Michael Kaplan is founder and CEO of BryKap Holdings, a platform in plus-size women’s apparel, an $80 billion category that remains underserved. The market was founded by his family in the 1890s with his great-grandmother’s namesake brand. BHG has unique relationships and is active in PE, founder led, and distressed transactions in the market. Kaplan has been an investor, entrepreneur and multi company founder. Previously, he was the co-founder and CEO of Fashion to Figure, a leading plus-size multichannel brand for women sizes 12-26. Kaplan held positions at RRE Ventures and Lazard Freres before launching FTF as a single store he grew to locations in 8 states, being vertically integrated, 50% web, wholesale, selling to PE, breaking the model, restructuring and learning critical founder, manager, lender and investor lessons. Kaplan has been an advisor and investor in: the restructuring of Fullbeauty Brands by Goldman Sachs and Oaktree; Rue 21 by Blue Torch; Maurices by OpCapita; negotiations for a potential debt refinancing by a major US department store; partnership with a leading private equity firm to purchase a national specialty retailer and brand; investment, launch and expansion of Blue Stripes Cacao Chocolate.