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Articles in This Section

  • When will applications for the 2023 Inc. Founder-Friendly Investors be available?
  • What is Inc.'s Founder-Friendly Investors?
  • What’s the difference between Inc.'s Founder-Friendly Investors and the Inc. Private Equity 50?
  • When is the deadline to apply?
  • Is there a fee to apply?
  • What is the application process?
  • What are the eligibility criteria?
  • What type of references should I submit?
  • Can my firm apply to multiple categories?
  • What are the odds of making the list?

Related articles

  • When will the list be announced?
  • What is Inc.'s Founder-Friendly Investors?
  • What are the eligibility criteria?
  • Is there a fee to apply?
  • What’s the difference between Inc.'s Founder-Friendly Investors and the Inc. Private Equity 50?

What are the odds of making the list?

Inc.'s Founder-Friendly Investors application will ask you to provide references from founder-led companies that your firm has supported. Inc. will reach out to the founder(s) of one or more of the portfolio companies you've provided in your application and ask a series of questions about their experience partnering with your firm.

All firms that Inc. determines to be founder-friendly through this process will appear in the October issue of Inc. Magazine, on Inc.com, and will receive an Inc. Seal of Approval.


This program is now closed. Applications for next year will be available in early Summer 2023. 

Have any questions or concerns? Email us at founderfriendly@inc.com.

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