Top Growth Equity Funds

Investment Style: PSG Equity, previously known as Providence Strategic Growth Capital Partners, is the growth equity arm that was spun off from Providence Equity Partners. PSG specializes in partnering with middle-market software and technology-enabled services companies. They focus on helping these companies navigate and capitalize on transformational growth through a combination of organic strategies and strategic acquisitions.

Portfolio Companies: PSG’s portfolio includes companies such as Formstack (a workplace productivity platform that helps organizations streamline workflows and manage data), Payrix (a financial technology company offering embedded payment solutions), and LogicMonitor (a provider of cloud-based IT infrastructure monitoring).

Founding Date: 2014

Number of Investment Professionals: Almost 200 professionals across Europe, North America, and Israel.

Number of Funds: 7 (5 U.S. funds and 2 European funds)

Assets Under Management: PSG manages over $26.6 billion in regulatory assets under management (RAUM).

Value Addition Examples: PSG has significantly enhanced the growth trajectories of its portfolio companies through targeted value creation initiatives. For Formstack, PSG helped streamline operations and expand product offerings, resulting in significant user growth and market expansion. In the case of Payrix, PSG’s strategic guidance facilitated expansion into new markets, boosting revenue and customer base. For LogicMonitor, PSG assisted in scaling operations, leading to substantial growth in market share. 

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Lori Ali, Managing Director, Head of Talent: Lori is responsible for enhancing individual performance and growth across PSG and its portfolio companies. She oversees talent management and firm-wide dynamics, drawing on her extensive experience in executive coaching and business management.
• Bill Aliber, Managing Director: Based in Kansas City, Bill leverages his two decades of experience as a CFO to help PSG portfolio companies with financial activities. His previous role as CFO of Ascend Learning saw revenue growth from $150 million to over $450 million.
• Rob Benson, Vice President, Product: Rob is located in the Boston office and works on enhancing product management and development for PSG’s portfolio companies. He also develops technology to identify investment opportunities, with a strong background in product management at various SaaS businesses.

Recent Exits:

1. Payrix: Sold to FIS, significantly increasing its valuation through strategic expansion.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Formstack: Acquired multiple smaller SaaS companies to broaden its product suite and market reach.
• LogicMonitor: Made several acquisitions to enhance its IT infrastructure management capabilities.
• Payrix: Acquired to enhance its position in the fintech market.

Office Locations:

• Boston (Headquarters): 401 Park Drive, Suite 204, Boston, MA 02215
• Additional Offices: Kansas City, London, Paris, Madrid, Tel Aviv

Website: www.psgequity.com

Quote: “PSG has significant experience serving as an accelerant for growth-stage tech companies” – Bogdan Cenanovic, Managing Director

Investment Style: General Atlantic is a leading global growth equity firm that provides capital and strategic support to growth companies. Founded in 1980 by Chuck Feeney, the firm focuses on identifying and investing in innovative and transformational businesses across multiple sectors including technology, consumer, financial services, healthcare, life sciences, and climate.

Portfolio Companies: General Atlantic’s portfolio includes companies such as ByteDance (the parent company of TikTok), Sierra Space (a commercial space company), Chime (a financial technology company offering mobile banking services), and Fireblocks (a digital asset security platform)​.

Founding Date: 1980

Number of Investment Professionals: 311

Number of Funds: 6 flagship growth equity funds

Assets Under Management: $84 billion

Value Addition Examples: General Atlantic has significantly impacted its portfolio companies through strategic guidance and operational expertise. For instance, the firm supported Chime by helping it expand its market presence and enhance its service offerings through operational and financial guidance​​. Similarly, General Atlantic provided strategic support to Fireblocks, aiding in its rapid growth in the digital asset security space by leveraging their network and industry expertise​.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• William E. Ford, Chairman and CEO: Bill Ford has been instrumental in expanding General Atlantic’s global presence and increasing its capital base. Under his leadership, the firm has deepened its capabilities to identify and partner with high-potential growth companies across multiple sectors and geographies. He has played a pivotal role in the success of companies like IHS Markit, e*Trade, and First Republic Bank.
• Gabriel Caillaux, Co-President and Managing Director: Gabriel leads the firm’s climate and business efforts in EMEA. His strategic oversight has been crucial in the growth and operational excellence of the portfolio companies in these regions.
• Anton Levy, Co-President and Managing Director: Anton oversees the global technology group and has been a key figure in identifying and supporting disruptive technology companies that have transformative potential.

