New Harbor Capital Named to Inc.’s 2026 Founder-Friendly Investors List

The annual list recognizes private equity, venture capital, and lending firms with track records of supporting founder-led businesses

New Harbor Capital ("New Harbor") is grateful to be included for the seventh consecutive year in Inc.'s 2026 Founder-Friendly Investors list, which recognizes private equity firms, venture capital firms, and lenders with demonstrated track records of supporting founder-led companies.

The prestigious Founder-Friendly Investors list celebrates the investors and firms that work closely with entrepreneurs and remain engaged with the businesses they back. Honorees are recognized for their approach to partnering with founders and supporting their companies through growth and beyond.

"We're honored to be named a Founder-Friendly Investor by Inc. for the seventh consecutive year," said Tom Formolo, Partner at New Harbor Capital. "Partnering with founder-led businesses is at the heart of what we do at New Harbor. This recognition reflects our dedication to building trusted, enduring relationships and helping founders achieve their ambitions for growth."

New Harbor works side-by-side with founders, providing the resources, experience, and support necessary to achieve the goal of building their businesses into enduring market leaders. Guided by servant leadership and shared values, we work alongside founders to scale businesses, strengthen organizations, and build long-term value. We have partnered with 25 founder teams since our firm's founding in 2013. Prior to that, New Harbor's Partners utilized a similar approach at their previous firm. Additionally, nearly all of our prior founder partners have invested in our subsequent private equity funds, providing further evidence of the strength of our relationships.

The following testimonials from our founder partners speak to this:

"From the beginning, New Harbor Capital felt like the right partner because our values were so closely aligned. They believed in our vision, gave us the resources to think bigger, and trusted us to grow without compromising our culture, our people, or the patient experience. That alignment has been an incredible catalyst, accelerating our growth while allowing us to stay true to who we are." Dr. Michael Pedro, Co-Founder and CEO of MD Esthetics

"Partnering with New Harbor Capital has allowed me, as a founder, to take our organization to the next level. What sets New Harbor apart is that they keep the ethics of the business above all else. New Harbor has found a rare and genuine blend of honoring a founder's enthusiasm and vision while bringing the professionalization needed to scale. That combination is exactly what allowed me, and our organization, to grow to the next level." Julie Miller, Founder and CEO of Vital Geriatrics

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.

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.

DISCLAIMER: This recognition was received from Inc. Media on October 27, 2026. New Harbor Capital paid $1,495 in entry fees to Inc. Media to be considered for this recognition. The entry process involved contacting past and present founders from New Harbor Capital's investment portfolio to ask them about their experience partnering with New Harbor Capital. New Harbor Capital was one of numerous firms to receive this recognition from Inc. Media. The award nomination period covers January through May of 2026. This rating may not be representative of any one investor's experience and is not indicative of any future performance.

Certain statements about New Harbor Capital made by portfolio company executives herein are intended to illustrate New Harbor Capital's business relationship with such persons, including with respect to New Harbor Capital's facilities as a business partner, rather than New Harbor Capital'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 New Harbor Capital-sponsored vehicles. Such compensation and investments subject participants to potential conflicts of interest in making the statements herein.