Who we serve
Founded by BrightStar Care's Shelly Sun Berkowitz, Next Phase Capital is a franchise-focused family office providing patient, values-aligned capital that respects the founder's voice and honors their legacy.
unlocking sustainable growth through patient, values-aligned capital
A Family Office for Franchise Founders
We believe franchise founders deserve the support of a capital partner who understands the journey. Next Phase Capital provides strategic investment and hands-on guidance to help founder-led businesses scale thoughtfully, preserve their legacy, and unlock their next phase of growth.
Experience-Backed Support for Strategic Growth
Our Mission
That journey taught her what franchise founders truly need: a partner who understands the unique complexities of your business model and provides both the capital and expertise to reach the next level without compromising what makes your brand special.
What sets us apart is not just capital—it’s the ability to be an operator-turned-investor, bringing real-world growth expertise and respect for the founder’s vision and legacy.
Next Phase Capital was born from experience, not theory. Founder Shelly Sun Berkowitz built BrightStar Care from concept to a successful exit, navigating every challenge that comes with scaling a franchise business.
Support from a Founder Who's Been There
We offer both minority and majority investment opportunities, structured to honor your legacy while providing the outside perspective and strategic support needed for sustainable, long-term scaling. Whether you're building a bankable leadership team or preparing for future opportunities, we act as your partner and operator-informed advisor.
Our goal isn't a quick profit—it's thoughtful scaling without pressure to conform to artificial deadlines.
You have poured your heart and soul into your business and deserve support from a capital partner who understands that dedication. Our founder-first approach starts with respect for your vision, your timeline, and your values.
Our Approach
Proven Expertise
We measure success by your sustainable growth and the preservation of what you've built.
Long-Term Commitment
We utilize our network of
pre-established relationships to open doors and help you build the leadership team needed for your next phase of growth.
Executive Network
Strategic investment is just the beginning. Next Phase Capital’s true value comes from our deep franchise expertise and network of proven relationships.
Real-World Experience
OFFERING MORE THAN CAPITAL
We understand franchise operations from franchise development to franchisee support because we've lived it.
A clear vision for franchise growth
Or 3+ company-owned locations
25+ franchise locations with positive EBITDA
At Next Phase Capital, we partner with franchise founders who have proven their concept and are ready to scale exponentially.
Our ideal partners have:
Who we partner with
Whether you're expanding to new markets, strengthening operations, or preparing for an eventual exit, we partner with founders committed to long-term value creation.
Whether you're expanding to new markets, strengthening operations, or preparing for an eventual exit, we partner with founders committed to long-term value creation.
Brand Investment Experience
What sets Shelly apart is how deeply she understands a founder’s journey, and how generously she shares that wisdom when it counts most. When I was preparing to bring on outside capital for the first time, she shared candid, invaluable guidance that shaped my decision and ensured I chose the right partner. Since then, she’s been the kind of board member every founder hopes for - bringing clarity, hard-won experience, and a willingness to roll up her sleeves when it matters most. Shelly has a rare ability to change the trajectory of a business, her involvement is a true advantage for any founder and I feel fortunate to have her support!
She’s built and scaled businesses in incredibly tough industries, and she brings that real-world perspective to every conversation.
As a founder, having someone like that in your corner is rare - and it’s made me a stronger leader.
Shelly has been both a business and personal mentor and a strategic partner for me throughout my journey as an entrepreneur. She literally wrote the book on franchising. Her perspective as a successful operator turned investor has been critical, not only in shaping my own leadership but also in guiding our company as we scaled from a startup into a national iconic brand.
When we were preparing to bring on our first outside investors, I wanted Shelly on our cap table because I knew she brought more than capital, she brought wisdom, integrity, and hard-won experience. She helped us navigate that critical transition with confidence while staying true to our culture and vision.
Any founder who partners with her through Next Phase Capital will not just gain an investor, but a mentor and trusted ally who truly understands what it takes to build and scale a franchise successfully.
Private Equity Partnerships
Working with Shelly Sun Berkowitz has been an exceptional experience. Her firsthand operator expertise, having successfully scaled her small multi-site brand from just 1 to over 400 locations, brings invaluable perspective and strategic insight. Shelly's deep understanding of operational growth and her active engagement with management and/or founders have consistently added significant value to our portfolio companies.
Her proven track record in scaling businesses makes her a trusted partner, and we look forward to collaborating with her on future investments.
Susquehanna Growth Equity
Shelly understands the complex challenges of scaling a franchise business and has previously faced most of the issues newer businesses encounter in their journey, which is uncommon for an investor and board member. Shelly can balance big-picture thinking with a meticulous attention to detail, setting a remarkable example for aspiring leaders within the organizations that she’s affiliated with. I’ve benefitted personally from working alongside Shelly these past four years, learning new ways to approach board level relationships, evaluating difficult decisions, considering new growth opportunities, and focusing effort on the initiatives that truly matter over the long-term.
I cant overstate how impressed I have been with Shelly’s level of dedication to each of her endeavors, any founder would be incredibly fortunate to have her in their corner.
Led by franchise veteran Shelly Sun Berkowitz, Next Phase Capital represents the Berkowitz family's dedication to supporting founder-led businesses. Shelly's proven track record of building and scaling franchise operations guides our investment approach and partnership philosophy.
Shelly Sun Berkowitz
Your Next Phase Capital Partners
Shelly Sun Berkowitz’s journey as a founder began in 2002 with BrightStar Care, a national home healthcare and medical staffing company dedicated to delivering compassionate, high-quality care to families across the country. What began as a personal mission grew into a franchise system with more than 400 locations, employing over 20,000 professionals and generating $750 million in system-wide revenue.
After more than 20 years as CEO, Shelly made the decision to transition from an active operational CEO role to a strategic Chairperson role, selling a majority stake in BrightStar to Peak Rock Capital while remaining a material shareholder and active board member.
Today, Shelly is dedicated to helping other founders prepare for and navigate the complexities of scaling, selling, and stewarding their business legacies through her advisory firm Founder 2 Founder and investment firm Next Phase Capital. Having lived the founder journey from start-up to successful exit, Shelly brings a rare combination of operational insight and emotional understanding to one of the most personal and high-stakes decisions a founder can make.
ready for your next phase?
Get in Touch
Great partnerships start by understanding your vision. If you're a franchise founder ready to explore what thoughtful growth looks like with Next Phase Capital, we'd love to hear your story.
Great partnerships start by understanding your vision. If you're a franchise founder ready to explore what thoughtful growth looks like with Next Phase Capital, we'd love to hear your story.
No pitches, no pressure—just a conversation about preserving your legacy while unlocking your next phase of growth.
