Roark
Private equityAtlanta
Also known as Roark Capital Management, Llc
Investment thesis
Roark invests in consumer and business service companies, specializing in franchise and franchise-like business models. The firm positions itself as a trusted partner for management teams and business owners, favoring a 'win-win-win' approach in which all stakeholders — customers, employees, franchisees, strategic partners, service providers, management, and shareholders — benefit from the growth of its businesses. It seeks partnerships with entrepreneurs and executives who share this collaborative vision. Roark's portfolio spans food and restaurants (its largest sector), consumer and business services, health, wellness and fitness, and education and youth activities.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 25, 2026.
What they invest in
from 44 of 83 portfolio companiesConsumer ×38Sports Tech ×11FoodTech ×10Wellness & Fitness ×9Mobility & Transportation ×5Enterprise Software ×4EdTech ×3SaaS ×3
HQs:United States×14
Investments · 83 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathAnytime Fitness operates a franchise network of 24-hour gyms with 6,000+ locations, offering members personalized fitness plans, personal and group training, coaching, and app-based progress tracking.
ConsumerSports TechWellness & Fitness
Arby's is a fast food restaurant chain known for its meat-and-cheese sandwiches, including roast beef and Angus cheesesteaks.
ConsumerFoodTech
Co-investorsStellus Capital Management
ATI (Automotive Training Institute) provides consulting, coaching, and training services for independently-owned mechanical and collision auto repair shops.
Enterprise SoftwareFuture of Work
The Bar Method offers barre-based full-body fitness classes focused on strength, posture, and toning, delivered through nearly 100 studio locations across the US and Canada as well as an online workout option.
ConsumerSports TechWellness & Fitness
Co-investorsBuilders Fund
Baskin-Robbins is an ice cream retail chain that sells ice cream, cakes, and beverages such as its Cappy drink, offering in-store pickup and delivery.
ConsumerFoodTechRetail Tech
Buffalo Wild Wings is a restaurant chain serving chicken wings, fries, and dips, with ordering available online and through its app.
ConsumerFoodTech
Owner of Carl's Jr and Hardee's
Corner Bakery Cafe is a bakery-cafe chain serving fresh-made food and beverages, with a rewards program and event catering for gatherings, meetings, and celebrations.
ConsumerFoodTech
Dave's Hot Chicken is a restaurant chain serving Nashville-style hot chicken items including sliders, tenders, and sides, with a mobile app for ordering and promotions.
ConsumerFoodTech
Divisions Maintenance Group (DMG) provides facility maintenance services to organizations across the United States, using technology-based products to coordinate work.
Construction TechEnterprise SoftwareSaaS
Driven Brands operates a portfolio of automotive aftermarket franchise brands—including oil change, auto glass, collision repair, paint, and parts distribution services—for vehicle owners and franchisees.
ConsumerMobility & Transportation
Co-investorsKSLStride Consumer Partners
FASTSIGNS operates a franchise network in the signage and graphics industry, offering entrepreneurs and business owners the opportunity to run signage and visual marketing centers.
Marketing Tech
Co-investorsLevine Leichtman
Fitness Connection operates gyms offering strength equipment, studio classes, and amenities such as sauna and turf areas, along with a mobile app for check-in, class booking, and progress tracking.
ConsumerSports TechWellness & Fitness
Co-investorsLnk
GoTo Foods is a food service franchising platform that operates a family of affiliated food and snack brands and offers franchise opportunities with shared support, business processes, and scale.
ConsumerFoodTech
Omer Gajial(Chief Executive Officer)
GPRS provides subsurface and reality-capture services including ground penetrating radar, utility locating, concrete scanning, video pipe inspection, leak detection, and 3D laser scanning with BIM modeling for architects, engineers, contractors, and facility managers.
Construction TechPropTechSaaS
i9 Sports operates youth sports leagues and programs focused on teaching children athletic and life skills in a safe environment.
ConsumerSports Tech
Inspire Brands is a multi-brand restaurant company operating a portfolio of more than 33,300 Arby's, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin', Jimmy John's, and SONIC locations worldwide.
ConsumerFoodTech
Installation Made Easy (IME) provides an enterprise software and services platform for the home improvement industry, offering project management, lead capture, estimating, transaction processing, and reporting tools.
Enterprise SoftwarePropTechSaaS
KE Camps operates traditional summer day camps hosted at private clubs across the United States, offering structured recreational activities and camp traditions for children.
Consumer
Massage Envy is a franchised chain of wellness locations offering therapeutic massage, assisted stretch, facials, and advanced skin services such as chemical peels and dermaplaning to consumers.
ConsumerWellness & Fitness
Co-investorsPrinceton
Co-investorsACE & Company
Meineke provides automotive repair and maintenance services including oil changes, exhaust and muffler work, brakes, tires, A/C, and steering and suspension.
Consumer
Co-investorsHalifax Group
Miller's Ale House is a sports-themed casual dining restaurant chain serving entrees, beers, and cocktails, with dining and event options such as fantasy football draft parties.
