Franzy, a Charlotte-based startup, has secured a $2.2 million seed round to launch an AI-powered marketplace designed to simplify franchise discovery and resale. The round was led by York IE alongside participation from Front Porch Capital, Overline, Avalanche VC, and Daren Cotter.

Franzy’s platform introduces a transparent, data-driven approach to matching potential buyers with over 3,000 franchise brands using a proprietary “Fit Score.” It also enables existing owners to resell with verified financials, dramatically reducing friction and uncertainty in a market previously dominated by opaque processes and broker-driven listings.

Since its launch earlier this year, Franzy has already attracted over 3,000 active buyers and achieved impressive growth, signaling strong demand for its streamlined approach.

Making Franchise Discovery as Easy as Home Shopping

Franzy’s user interface is designed to feel familiar and intuitive, much like a modern real estate platform. It guides users through discovery steps, helps them qualify for financing, and includes expert coaching - all directly integrated into the site. By standardizing financial disclosures and automating due diligence, the platform removes barriers that once prevented many entrepreneurs from exploring franchise ownership.

Franzy’s most profound insight isn’t just automation - it’s rewriting assumptions about who can become a franchisee. Many aspiring business owners believe the process is too expensive, overly bureaucratic, or simply beyond reach. Yet co-founders Alex Smereczniak and Chris Wright recognized that these beliefs, not the systems themselves, stood in the way.

Instead of accepting these as givens, they built a system where transparency, clarity, and support were embedded from day one. By making the path to franchise ownership accessible and empowered, they’ve redefined the emotional and psychological experience of entrepreneurship. For founders, that lesson is invaluable: true transformation doesn’t come from adding features - it comes from eliminating invisible barriers users have already accepted. When you challenge those deep-rooted assumptions, your product becomes not just useful, but liberating.

Bringing Structure to an Unorganized Resale Market

Franzy’s resale marketplace offers verified listings, clear comparisons, and a secure transaction process backed by AI-driven diligence. This level of structure creates liquidity for owners who previously struggled to sell and builds trust for buyers entering what used to be a messy and unclear market.

This model not only helps individuals, but also reinforces brand integrity and increases resale activity across the franchise ecosystem.

Fueling Growth with Strategic Funding

Franzy plans to use its new funding to enhance its AI matching engine, expand the resale marketplace, and grow its team. In parallel, the company is building partnerships with lenders and marketing channels to reach a wider audience of franchise seekers.

With a lean team of 13 and a scalable tech backbone, Franzy is perfectly positioned for rapid expansion. The startup aims to support both inexperienced buyers and experienced owners looking to resell - creating a self-reinforcing marketplace that benefits all sides.

Leadership Rooted in Real‑World Experience

CEO and co‑founder Alex Smereczniak brings firsthand insight to the challenges of franchise systems. Having previously built and sold LaundroLab, a franchise-based laundry delivery service that grew to over 25 stores, he experienced the limitations of relying heavily on brokers. His vision for Franzy emerged directly from those frustrations - and fuels the company’s mission to democratize access with clarity and trust.

The Broader Impact: Shaping the Future of Franchising

While franchising contributes nearly 6% to the U.S. GDP, its resale market has remained fragmented and opaque. Franzy’s platform addresses this head‑on, ushering in an era where transparency meets scale. Aspiring entrepreneurs, especially millennials and career changers, now have a clear, supported pathway to business ownership. Meanwhile, franchise brands benefit from healthier resale activity and stronger secondary-market visibility.

Franzy’s model is poised to bring franchise ownership into the mainstream - giving more people the chance to pursue entrepreneurship on their own terms.