ALEXANDRIA, VA (August 5, 2025) – Fransmart, the franchise development company behind some of the most successful restaurant and retail chains is launching an investment platform giving individual accredited investors a seat at the table for early-stage restaurant and franchise chain growth opportunities.
The platform allows qualified investors to co-invest alongside Fransmart in promising emerging concepts with check size starting at $50,000. Many investors don’t hear about these emerging brands until they are much larger and therefore wind up competing with the larger more sophisticated capital partners, but there is a tremendous amount of wealth to be generated investing in earlier valuations with the rights to continue investing as companies need more.
Unlike traditional private equity approaches that target more mature concepts and business investments, Fransmart’s platform is focused exclusively on “angel-stage” emerging concepts with strong unit economics and clear runway for rapid expansion.
“For years, we’ve helped launch emerging concepts into global brands many generating billions in sales,” said Dan Rowe, Founder and CEO of Fransmart. “Many of our larger franchisees ask for a chance to co-invest in the brands they are franchising. Now we’re giving our franchisees and other qualified investors access to the earliest, most exciting stages of that journey and essentially splashing gas on a fire.”
The move is rooted in Fransmart’s proven ability to spot winners early. The firm invested early in CAVA and Sweetgreen and even saw Chipotle when it only had a single location. They discovered Sweetgreen while standing in line at its original 500-square-foot shop in Georgetown, long before it became a national name. The team was also instrumental in scaling Five Guys, QDOBA, The Halal Guys, and PayMore from local favorites into national chains.
“By the time brands are open in multiple markets and predictable revenue streams, you’ve already missed the big returns,” said Rowe. “We invest at the angel stage, when concepts are raw and revolutionary. That’s where fortunes and founders’ dreams are made.”
Brands must meet stringent criteria, including two years of financial documentation, unit-level profitability, a compelling growth story, and franchisee satisfaction data. The concepts will have strong fundamentals like good unit economics, control their own supply lines, and strong leadership teams. Fransmart’s team evaluates every opportunity using the same metrics and standards that have driven its success over the last two decades.
Qualified investors can learn about potential opportunities by joining the email list at https://fransmart.com/capital-investments/.
About Fransmart
Fransmart is the global leader in franchise development, selling over 5,000 franchises worldwide and turning emerging franchise concepts into national and global brands for 25 years. Company Founder, Dan Rowe, identified and grew brands like Five Guys Burgers & Fries, QDOBA Mexican Grill, and The Halal Guys from 1 – 5-unit businesses to the powerhouse chains they are today. The company’s portfolio includes some of the most recognizable names in the franchise industry, with collective portfolio brands generating billions in sales across thousands of locations worldwide. For more information about Fransmart’s investment options, visit https://fransmart.com.