Recent Exits:

1. Hemnet: Exited in January 2023. General Atlantic sold its remaining stake in Sweden-based real estate platform Hemnet.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Plusgrade: General Atlantic made a strategic growth investment in Plusgrade, a global leader in ancillary revenue solutions for the travel industry, in March 2024. This partnership supports Plusgrade’s expansion and strategic M&A opportunities.

Office Locations:

• New York (Headquarters): Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10055
• Additional Offices: Miami, San Francisco, Stamford, Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Amsterdam, London, Munich, Tel Aviv, Jakarta, Mumbai, Singapore, Mexico City, São Paulo

Website: www.generalatlantic.com

Quote: “Growth equity is quite different from other flavors of private equity. In our industry, on one end of the spectrum, there are the global buyout firms that buy a controlling interest in companies by using leverage and they typically focus on operational efficiency. On the other end of the spectrum are venture capital firms that invest in pre-revenue or early-stage companies with less proven business models. Growth equity falls somewhere in between these two.” – William E. Ford, Chairman and CEO​

Investment Style: TCV specializes in providing growth capital to technology companies with significant market potential. Their investment approach is centered on partnering with visionary management teams to foster long-term value creation. TCV invests across various sectors within technology, including software and financial technology. They emphasize supporting companies that have strong growth trajectories and the potential to become market leaders. By leveraging their deep industry expertise and extensive network, TCV helps these companies scale and achieve substantial growth.

Portfolio Companies: TCV’s portfolio includes companies such as Netflix (a global streaming service), Airbnb (a worldwide lodging marketplace), Facebook (a leading social media platform), and Spotify (a popular music streaming service).

Founding Date: 1995

Number of Investment Professionals: TCV has a team of over 70 investment professionals​

Number of Funds: TCV has raised eleven funds since its inception, including its latest, TCV XI, a $4 billion fund​

Assets Under Management: Approximately $21 billion

Value Addition Examples: TCV significantly adds value to its portfolio companies through strategic guidance, network leverage, and operational support. For instance, TCV’s investment in Spotify facilitated the hiring of Barry McCarthy, former Netflix CFO, as Spotify’s CFO, which was instrumental in Spotify’s successful growth and IPO. Additionally, TCV’s involvement with Netflix since its early stages included board representation, helping steer the company through critical growth phases. 

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Jay Hoag, Co-Founder and General Partner: Jay has played a pivotal role in shaping TCV’s investment strategy and guiding the firm through numerous successful investments, including those in Netflix and Airbnb​​.
• Rick Kimball, Co-Founder and General Partner: Rick has been instrumental in TCV’s growth and success, leveraging his extensive experience in venture capital to support portfolio companies in achieving their strategic goals​​.
• Neil Tolaney, General Partner: Neil focuses on investments serving consumers and SMEs across various sectors like digital entertainment, e-commerce, and fintech. Neil brings both investment and operating experience, having previously worked at Francisco Partners and LegalZoom. He is involved with investments in companies such as Attentive, Brex, GoodRx, and Strava​.

Recent Exits:

1. Avalor: Exited through a merger/acquisition in March 2024.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Nagomi: Infrastructure software, invested in April 2024.

Office Locations:

• Menlo Park (Headquarters): 250 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025
• Additional Offices: New York, London

Website: https://www.tcv.com/

Quote: “There’s an incredible network effect that you build with entrepreneurs, and adding value to various efforts over a long period of time”​ – Neil Tolaney, General Partner

Investment Style: Sageview Capital is a growth equity firm that focuses on providing growth capital and operational support to software and tech-enabled businesses, such as B2B or B2C software, tech-enabled platforms, and e-commerce solutions. Their strategy involves partnering with entrepreneurs to help scale their businesses into industry leaders, leveraging Sageview’s network and operational expertise.

Portfolio Companies: Sageview Capital’s portfolio includes companies such as Demandbase (ABM software and data), Avalara (tax management software), CallRail (call tracking and analytics), Drivewyze (platform for trucking fleets), and Pantheon (web ops platform).

