Will Franklin

About Will Franklin

Husband, father, native Texan, lifelong conservative. Advocate for free markets, private property rights, and personal responsibility. Former Republican primary candidate for Texas House District 133. Proud of my roots. Unafraid to defend what matters.Seasoned private equity investor with more than 25 years of experience identifying, structuring, and stewarding capital across the energy sector, with a primary focus in upstream oil and gas. I work closely with management teams to scale businesses, navigate volatility, and drive disciplined returns on capital.I’ve served on both U.S. and international boards, partnering with CEOs, founders, and financial sponsors to guide strategy, improve governance, and align capital with performance. My transaction background includes growth equity, carve-outs, take-privates, PIPEs, and joint ventures.Today, I invest personally in contrarian and real-asset opportunities and provide strategic board and advisory services through Liberty 45, a platform grounded in the belief that freedom isn’t given. It’s earned, defended, and built upon.Board-Tested. Return-on-Capital Focused. Freedom-Oriented.

Experience

1. Board Member

   The Steamboat Institute

   Nov 2025 — Present

   The Steamboat Institute is a nonpartisan educational organization dedicated to promoting America’s first principles and inspiring active engagement in the defense of liberty. Recognized as a tax‑exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, it equips citizens with the tools, information, and inspiration to advance the nation’s founding ideals. The Steamboat Institute stands for five core founding principles: limited government, limited taxation and fiscal responsibility, free market capitalism, individual rights and responsibilities, and a strong national defense.

Education

• Harvard Business School

  MBA, General Business

• Texas McCombs School of Business

  BBA, Finance, Business Honors

  1990 — 1994

• The University of Texas at Austin

  BBA, Honors Business, Finance

  1990 — 1994

• The University of Texas at Austin

  BA, Plan II

  1990 — 1994

Skills

• Natural Gas
• Pipelines
• Joint Ventures
• Oil/Gas
• Energy Industry
• Energy
• Financial Structuring
• Acquisitions
• Mergers
• Contract Negotiation
• Gas
• Petroleum
• Private Equity
• Negotiation
• Venture Capital
• Project Finance
• Oilfield
• M&a Experience
• Ipo
• Corporate Development
• Investment Banking
• Oil & Gas Exploration
• Drilling
• Lbo
• Equities
• Oil & Gas Industry
• Oil & Gas Services
• Divestitures
• Subsea Engineering
• Investments
• Budgets
• Finance
• Valuation
• Upstream
• Due Diligence
• Corporate Finance
• Offshore Drilling
• Capital
• Financial Modeling
• Mergers & Acquisitions