A Founder’s Best Advocate
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. 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.
A Note from Shelly
I've met so many individuals over the years who were considering selling a majority stake in their company. It is a huge decision and from personal experience, I understand how overwhelming it can be.
That's because it is much more than a business decision. When you build a company from the ground up, you have a lot of skin in the game, so the decision to sell isn't only about timing or valuation — it is deeply personal. Will your successor properly execute the vision you're intimately familiar with? Will they demonstrate strong leadership? Am I really ready to exit? The questions are endless.
Put simply, it is one of the most emotional and high-stakes decisions a founder can face.
If you’re starting to consider what's next — whether a sale is 6 months or 3 years away — know this: you don’t have to do it alone. You can preserve what you’ve built while preparing for what’s ahead. I’m not your investor, employee, or an advisor incentivized by you selling a majority of your business, I’m your sounding board, strategist, and advocate. As your confidential consigliere, I help you scale what you’ve built — and define your next steps.
Start Your JourneY
You need a trusted advisor to help you grow smart, protect your legacy, and stay in control through every step of the journey.
Scaling, stepping back, or getting serious about a future sale?
I'm a Founder Ready for What’s Next
Founder 2 Founder partners with select PE firms and family offices to bridge the gap, coaching the founder to scale, fine-tune operations, and prepare both emotionally and strategically for a future sale.
You’ve identified a founder-led company with real potential—but the timing isn’t quite right.
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You’re breaking barriers and growing something great, but you don’t have to do it alone.
a Female Founder Looking for Support
Steps to Success
We Work the Plan
2.
With your primary focus in mind, we act as a confidant and sounding board, providing tailored guidance to help you reach your goals.
We Start with Strategy
1.
In our highly selective 1:1 program, we will work together to clarify both your business and personal long-term goals to develop a targeted strategy.
You Step Into What’s Next
Expert Guidance for Founders
Steps to Success
3.
Whether that’s a successful deal, putting a strong new CEO in place, or the freedom to pursue a new passion, you can move forward knowing your legacy is secure.
Only 1.9% of women-owned businesses ever reach $1 million in annual revenue. Let that sink in for a moment.
This statistic reflects the systemic challenges women face when scaling their businesses. Access to capital. Lack of mentorship. Limited networks. Bias.
The barriers are real — and, on the other side of the coin, so is the potential.
This is why Founder 2 Founder is committed to changing the narrative. By providing the guidance, resources, and support women founders need, we believe we can move that 1.9% higher. We can equip more women to grow, scale and stay in control of their vision.
Imagine the impact if even 5%, 10%, or 20% of women-owned businesses crossed that million-dollar line.
Join our community on LinkedIn as we empower and support one another across that million-dollar line.