Redefining Private Equity: Founders Row Puts Founders First | stupidDOPE | Est. 2008

"Unlike traditional private equity, which typically targets mature companies, or venture capital firms that often prioritize financial returns without providing deep operational expertise, Founders Row focuses on the critical first three to four years of a company's life. This is the stage where capital alone is not enough - founders need hands-on guidance, structure, and mentorship to translate vision into scalable growth."

""Traditional private equity is a multi-trillion-dollar industry, but it has always focused on mature businesses," Weeks explained. "While VCs can write the early checks, they rarely provide real operational support. Founders Row was created for the stage in between - the first three to four years, when the founder needs just as much operational support to scale their vision, as they need capital.""

"In 2014, he opened his first Orangetheory Fitness studio, eventually building the largest Orangetheory franchisee in the world. By 2017, he sold to private equity, and under his leadership, the business scaled to more than 140 studios in just four years. In 2019, he launched SweatHouz (SWTHZ), one of the fastest-growing wellness concepts in the U.S., which today operates more than 65 locations"

Founders Row launches a founder-first investment platform centered on the Founder Partnership Vehicle (FPV), blending private equity discipline with venture timing to support companies in their first three to four years. The model supplies capital alongside hands-on operational guidance, structure, and mentorship to help founders translate vision into scalable growth. The approach targets the gap between traditional private equity and venture capital by aligning founders, investors, and operators on the same side. Jamie Weeks applies experience scaling franchise and wellness concepts to deliver practical operational expertise during these formative company years.

Read at stupidDOPE | Est. 2008