Lightview Capital has been named an honoree of Inc.’s fifth annual Founder-Friendly Investors list, honoring the private equity, venture capital, and debt firms with the best track records of success backing entrepreneurs.

 

The final list recognizes 218 firms that remain actively involved with the businesses they invest in, and that have earned the trust of the entrepreneurs they support to help drive growth.

 

“Now more than ever, founder-led companies need financing partners that offer guidance, expertise, and understanding—not just capital. These are the private equity, venture capital, and debt firms that have founders’ backs when it comes to accelerating growth,” says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. Business Media.

 

Rich Erickson, a Lightview Co-Founder and Managing Partner commented on the award saying, "Lightview is delighted and honored to accept the 2023 Founder Friendly Investor recognition from Inc. This accolade underscores our unwavering commitment to fostering strong partnerships with visionary founders and entrepreneurs. We take immense pride in our approach, which prioritizes collaboration, trust, and long-term success in business building."

 

Conor Mullett, a Lightview Co-Founder and Managing Partner added, "Receiving the 2023 Founder Friendly Investor honor from Inc validates our philosophy of aligning with entrepreneurs we invest in, nurturing their visions, and providing them with the resources and guidance they need to flourish. This recognition motivates us to continue our mission of being a trusted and supportive partner to the founders we partner with."

 

Focused exclusively on founder led, bootstrapped business services companies since inception, Lightview’s Co-Founders have invested in 26 platform investments over their careers.  With 20 successful exits alongside dynamic founders operating in different business models and industries, Lightview continues to seek out world-class founders and leadership teams to partner with across the North American business services ecosystem. 

 

Jim Buchanan, the Founder and CEO of Buchanan Technologies, a market leading IT services platform and Lightview portfolio company since 2019 commented on the recognition saying, “Lightview Capital has been an invaluable partner in the evolution of Buchanan Technologies. With three decades of industry presence, we sought a partner to elevate our potential, and Lightview delivered. Their strategic insight and market acumen have been pivotal in our success. Their unwavering commitment to our vision, and their genuine respect for seasoned founders have played a crucial role in our accelerated growth, making them truly deserving of the Founder Friendly Investor award.”

 

To compile the list, 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, venture capital, and debt firms and shared data on how their portfolio companies have grown during these partnerships.

 

To see the complete list, go to: https://www.inc.com/founder-friendly-investors/2023

 

Introduced in 2019, the Founder-Friendly Investors 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.

 

The November 2023 issue of Inc. magazine is available online now at https://www.inc.com/magazine and will be on newsstands beginning October 31.

The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community they need to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

 

 About Lightview Capital ^™

Lightview Capital is a leading private equity firm focused on providing its portfolio companies, deep industry knowledge, insightful experience, and active resources to unlock growth and drive value. Lightview Capital's approachable investment style combines deep operational and financial experience with an entrepreneurial spirit that delivers measurable results. For more information, visit lightviewcapital.com.