Inc. Recognizes Ampersand Capital Partners as a 2026 Founder-Friendly Investor for the Fifth Consecutive Year

Ampersand Capital Partners ("Ampersand") has been named to the 2026 Founder-Friendly Investors list, which honors private equity firms, venture capital firms, and lenders that founders identify as strong partners in building their companies. Ampersand is one of 294 firms on this year's list, marking the fifth consecutive year the firm has earned the honor.

For more than 35 years, Ampersand has paired growth capital with hands-on support in areas such as international expansion, add-on acquisitions, and commercial and operational infrastructure. This year Ampersand closed AMP-26, its twelfth primary fund, at its $1.5 billion hard cap, giving the firm capacity to partner with the next generation of founder-led companies in healthcare and life sciences. With offices in Boston, London and Amsterdam, Ampersand is particularly well positioned to help founder-led businesses grow across the Atlantic.

To compile the Founder-Friendly Investors list, Inc. went straight to the source: entrepreneurs who have sold to private equity and venture capital firms. Founders completed questionnaires about their experiences partnering with private equity, venture capital, and debt firms and shared data on how their companies have performed during these partnerships. The resulting list highlights investors that founders identified as strong partners throughout the investment process.

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

The 2026 Founder-Friendly Investors list was announced by Inc. on October 27, 2026, and the award is based upon information from the [the calendar year 2025]. Ampersand paid Inc. a nonrefundable application fee to participate in Inc.'s 2026 Founder-Friendly Investors list, which all applicants were required to pay. Ampersand also paid application fees in connection with its prior Founder-Friendly Investor recognitions. Ampersand applied for consideration, provided founder references and examples of founder-led investments and value creation as part of its submission. Inc. compiled its list by directly surveying founders who have sold to private equity and venture capital firms and worked with lenders, and then examined data on portfolio company growth during those partnerships. This award is not to be construed as indicative of future performance.

About Ampersand Capital Partners

Ampersand Capital Partners, founded in 1988, is a middle-market private equity firm with $4 billion of assets under management, dedicated to growth-oriented investments in the healthcare sector. With hubs in Boston, Amsterdam, and London, Ampersand leverages a unique blend of private equity and operating experience to build value and drive long-term performance alongside its portfolio company management teams. Ampersand has helped build numerous market-leading companies across each of the firm's core healthcare sectors. For additional information, visit www.ampersandcapital.com or follow us 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.