Fifth consecutive recognition highlights Mainsail’s collaborative approach to partnering with founder-led software companies
Austin, TX, and San Francisco, CA – October 29, 2024 – Mainsail Partners, a growth equity firm that invests in bootstrapped, founder-led software companies, is pleased to announce that it was named to Inc.’s annual Founder-Friendly Investors list for the fifth consecutive year. The list celebrates investors that believe in backing founder-led businesses and helping them thrive. Inc. selected the companies on the list for their collaborative approach to partnering with portfolio companies and for remaining actively involved with the businesses they invest in.
“The Mainsail team is thrilled to receive this recognition from Inc. for the fifth year in a row,” said Gavin Turner, co-founder and Managing Partner at Mainsail Partners. “To us, bootstrapped isn’t a buzzword, it’s a unique discipline that we understand and admire. It is an honor every time a founder chooses Mainsail to help them take their company to the next level. We do everything we can to support that growth, while respecting and building on their founder-led culture throughout the journey we take together.”
To highlight the many exciting growth stories and shared best practices within its portfolio, Mainsail recently dedicated its new website launch to the founder experience. In addition to getting to know the firm’s team and software portfolio, visitors can explore Why Mainsail is the partner-of-choice for founders, learn How We Help companies grow and scale, and find the Mainsail team’s latest SaaS Growth Insights and case studies.
“What made me feel good about the decision to partner with Mainsail is that they understood our industry, invested the time to research us beforehand, and, most importantly, understood the DNA of a bootstrapped founder,” Jennifer Coolidge, co-founder of former Mainsail portfolio company Nexus, shares on the new Mainsail website. “I had peace of mind that they would ‘get’ us. In fact, many times during our time together, they were so in lockstep sync with us, they could have been a seamless extension of our team.”
To compile the 2024 Founder-Friendly Investors list, Inc. went straight to the source: entrepreneurs who have sold to private equity and venture capital firms. Founders completed 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/2024.

Certain statements about Mainsail Management Company, LLC (“Mainsail” or “Mainsail Partners”) made by portfolio company executives herein are intended to illustrate Mainsail’s business relationship with such persons, including with respect to Mainsail’s facilities as a business partner, rather than Mainsail’s capabilities or expertise with respect to investment advisory services. Portfolio company executives were not compensated in connection with their participation, although they generally receive compensation and investment opportunities in connection with their portfolio company roles, and in certain cases are also owners of portfolio company securities and/or investors in Mainsail-sponsored vehicles. Such compensation and investments subject participants to potential conflicts of interest in making the statements herein.
The 2024 Founder-Friendly Investors recognition presented herein is awarded by Inc., a third-party that is not affiliated with Mainsail Partners or an investor in Mainsail Partners-sponsored vehicles. The recognition was awarded on 10/29/24 for the period 2024. Inc. assessed the nominees based on written responses to questions on Inc.’s nomination form and CEO responses to Inc.’s questionnaire. The number of nominees reviewed for this recognition was not disclosed to Mainsail, and therefore, it and the percentage of nominees receiving the recognition, cannot be disclosed herein. Inc.’s recognition is based on its own evaluation and opinion and is not indicative of Mainsail Partners’ future performance, and does not reflect the experience of, or any rating by, Mainsail Partners’ investors. Mainsail Partners paid an application fee to participate in the process. The receipt of compensation influences, and is likely to present a potential material conflict of interest, relating to the award. There can be no assurance that other providers or surveys would reach the same conclusions as the foregoing.
For additional important disclosures, please see the disclosure page here: https://mainsailpartners.com/disclosures/