Entrepreneurial Equity Partners (e2p), a Chicago-based private equity firm, has solidified its position in the market by announcing the successful closing of its second fund, Entrepreneurial Equity Partners II (e2p II), with an impressive $546 million in capital commitments. This achievement follows the firm’s inaugural fund, e2p I, which closed at $423 million in May 2021, signaling significant growth and investor enthusiasm for their focused investment strategy.
Concurrent with this financial milestone, Entrepreneurial Equity Partners has also unveiled a comprehensive brand refresh, featuring a new website, logo, and overall brand experience. This revitalized brand identity is designed to better communicate the firm’s evolution, vision, and expanded capabilities since its inception.
As a dedicated middle-market private equity player, Entrepreneurial Equity Partners specializes in control-oriented investments within the food, consumer, and packaging sectors, and industries closely related to these core areas. e2p II will continue this successful strategy, targeting companies that generate a minimum of $50 million in revenue, demonstrating a consistent focus on established and growing businesses.
What sets Entrepreneurial Equity Partners apart is their team of 20 professionals who bring extensive operational experience specific to these sectors. Their deep industry knowledge and robust executive networks make them highly attractive partners, particularly for family-led businesses and corporate carve-outs seeking not just capital, but also strategic guidance and operational expertise.
The leadership team at Entrepreneurial Equity Partners is composed of seasoned veterans from the food and CPG industries, combined with experienced investment professionals. Managing Partner Mark Burgett brings over two decades of experience in private equity and finance to the firm. Complementing this, Managing Partner CJ Fraleigh offers more than 25 years of leadership experience, including notable roles as Chairman and CEO of Shearer’s Foods, CEO of Sara Lee North America, and VP of Colas at PepsiCo. This blend of financial and operational leadership provides a unique value proposition to their portfolio companies.
“We are deeply grateful for the strong support from our investors for our second fund,” stated Mark Burgett, Managing Partner at Entrepreneurial Equity Partners. “The successful capital raise for Fund II is a direct reflection of the exceptional team we have assembled and our proven ability to effectively deploy capital into compelling investment opportunities. e2p II has attracted a diverse and sophisticated group of investors, including real asset, private equity, and impact-oriented institutions, encompassing pension funds, endowments and foundations, family offices, and other prominent institutional investors.”
Entrepreneurial Equity Partners has cultivated a robust portfolio, currently managing $1.7 billion in Assets Under Management (AUM) to date. Post-investment, e2p actively engages with portfolio company management teams, implementing their proprietary North Star Investing Program. This program is a key component of a broader Business Transformation Plan (BTP), meticulously tailored to serve as a customized roadmap for each portfolio company. The BTP is designed to accelerate value creation and maximize impact, ensuring sustainable growth and operational improvements within their investments.
Building on their continued success, Entrepreneurial Equity Partners recognized the need to update their brand messaging and visual identity to better reflect their journey and future aspirations. This rebranding initiative encompasses a refreshed look and feel that aligns with their current market position and strategic direction.
“We undertook a comprehensive process to carefully select the most effective imagery, color palette, aesthetic, and messaging to represent Entrepreneurial Equity Partners,” explained Amy Silverstein, Partner at e2p. “Our goal was to create a brand identity that honors our history and achievements while propelling the brand forward into its next phase of growth and impact.”
“Over the past several years, we have dedicated ourselves to building a strong and collaborative culture, both internally and across our portfolio companies. We are thrilled to now elevate our branding to more accurately reflect this success to the external market,” added Silverstein.
As Entrepreneurial Equity Partners embarks on the journey with its second successful fund and newly launched brand identity, Mark Burgett emphasized the team’s readiness to execute their strategy, stating, “We are eager to continue partnering with our investors throughout the entire lifecycle of Fund II and to drive significant value creation in the food, consumer, and packaging sectors.” This announcement underscores Entrepreneurial Equity Partners’ strong position as a leading entrepreneurial equity partner in the middle market.
