Edison Partners, a leading growth equity firm focused on founder-led vertical SaaS and AI, financial technology and healthcare IT companies, has once again been named to Inc.’s Founder-Friendly Investors list.

The prestigious Founder-Friendly Investors list celebrates the investors and firms that work closely with entrepreneurs and remain engaged with the businesses they back. Honorees are recognized for their approach to partnering with founders and supporting their companies through growth and beyond.

The recognition comes as Edison Partners marks its 40th year. Since 1986, the firm has backed more than 225 founders, several of whom have chosen to partner with Edison Partners again on subsequent ventures. Its most recent Net Promoter Score of 77 is more than double the financial services industry average of 34.

“Growth equity is about more than writing a check,” said Chris Sugden, Managing Partner at Edison Partners. “When a founder is scaling, capital is typically not the biggest challenge. Operating expertise delivered by people who have walked the walk is the real opportunity. Founders want a partner who understands what it takes to build a business and can help them add talent and navigate tough decisions as they grow. With more than forty years investing in founders, it’s rewarding to know the people we invest and partner with continue to tell Inc. we’re delivering that type of partnership.”

Edison Partners’ investment team includes executives who have scaled companies themselves, so founders get a partner who has faced the same decisions. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all playbook, the firm pairs growth capital with operating support matched to where each company is and what it needs to reach its next stage.

That support is delivered through the Edison Edge, Edison Partners’ value creation platform, built over more than a decade. Edison Edge provides hands-on support with five Centers of Excellence: Go-to-Market, Leadership & People, Product & Technology, Finance, and Governance. Portfolio companies can also work directly with experienced operators through the Edison Director Network, an active community of over 120 senior C-suite executives and operators who serve as independent board directors, mentors and strategic advisors.

“With the current funding environment and rapid changes facing growing companies, founders are looking for more than just capital from their investors. They want true partners who believe in their business, but who are also able to provide the critical advisement and strategic support they need to reach their potential,” says Bonny Ghosh, editorial director at Inc. “The 2026 Founder-Friendly Investor awards celebrate those firms –– the ones committed to partnership, excellence, and helping founder-led companies grow.”

Reflecting the firm’s core investment thesis, Edison Partners focuses on backing capital-efficient, high-growth companies outside of the traditional tech hubs. In 2026, the firm’s investments included Mappedin, Payra, ClearJet, CleanDesign and more.

For more information or to view the complete list of honorees, visit https://www.inc.com/founder-friendly-investors.

About Edison Partners

Edison Partners is a leading growth equity firm providing the financial and intellectual capital that CEOs and their executive teams need to grow and scale their companies. The firm’s team brings more than 275 years of combined investing, operating and sector experience to each investment, accessible via the Edison Edge value creation platform, which is tailored to each business’ strategy, stage and operating needs. Edison targets high-growth vertical SaaS and AI, financial technology and healthcare IT companies located outside Silicon Valley with $8 million to $50 million in revenue. Investments also include buyouts, recapitalizations, spinouts, and secondary stock purchases. Named as a Top Growth Investment Firm by GrowthCap for multiple years running, Edison’s active portfolio has created aggregated market value exceeding $10 billion. Edison Partners manages $2.5 billion in assets. For more information on Edison Partners, please visit edisonpartners.com and follow on LinkedIn.

About Inc.

Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

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