Zelson and Sirlin launch Charter Growth Partners to invest in retail-first businesses

Westport, CT Charter Growth Partners, a new investment firm founded by Dan Zelson, Cliff Sirlin, and Ben Harris, has launched. The founders’ collective experience includes managing more than $2 billion in capital and helping scale over 150 companies.

Charter Growth Partners invests in consumer businesses where “in real life” commerce is central to how companies deliver products and services. The founding partners bring experience across real estate, brand building, operations, and private transaction underwriting. A defining part of Charter Growth Partners’ approach is helping companies get expansion right. 

The firm is highly selective and seeks companies with talented management teams, proven customer demand, strong four-wall economics, and meaningful opportunities for growth.

The firm draws on the retail real estate expertise of Charter Realty and Zelco Properties & Development. Charter Realty is a full-service national commercial real estate firm that has leased over 30 million square feet for some of the nation’s preeminent tenants and landlords. Zelco Properties & Development has completed acquisitions and ground-up developments totaling more than 8 million s/f across retail, mixed-use, hospitality, technology campuses, and residential projects.

“We have a decades-long track record working alongside exceptional retail and consumer businesses,” said Zelson, founding partner. “What we have learned is that scaling requires more than capital. It needs disciplined site selection, thoughtful leasing, and an exceptional operating playbook. Charter Growth Partners was built to bring those capabilities together.”

Charter Growth Partners’ investment pillars include food and beverage, health and wellness, specialty retail, sports, and entertainment. At a time when the world has become increasingly digital, “in real life” experiences matter more than ever, and consumers are showing a strong preference for interacting and engaging in person.

The partnership has a demonstrated history of identifying high-conviction concepts and building the operational infrastructure to scale them across categories, geographies, and market cycles.

“We look for companies that have the potential to become market leaders in their segments,” said Cliff Sirlin, founding partner. “Our role is to bring the capital, relationships, and strategic support to help them reach that next stage.”

“Our team has been on every side of the table as founders, operators, and investors,” said Ben Harris, founding partner. “We know what it takes to build businesses because we have all done it ourselves.”