10/28/25
Clarion Capital Partners Named as an Inc. Founder-Friendly Investor for Second Consecutive Year Clarion Capital Partners Named as an Inc. Founder-Friendly Investor for Second Consecutive Year
NEW YORK, NY, October 28, 2025 – Clarion Capital Partners, LLC (“Clarion” or the “Firm”) today announced that the Firm has been named as one of Inc.’s 2025 Founder-Friendly Investors, its second consecutive year earning the recognition.
The list celebrates the top firms investing in founder-led businesses and helping them thrive. Honorees have demonstrated successful collaboration and active involvement with the businesses they back.
“We love partnering with entrepreneurs and founders who have built great businesses," said Marc Utay, Clarion Managing Partner. “They often possess elements of entrepreneurial genius, including a deep understanding of their market, customers, competitors, and products which enable them to build something truly special. Working with these entrepreneurs is rewarding, not only for us as partners, but also for the founders and investors who believe in their vision. This recognition from Inc. is a true testament to our mission at Clarion.” Hear more from Utay here.
Over the last 25 years, Clarion has strategically built partnerships through the alignment of capital and culture. The Firm's emphasis on true collaboration with the founders it backs is evident in their enduring ties: Clarion has gone back into business with numerous founders, with many investing in subsequent Clarion funds alongside other returning investors.
The recognition from Inc. follows several awards Clarion has received this year, including being named as a Top 50 PE Firm in the Middle Market by Grady Campbell Incorporated (GCI) Publishing; placing in the top 1% on HEC Paris-Dow Jones’ Small-Cap Buyout Performance Ranking for generating the best returns over a 10 year period; and earning second place among private equity firms on Crain’s 2025 List of Best Places to Work in New York City.
Learn more about Inc.’s 2025 Founder-Friendly Investor list here.
About Clarion
Founded in 1999, Clarion is a New York-based investment manager operating two primary business segments: Private Equity (launched in 1999) and Structured Credit (launched in 2018). Clarion’s private equity business seeks to make primarily control investments in a diversified portfolio of lower middle-market companies generating $7.5 to $30.0 million of EBITDA. Clarion focuses on growth companies in industries such as Media, Entertainment & Technology, Financial Technology & Services, Business, Healthcare & Industrial Services, Consumer & Education Services, and Industrial Technology & Services. Clarion’s structured credit business focuses mostly on CLO equity and mezzanine investments, sourced both in the primary and secondary markets. Additional information on Clarion can be found at www.clarion-capital.com.