New Video: AIC Brings Private Equity-Backed Van Leeuwen Ice Cream and Little Sesame Hummus to Capitol Hill
Will Dunham: “People might think of Wall Street when they hear private equity, but they should think of Main Street, because that’s where the investments are going.”
Washington, D.C. – Today, the American Investment Council released a new video spotlighting our recent partnership with Roll Call, hosting the “Innovate. Invest. Enjoy!” food truck event, serving up Van Leeuwen ice cream and Little Sesame hummus to members of Congress and their staff on Capitol Hill. With the support of private equity, founders like Pete and Ben Van Leeuwen of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream and Nick Wiseman and Ronen Tenne of Little Sesame were able to turn their dreams into successful businesses with a nationwide presence.
- Van Leeuwen Ice Cream launched in 2008 out of a retrofitted post office truck in New York City. Since 2020, with support from Beliade Consumer Partners and NextWorld Evergreen, the company has grown to more than 50 shops nationwide.
- Little Sesame began in 2016 as a 500-square-foot pop-up in Washington, D.C. With investment from Beliade Consumer Partners, its hummus is now sold in thousands of grocery stores nationwide, still made in D.C. but enjoyed everywhere.
AIC President and CEO Will Dunham spoke with members of Congress and their staff as they enjoyed ice cream and hummus. “We are so excited to introduce Capitol Hill to these two fantastic PE-backed brands. Brands like these are all across the country, backed by private equity in 435 districts in 50 states. Over the last year, 85% of private equity investment went to small businesses with 500 employees or fewer,” said Dunham.
AIC Board Chair Pam Hendrickson discussed why policymakers in both parties should support policies that encourage private equity to invest in their states and districts. “Private Equity should be a bipartisan effort, because we invest in all 50 states, we support tons of jobs, and we are growing companies everywhere you look. This is the American dream. The only difference between a great 2 AM idea and a real company is capital.”
Click here to watch the full video.
