AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Inc. today announced its third annual Founder-Friendly Investors list, honoring the private equity and venture capital firms with the best track record of success backing entrepreneurs.
In being named to the Inc. Founder-Friendly Investors List, Silverton Partners is recognized as a firm that entrepreneurs can trust to partner with on new strategies and operational best practices. As the longest running early-stage venture capital fund in Texas, Silverton Partners has long been an investment partner of choice for founders looking to grow and scale their companies in Texas and beyond.
“While the Texas ecosystem was boosted by a strong net migration of entrepreneurs, the returns Silverton is seeing this year are fruits of the last decade of labor,” says Morgan Flager, Managing Partner of Silverton Partners. “Our firm’s guiding principal is to do what is best for founders. We roll up our sleeves and truly collaborate with our founders to build enduring businesses, through both good times and bad. This includes fostering communities that benefit early-stage businesses.”
Silverton’s portfolio of more than 75 technology-enabled companies spans almost every sector of the economy, ranging from consumer products to enterprise software. Silverton’s investment approach centers on putting the founder first – and its investment model is designed to align the fund’s interests with the entrepreneurs it backs. “Silverton has partnered with me across two companies now,” says Rob Taylor, CEO of Convey, a last-mile delivery company that was acquired by project44 for $255M. “Building an enterprise SaaS business is hard work that requires alignment and unwavering support, both of which I’ve found in Silverton.”
The success of companies like TurnKey Vacation Rentals, which sold earlier this year to Vacasa, is another example of Silverton’s partnership model: “Silverton was the first institutional investor in Turnkey and has been instrumental to our success. Early-stage investors walk a fine line between giving founders the latitude to run their business the way they envisioned, and giving them guidance and feedback to help them succeed,” says John Banczak, Co-founder and Chairman of TurnKey. “Silverton understands that line better than anyone we’ve met, trusting founders immensely, while also being present and engaged enough to give honest and valuable advice.” Vacasa plans to go public later this year at $4.5B valuation.
While Silverton celebrates multi-billion-dollar exits, its fund size and strategy enables the fund to capitalize companies such that all stakeholders can succeed across a broad range of outcomes. “Over the past ten years, Silverton portfolio companies have created $6 billion in market value, and we expect the portfolio to create more than $10 billion over the next two years,” says Flager. “We’re seeing change and growth at an exponential pace here in Texas, and it has lifted the limit of what’s possible in our ecosystem.”
To compile the list, Inc. went straight to the source: entrepreneurs who have raised capital from the private equity or venture funds being considering for the award. Founders filled out a questionnaire about their experiences working with various firms and shared data on how they have grown during these partnerships.
To see the complete list, go to: https://www.inc.com/founder-friendly-investors/2021
About Silverton Partners
Silverton Partners is focused on funding and mentoring early-stage businesses led by founders who share in its commitment to disrupt growth markets and build enduring companies. Founded in 2006, the firm brings the benefits of its vast network and decades of rich experience to each partnership. Austin-based Silverton is the most active venture capital investor in Texas and has been the initial investor behind visionary companies including WP Engine, Storable, SailPoint, Silicon Labs, TurnKey Vacation Rentals, The Zebra, AlertMedia, Aceable, Self Financial, Wheel, and Billie. For more information, visit www.silvertonpartners.com.
About Inc.
The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community they need to build great companies. Inc. introduced the Founder-Friendly Private Equity Firms list in 2019 and it 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. For more information, visit www.inc.com.
