Multicategories model all connective spectra (Q6039226)

A classical theorem by \textit{R. W. Thomason} [Theory Appl. Categ. 1, 78--118 (1995; Zbl 0876.55009)] states that Segal's algebraic \(K\)-theory functor from permutative categories to connective spectra induces an equivalence of homotopy categories if one defines a weak equivalence between permutative categories to be a functor that induces a stable equivalence after taking algebraic \(K\)-theory. The main result of the present paper is an analogous equivalence between a suitable homotopy category of multicategories and the homotopy category of connective spectra. To construct it, the authors show that the \(2\)-functor assigning an endomorphism multicategory to a small permutative category admits a free left \(2\)-adjoint functor \(F\) (see also [\textit{A. D. Elmendorf} and \textit{M. A. Mandell}, Algebr. Geom. Topol. 9, No. 4, 2391--2441 (2009; Zbl 1205.19003)]). The composite of \(F\) with the algebraic \(K\)-theory functor then induces the equivalence of the main theorem.