# Denise Thomas

> Denise Thomas is the co-founder and CEO of ApplePie Capital, a US franchise-financing business founded in 2014. A former SharesPost executive, she has built her career around connecting capital with entrepreneurs. Her experience as a Supercuts investor, her family’s franchise ties and her work in private-company share markets helped shape ApplePie’s focus on franchise brands and their operators.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at ApplePie Capital
- **Organizations:** ApplePie Capital, SharesPost, OffRoad Capital, LesConcierges, Post Communications, Onyx Microcomputer, Kao Infosystems, National Semiconductor
- **Known for:** Co-founded and continues to lead ApplePie Capital., Led ApplePie through the December 2016 Series B and TowerBrook loan purchase agreement., ApplePie Capital received LendIt recognition as Emerging Small Business Lender in 2017.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2014** — Held executive and management roles in technology and financial services, including CMO and executive vice president at SharesPost.
- **2014** — Co-founded ApplePie Capital with Stephen Pelletier.
- **2015** — ApplePie began lending in January; its first loan was $465,000 for an Einstein Bros. Bagels location in San Diego.
- **2016** — ApplePie announced a $180 million loan purchase agreement with TowerBrook and a $16.5 million Series B co-led by QED Investors and Fifth Third Capital.
- **2021** — First Internet Bank announced an agreement to purchase $100 million of ApplePie Core conventional loans.
- **2022** — In January, Thomas reported cumulative lending above $1.3 billion, approaching $1.4 billion, in an interview with Peter Renton.
- **2023** — Discussed franchise lending and the effects of technology layoffs on business ownership with Miguel Armaza on Fintech Leaders.
- **2025** — ApplePie Capital ranked No. 3,508 on the Inc. 5000.

## Achievements

- Co-founded and continues to lead ApplePie Capital.
- Led ApplePie through the December 2016 Series B and TowerBrook loan purchase agreement.
- ApplePie Capital received LendIt recognition as Emerging Small Business Lender in 2017.
- ApplePie Capital appeared on the Inc. 5000 in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

## Latest updates

- **2025-08** — ApplePie Capital appeared at No. 3,508 on the 2025 Inc. 5000.
- **2025-02** — Thomas shared ApplePie’s announcement of its IFA 2025 Financial Summit session on cash flow and profitability.
- **2024-12** — ApplePie announced Thomas as a December 5 speaker at the 2024 ABS & Fintech Specialty Finance Forum.

## Links

- Website: https://www.applepiecapital.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisethomasapc

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/denise-thomas
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-24