Key Takeaways
- • Maple Park Capital, a Dallas and New York private equity firm founded in 2025, was named to Inc.'s 2026 Founder-Friendly Investors list, according to a Business Wire press release dated October 27, 2026.
- • Inc. compiled the list by surveying entrepreneurs who have sold businesses to private equity and venture capital firms about how their companies performed under those partnerships.
- • Maple Park focuses on North American service businesses, including multi-unit franchisors and franchisees, youth enrichment, travel and hospitality, and select business services.
- • The firm's named portfolio companies include Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard and Prep Network, which it describes as asset-light services businesses with protected demand.
- • Co-Founder and Managing Partner Alexander Blankfein framed the firm's approach around founder goals, trust, and culture, while Co-Founder and Managing Partner Andrew Lauck emphasized collaborative value creation.
Summary
Maple Park Capital ("Maple Park"), a private equity firm headquartered in Dallas and New York, has been named to Inc.'s 2026 Founder-Friendly Investors list, the firm announced in a Business Wire release. The list recognizes private equity firms, venture capital firms, and lenders with demonstrated records of supporting founder-led companies through growth and beyond. According to the release, Inc. compiled the rankings by gathering perspectives from entrepreneurs who had sold to private equity and venture capital firms about how their companies performed during those partnerships.
The firm describes its model as partnering with founders and operators of service businesses to create long-term value. According to the release, Maple Park offers portfolio companies access to resources typically out of reach for lower-middle-market businesses. These include executive recruitment and experienced operating advisors, systems and process upgrades such as technology and AI enablement, and capital intended to support organic and inorganic growth. Maple Park's investment focus, as described in its company profile, spans North American service businesses, with an emphasis on multi-unit franchisors and franchisees, youth enrichment, travel and hospitality, and select business services.
Since its founding in 2025, Maple Park has invested in Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, which the release describes as the largest Italian ice concept in the world, and Prep Network, a prep sports platform focused on subscription content, live events, and collegiate athlete recruitment. The firm characterizes both as resilient, asset-light services businesses with protected demand, strong unit economics, durable cash flows, and exceptional leadership. The release did not disclose transaction values or fund sizes.
Alexander Blankfein, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, said the firm's approach builds in the founder's perspective at every stage of value creation, with an emphasis on goals alongside financial results and on trust. Andrew Lauck, also a Co-Founder and Managing Partner, said the firm takes a collaborative approach to driving business value and looks forward to helping portfolio leaders access new paths to accelerated growth.
The firm describes its model as partnering with founders and operators of service businesses to create long-term value. According to the release, Maple Park offers portfolio companies access to resources typically out of reach for lower-middle-market businesses. These include executive recruitment and experienced operating advisors, systems and process upgrades such as technology and AI enablement, and capital intended to support organic and inorganic growth. Maple Park's investment focus, as described in its company profile, spans North American service businesses, with an emphasis on multi-unit franchisors and franchisees, youth enrichment, travel and hospitality, and select business services.
Since its founding in 2025, Maple Park has invested in Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, which the release describes as the largest Italian ice concept in the world, and Prep Network, a prep sports platform focused on subscription content, live events, and collegiate athlete recruitment. The firm characterizes both as resilient, asset-light services businesses with protected demand, strong unit economics, durable cash flows, and exceptional leadership. The release did not disclose transaction values or fund sizes.
Alexander Blankfein, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, said the firm's approach builds in the founder's perspective at every stage of value creation, with an emphasis on goals alongside financial results and on trust. Andrew Lauck, also a Co-Founder and Managing Partner, said the firm takes a collaborative approach to driving business value and looks forward to helping portfolio leaders access new paths to accelerated growth.
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