NEW CANAAN, CT, March 17, 2026 – Gridiron Capital, LLC (“Gridiron Capital” or “Gridiron”), an investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams, is pleased to announce that BluWave, the leading market network platform connecting the private equity industry and their portfolio companies with top-tier specialized professional service providers and interim executives, today announced Gridiron as a 2026 Top PE Innovator Award winner.

“We’re proud to once again receive this prestigious recognition from BluWave,” said Tom Burger, Managing Partner. “Innovation is central to how we partner with management teams and build stronger businesses. This acknowledgment is a testament to the collaborative approach we take with our portfolio companies, working together to develop differentiated strategies and levers for growth.”

BluWave’s fifth annual Top Private Equity Innovator Awards recognize the top 2% of private equity firms that differentially embrace proactive due diligence, transformative value creation, modern private equity firm operations, and corporate citizenship practices. This Award is distinctive in that it involves no financial obligations from any participants, and the selection process is independent of any customer relationships.

Kevin Jackson, Managing Partner at Gridiron, added, “At Gridiron, innovation starts with our people. By fostering a culture that encourages curiosity, collaboration, and diverse thinking, and by continuing to invest in our team, operational capabilities, and technology, we’re able to bring meaningful resources and strategic insight to the companies we partner with.”

The Top Private Equity Innovator awardees were selected by a cross-functional committee that assessed candidates in consultation with a broad universe of limited partners, investment bankers, industry thought leaders, and service providers in the private equity ecosystem. As part of their selection process, the committee evaluated more than 6,000 private equity firms and utilized more than 75 different factors, incorporating more than 400,000 data points.

“This year’s top private equity innovators are proving that thoughtful innovation fuels real economic impact,” said Sean Mooney, Founder and CEO of BluWave. “By rethinking how value is created, they are leading the industry forward and delivering meaningful outcomes for businesses, communities, and investors alike.”

As the go-to connector of private equity-grade resources for due diligence and value creation, BluWave has a one-of-a-kind perspective that enables it to uniquely understand best practices and innovation across the private equity industry. For more information on the BluWave 2026 Top Private Equity Innovator Awards, including the selection process, criteria, and recipients, please visit bluwave.net/awards.

Gridiron Capital is an investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams, and creating value by building middle-market companies into industry-leaders in consumer products & services, industrial growth, and business services segments in the United States and Canada. We help transform growing companies by winning together through hard work, partnerships grounded in shared values and a unique culture that comes from hands-on experience building and running businesses. As a team led by former operators and entrepreneurs, we know what it takes to run successful businesses on a day-to-day basis. Additional information is available on the firm’s website: www.gridironcapital.com.

BluWave is the execution and value creation resources platform of the private equity industry. Trusted by hundreds of PE firms and thousands of their portfolio companies, BluWave connects the exact-fit third-party resources business builders need to assess, create, and grow value. The company combines proprietary AI technology, data-driven insights, and a concierge-grade experience to help PE firms and their portfolio companies execute with speed, precision, and confidence. For more information about BluWave, visit BluWave.net.

*BluWave, LP has not received investment capital from and holds no ownership interest in the PE firms recognized under the Top Private Equity Innovator awards program. BluWave received no compensation from any of the PE firms in connection with this awards program. However, BluWave may otherwise provide services to the PE firms and/or their portfolio companies, but BluWave confirms that its assessment of the PE firms was independent of any such service arrangements. Top 2% in the PE industry is based on BluWave’s review of the more than 6,000 PE firms in the U.S. and Canada, from which the PE firms were selected as award recipients. These recognitions were awarded on March 4, 2026.