Beyond Capital.Built For Real World Expansion.
Charter Growth Partners backs exceptional businesses anchored by a physical presence.
A New Model for
Retail-Driven Value Creation
Charter Growth Partners helps retail-first, consumer-facing businesses scale by combining growth capital with real estate execution, operating discipline, and brand strategy.
Most growth investors lead with capital. We lead with something harder to replicate: decades of operating, developing, and investing in real world businesses that are planning to scale.
We invest across the full spectrum of retail-oriented businesses, from emerging concepts with proven four-wall performance to established operators running 100+ locations. What matters is not the size of the business today: it's the quality of the company and the underlying economics, the strength of the management team, market positioning, the brand, and the ability to scale.
Charter Growth Partners is highly selective, partnering with a limited number of businesses each year. Our goal is to help leaders grow without losing what makes their business special, reinforcing what already works with real estate expertise, operational infrastructure, brand development, and disciplined capital deployment.
The investment landscape for physical retail has not been this favorable in a generation. Consumer behavior has shifted decisively back toward in-person experience. Dining, fitness, wellness, and service concepts are outperforming digital alternatives as people actively seek real-world connection. At the same time, retail vacancy rates have reached historic lows, compressing available space and creating meaningful barriers to entry for new concepts trying to scale. And the consumer cohorts now entering their peak spending years, Millennials and Gen Z, are demonstrably loyal to independent, category-defining brands over legacy incumbents. They do not default to the familiar; they seek out the best. This convergence of demand, constrained supply, and a generational shift in brand preference creates a window for investors who understand how physical businesses actually work.
The right partner is the most important variable in a company's growth. We take that responsibility seriously.
We Underwrite the Unit
Before We Fund the Brand.
Before committing growth capital, we analyze the four-wall economics of every location in the portfolio: the metrics that reveal whether a business is truly ready to scale.
Productivity of every physical location
Contribution margin at the unit level
Occupancy cost as a % of revenue
True four-wall profitability before G&A
Experienced Investors.
Tenured Operators.
Founders, operators, and investors who have built and scaled businesses across every stage of the growth cycle, with the pattern recognition to know what works and the operating experience to execute it.
Dan Zelson
Partner
Dan has been an early investor in many retail concepts and companies that have achieved global prominence.
Cliff Sirlin
Partner
Cliff combines institutional investing with hands-on experience as a founder and operator.
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Ben Harris
Partner
Ben leverages his expertise to lead investments, build, and grow consumer-facing businesses.
Proven Concepts.
Built to Scale.
We have a demonstrated history of identifying high-conviction concepts and building the operational infrastructure to scale them across categories, geographies, and market cycles.5
BIRDCODE
Birdcode is a prime example of how Charter Growth Partners works with companies, bringing growth capital, real estate expertise, franchise infrastructure, and operational discipline to a founder-led brand ready to scale nationally.
Charter Growth Partners draws on the real estate expertise of Charter Realty and Zelco Properties to help portfolio companies evaluate markets, assess sites, structure leases, and make more informed real estate decisions as they expand their physical footprints.
Ready to Partner?
Let's Talk.
Charter Growth Partners welcomes inquiries from qualified investors, business owners, and management teams exploring a growth capital partnership.
Bedford Square
5 Church Ln #300
Westport, CT 06880
1Total real estate capital managed, leased, or developed by the Founding Partners across prior vehicles and operating companies prior to the formation of Charter Growth Partners.
2Aggregate consumer-facing revenue generated across portfolio companies and operating businesses led or invested in by the Founding Partners prior to the formation of Charter Growth Partners.
3Total number of companies scaled, invested in, or operationally supported by the Founding Partners across their combined careers prior to the formation of Charter Growth Partners.
4Combined years of professional experience across real estate, investment, and operations among the three Founding Partners of Charter Growth Partners.
5The case studies are a selection of investments and operating roles held by the Founding Partners before Charter Growth Partners was established. All figures are based on publicly available information or partner estimates. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
AUM, investment returns, and case studies referenced herein were made through vehicles controlled or managed by the Founding Partners prior to the formation of Charter Growth Partners. This prior experience directly informs the firm's investment approach and operating methodology.
Charter Growth Partners is not a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Nothing on this website constitutes investment advice, financial advice, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Any investment in a Charter Growth Partners vehicle involves significant risks, including the possible loss of principal, and is suitable only for sophisticated investors who can bear such risks. Prospective investors should consult their own legal, tax, and financial advisers before making any investment decision.