What KarpReilly does

KarpReilly, LLC is a private growth equity investment firm headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, founded in 2007 by Allan Karp and Chris Reilly. The firm invests $5 million to $75 million of equity capital in premier small to mid-size growth companies, with stated sector focus on consumer products, apparel, restaurants, retail, building products, and healthcare. KarpReilly manages funds and affiliates with capital commitments in excess of $500 million and, since inception, has invested in, sat on the boards of, and supported more than 25 growth companies across its portfolio.

The firm's portfolio spans restaurant concepts (The Habit Burger Grill, Cafe Rio, Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants, RVR, Starbird Chicken), food and beverage brands (Wilde Brands protein chips, Rowdy Mermaid kombucha, Kosterina olive oil, Spindrift seltzer, Zola coconut water, Salt & Straw), and consumer/lifestyle brands (Bob's Discount Furniture, Made In Cookware, Stio outdoor apparel, Trina Turk). KarpReilly differentiates itself through deep operational expertise in consumer and retail, active board participation, and a collaborative sourcing model that leverages purchasing power and operational best practices across portfolio companies. Notable exits include The Habit Burger Grill (sold to Yum! Brands for ~$375 million in 2020), Cafe Rio (sold to Freeman Spogli in 2017), Cooper's Hawk (sold to Ares Private Equity Group in 2019), and Bob's Discount Furniture (IPO on NYSE in February 2026 at a $2.2 billion market value, raising $331 million).

KarpReilly earns returns through capital appreciation, dividends, and exit proceeds from portfolio companies rather than product or service pricing. Its go-to-market is referral-driven, sourcing investments through investment banking relationships, founder networks, and existing portfolio management teams. The firm employs 51–100 people across its Greenwich headquarters and is led since February 2023 by Managing Partners Billy Logan and Hank Spring, with founders Karp and Reilly continuing in active investing and portfolio management roles.

Name

KarpReilly

Legal name

KarpReilly, LLC

Website

https://karpreilly.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

KarpReilly is a Greenwich, CT-based private growth equity firm investing $5M-$75M in premier small to mid-size consumer, restaurant, retail, and healthcare growth companies. Founded in 2007, the firm manages $500M+ in capital commitments across 25+ portfolio investments and generates returns through equity appreciation and exits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Equity / Growth Equity Investment

NAICS

All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Consumer & Retail Growth Equity (FSANACAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Multi-Sector / Generalist Growth Equity (FSANACAO)

Keywords

• Growth equity investments
• Private equity firm
• Consumer brand investing
• Equity capital
• Portfolio management

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenwich

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Investment Management: KarpReilly generates returns through equity investments in growth-stage consumer companies. The firm earns returns through capital appreciation, exit proceeds, and dividends from portfolio companies. As a growth equity investor, the firm targets investments in small to mid-size companies with significant growth potential, providing capital and operational support to help achieve long-term vision.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

KarpReilly is a private growth equity investment firm that partners with premier small to mid-size growth companies by deploying equity capital typically ranging from $5 million to $75 million, alongside strategic guidance, operational support, and active board participation. The firm focuses on consumer products, apparel, restaurants, retail, building products, and healthcare services companies with significant growth potential, and has invested in over 25 growth companies since its founding in 2007 while managing funds with capital commitments in excess of $500 million.

Product overview

KarpReilly LLC is a private equity and growth equity investment firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut, founded in 2007. The firm does not offer a unified product platform; rather, it provides investment capital, strategic partnership, and operational support to small and mid-size growth companies across consumer products, restaurants, retail, apparel, and related sectors. KarpReilly typically invests $5–75 million in equity and has invested in, sat on the boards of, and nurtured over 25 growth companies over its history, managing funds with capital commitments in excess of $500 million. The firm has a portfolio of restaurant chains (The Habit Burger Grill, Cooper's Hawk, Cafe Rio, RVR), food and beverage brands (WILDE, Rowdy Mermaid, Kosterina, Zola, Salt & Straw, Spindrift), consumer brands (Trina Turk, Stio, Made In Cookware), and other lifestyle companies. KarpReilly's own 'product' is its investment and growth-enablement service, through which it partners with portfolio companies to help them achieve long-term expansion objectives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Growth Equity Investment Capital
• Portfolio Strategic Guidance and Board Participation

Quantifiable outcome

• Generated successful exits including Yum! Brands acquisition of Habit Burger Grill for $375M, Freeman Spogli acquisition of Cafe Rio, and Bob's Discount Furniture IPO at $2.2B valuation

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Next in NaturalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 December 2025Rowdy Mermaid, a portfolio company of KarpReilly making organic Kombucha and Good Mood Soda, was acquired by Next in Natural in June 2025. This strategic partnership aims to support Rowdy Mermaid's growth, supply chain, and innovation efforts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TSG Consumer Partners: Specialist consumer growth-equity firm investing in branded consumer companies, with similar check sizes to KarpReilly and a long track record of mid-market consumer brand investing. Highly comparable business model focused on partnering with growing consumer brands.
• L Catterton: Largest consumer-focused private equity firm globally with multi-billion AUM. Competes with KarpReilly for premier consumer growth deals, though at materially larger scale and check sizes; serves as a benchmark for the consumer-specialist growth thesis.
• Castanea Partners: Consumer-focused growth equity firm investing in branded consumer products and retail companies. Closely comparable to KarpReilly in vertical specialization and middle-market check size range.
• VMG Partners: Growth equity firm dedicated to emerging consumer brands, with similar focus on small/mid-size consumer companies. Directly comparable in thesis, scale, and portfolio construction to KarpReilly.
• Encore Consumer Capital: Specialist consumer growth equity firm focused on small to mid-size consumer companies. Overlapping thesis with KarpReilly in restaurants, food/beverage, and consumer brands at similar check sizes.
• CAVU Consumer Partners: Growth equity firm focused on consumer brands, restaurants, and lifestyle companies. Closely mirrors KarpReilly's vertical concentration and equity check range.
• Periscope Equity: Consumer-focused growth equity firm investing in lower middle market consumer companies. Comparable to KarpReilly in deal size range and consumer-vertical concentration.

Broad incumbents

• Bain Capital: Large multi-strategy private equity firm with a dedicated consumer/retail practice that invests across the consumer value chain. Not a focused mid-market consumer specialist like KarpReilly, but competes for premium consumer brand deals at larger scale.
• Roark Capital: Private equity firm with deep franchise/consumer focus, particularly in restaurant and consumer brands. Overlaps with KarpReilly's restaurant portfolio but operates at much larger AUM and check sizes.

Emerging players

• Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe: Established growth equity firm with selective consumer/services exposure. While not exclusively consumer-focused like KarpReilly, it competes for growth-stage branded consumer and consumer-services deals at similar check sizes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/karpreilly

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments28 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KarpReilly