount of capital going to U.S. businesses remains healthy historically.
During the first half of the year, U.S. VC firms invested more than $144 billion across nearly 8,000 deals, according to research firm PitchBook. Meanwhile, landed on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies after striking up the relationship.
One thing all these investment firms have in common is that they work with the founders, not against them. And the result is usually a good payday. Yes, there will be change-but that's what it takes if you want a big chunk of it.
A Pet Brand for All
How Main Post Partners helped Nulo shake up the pet food playbook with innovative products.
BY BEN SHERRY
This story is from the October 2022 edition of Inc..
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This story is from the October 2022 edition of Inc..
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE FEMALE FOUNERS 250
SUCCESS often breeds success-but triumphs also arise out of necessity. Consider that Airbnb, Uber, and Rent the Runway started during the Great Recession. In many ways, the past year was defined by similar tumult. While the U.S. never technically entered a recession, the retrenchment in investment and ad spending paired with the psychological-if not direct-toll of tech layoffs yielded tough times indeed. But female founders are nothing if not resilient, and their achievements defied the conditions they faced, giving us cause to expand our list to 250 of them. They're not ranked, but they are organized around themes. In the pages that follow, you'll find snapshots of courage from women who've overcome trials-such as keeping the internet running in war zones, coping with the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, or facing personal crises. You'll also learn how this year's top female founders grew their collective 2023 revenue to more than $8.86 billion, raised $6.2 billion in funding to date, and kept it together not just to survive, but to thrive.
Steve Young Shares Lessons From the Private Equity Playbook With a First-Time Founder
The athlete-turned-investor helps Tessa Barton prepare to scale her bootstrapped photo-editing startup, Tezza.
AI in HR Tech: A New Era in Human Resources Technology
The next generation of HR software is here, powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Now, your business can harness the transformative power of AI in HR tech.
Get Curious About the World Around You
Curiosity isn't a luxury of philosophers. It's a business and leadership essential.
Family Office
Grace Na learned the ins and outs of the denim industry from her in-laws. Now, they're two of her top team members for her own brand, Pistola.
Beauty Filter
Countless companies have elevated everyday items to iconic: Apple upgraded the nerdy MP3 player, Nest turned thermostats into real estate selling points, and Aesop made hand soap a status symbol.
5 Team Player
How Stephen Curry, the NBA’s greatest shooter ever, assembled an all-star business team that wins on social mission as much as money.
The Cult of the Entrepreneur and How to Avoid It
Imperious, infallible, and fawned over by employees and customers: Don't fall for it. You can succeed without being an asshole.
Forget the Youthful Entrepreneur Stereotype
I've UNDERTAKEN MANY businesses in my life. In college, I sold calf-nursing bottles full of booze at football games.
A Brewmaster's Balancing Act
What I've learned from over 40 years of searching for work-life balance.