ConsumerJupiter, US
Co-investorsKarpReilly
Naf Naf Grill is a Middle Eastern fast-casual restaurant chain offering build-your-own bowls and pita sandwiches with proteins such as chicken shawarma, falafel, and steak, plus kids' meals and family-sized platters.
Consumer
Nothing Bundt Cakes sells Bundt cakes in various flavors for occasions such as birthdays, holidays, weddings, and other celebrations.
ConsumerDirect to Consumer
Co-investorsLevine Leichtman
Orangetheory Fitness operates a chain of boutique fitness studios offering group workouts combining full-body strength training and cardio, guided by coaches and OTconnect technology that adapts to each member's level.
ConsumerSports TechWellness & Fitness
Co-investorsHalifax Group
Primrose Schools operates early education and childcare programs for young children, using a structured curriculum with hands-on activities, music and stories.
ConsumerEdTech
Purpose Brands is a franchisor of health, fitness, and wellness brands, licensing and operating franchise concepts for franchisees and consumers worldwide.
ConsumerSports TechWellness & Fitness
SafeSplash operates swim schools offering learn-to-swim lessons for all ages and abilities, from infants and toddlers to adults and competitive swimmers, with a focus on water safety and self-rescue skills.
ConsumerSports TechWellness & Fitness
Self Esteem Brands (Purpose Brands) is a franchisor operating health and wellness brands, offering domestic and international franchise opportunities to partners.
ConsumerWellness & Fitness
ServiceMaster Brands is a franchisor of needs-based home and commercial services, operating six brands through more than 3,200 franchisees across 4,600+ locations.
ConsumerMarketplaces
Owner of ServiceMaster Restore, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, and Two Men and a Truck
ServiceMaster Clean provides commercial cleaning services for businesses including office buildings, retail spaces, schools, hospitals, industrial warehouses, and event venues.
Enterprise Software
Sonic Drive-In is a fast-food restaurant chain known for its drive-in service, offering menu items and promotional deals such as discounted corn dogs.
ConsumerFoodTech
Subway is a fast-food restaurant chain that sells submarine sandwiches, sides, drinks, and catering, with online and in-app ordering plus a "Sub Club" loyalty program.
ConsumerFoodTech
Co-investorsThe Whitesholding Capital
Take 5 operates a chain of drive-through auto service centers offering oil changes and related vehicle maintenance—including filter, wiper, and battery replacement, coolant exchange, and multi-point inspections—completed in about 10 minutes while customers stay in their cars.
ConsumerMobility & Transportation
The Cheesecake Factory operates full-service restaurants offering a menu of over 250 scratch-made dishes and signature cheesecakes, with dine-in, reservations, pickup, and delivery.
Consumer
US Sports Camps runs youth day and overnight sports camps across dozens of sports, providing coaching and training programs for young athletes.
ConsumerSports Tech
Waxing the City operates studios offering personalized professional waxing services and hair removal performed by trained specialists using a custom-formulated wax, along with related skincare treatments and brow products.
ConsumerWellness & Fitness
Youth Enrichment Brands is a franchising company operating a portfolio of three child-focused franchise brands spanning youth sports, swimming, and music instruction.
ConsumerEdTechSports Tech
Fund performance · per public LP disclosures · 5
as of Sep 2025| Fund | Vintage | Committed | Net IRR | TVPI | DPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roark Capital Partners VILPs: Oregon Public Employees Retirement System, Empire State Development – New York Ventures, Los Angeles City Employees' Retirement System +1 more | 2021 | — | 17.5% | 1.47x | 0.15x |
| Roark Capital Partners II Side CarLPs: Los Angeles City Employees' Retirement System | 2018 | — | 13.0% | 1.93x | 0.17x |
| Roark Capital Partners VLPs: Oregon Public Employees Retirement System, Los Angeles City Employees' Retirement System, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation +2 more | 2018 | — | 11.2% | 1.56x | 0.25x |
| Roark Capital Partners IV, L.P.LPs: Washington State Investment Board, Oregon Public Employees Retirement System, Santa Barbara County Employees' Retirement System +3 more | 2016 | — | 4.5% | 1.30x | 1.29x |
| Roark Capital Partners III, L.P.LPs: Washington State Investment Board, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation | 2012 | — | 11.8% | 2.00x | 2.00x |
Source: public limited-partner disclosures (CalPERS, CalSTRS). Net IRR / TVPI / DPI as reported by the limited partner; a fund's early-year IRR is an interim estimate (J-curve).
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Roark made?
- Roark has 83 tracked investments.
- What sectors does Roark focus on?
- Roark focuses on Consumer, EdTech, FoodTech, Wellness & Fitness.
- Where is Roark located?
- Roark is headquartered in Atlanta, US.
- Who does Roark co-invest with?
- Roark most often shares deals with Halifax Group, Levine Leichtman, KSL, among 10 tracked co-investors.
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