Founding Date: 2005

Number of Funds: 3

Assets Under Management: Over $2 billion

Value Addition Examples: Sageview Capital has significantly contributed to the growth of Avalara through efforts such as improving financial reporting, advising on IPO, assistance with bank loan structuring, and recruiting new key staff members. They also supported GoPro in professionalizing the business, assisted with strategic buy and sell-side M&A opportunities, helped with a dividend recap, and recruited critical staff and board members. Sageview’s hands-on approach and strategic guidance have been instrumental in these successes​.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Ned Gilhuly, Co-Founder & Partner: Ned has played a crucial role in driving Sageview’s investment strategy and overseeing major deals. His leadership and deep industry experience have been pivotal in the growth and strategic direction of portfolio companies like Avalara and Pantheon. Before founding Sageview, Ned spent 19 years at Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR)​​.
• Scott Stuart, Co-Founder & Partner: Scott has been instrumental in scaling companies such as Drivewyze and Carewell. His expertise has been vital in positioning these companies for substantial growth. Scott also brings significant experience from his time at KKR​.
• Dean Nelson, Partner: Dean Nelson is a partner at Sageview Capital, where he contributes to sourcing and managing investments. His strategic guidance has been vital in helping companies like CallRail scale effectively. 

Recent Exits:

1. Avalara: Exited in August 2019.
2. Womply: Exited in December 2021.
3. Brandwatch: Exited in June 2021.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Carewell: Invested in April 2021.
• DISQO: Invested in August 2021.

Office Locations:

• Greenwich (Headquarters): 55 Railroad Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830
• Additional Offices: Palo Alto

Website: https://www.sageviewcapital.com/

Quote: “We’re proud of the team we’ve built and the success we’ve had to date…We will continue to leverage the firm’s expertise to support our entrepreneurial partners and scale companies that are well-positioned to become the industry leaders of tomorrow.” – Ned Gilhuly, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Sageview Capital

Investment Style: Pamlico Capital is focused on growth equity investments and buyouts in middle market companies in North America. They typically invest between $50 million and $200 million of equity per investment. Pamlico targets businesses within the communications, healthcare IT, information services, tech-enabled services, and software sectors. The firm’s strategy involves partnering with management teams to accelerate growth and scale operations, often serving as a company’s first institutional investor.

Portfolio Companies: Pamlico Capital’s diverse portfolio includes companies such as Digitech (revenue cycle management solutions for EMS), Canadian Orthodontic Partners (orthodontics-focused specialty dental support organization)​, and ClarisHealth (SaaS-based payment integrity software).

Founding Date: 1988

Number of Investment Professionals: Over 20

Number of Funds: 5

Assets Under Management: Around $3.5 billion

Value Addition Examples: Pamlico Capital has made significant contributions to several of its portfolio companies. For instance, Pamlico supported Digitech by enhancing operational efficiencies. For TRG Screen, Pamlico offered strategic advice and operations support resources, allowing the company to achieve their growth initiatives and maintain market leadership.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Scott Perper, Partner: Scott has played a pivotal role in the success of Veterinary Practice Partners, helping the company execute its growth strategy and optimize performance. His investment efforts are focused on the communications and healthcare sectors.
• Brian Chambers, Partner: Brian has been instrumental in supporting the management teams of portfolio companies like VRI and Canadian Orthodontic Partners, providing strategic advice and operational support to achieve growth objectives and successful exits​. He focuses on the healthcare industry.
• Scott Glass, Jr., Partner: Scott has led numerous successful investments and exits, including the recent sale of Digitech. His focus is on the healthcare IT sector.

Recent Exits:

1. Digitech: In June 2024, Pamlico sold its remaining equity stake to Sarnova, its joint venture partner. 
2. TRG Screen: Acquired in October 2023 by Vista Equity Partners.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Beck Technology: Invested in November 2023.

Office Locations:

• Charlotte (Headquarters): 150 North College Street, Suite 2400, Charlotte, NC 28202
• Additional Offices: None

Website: https://www.pamlicocapital.com/

Quote: “…we have built a cohesive team, developed an industry-focused strategy, and constructed a portfolio of successful investments by partnering with superb management teams.” – Scott Perper, Managing Partner​

Investment Style: Bain Capital is one of the world’s leading private investment firms, focusing on a variety of asset classes including private equity, credit, public equity, venture capital, and real estate. They utilize a consulting-based approach to private equity investing, partnering closely with management teams to drive growth and operational improvements. Bain Capital leverages its extensive experience and global platform to identify and capitalize on cross-asset class opportunities.

Portfolio Companies: Bain Capital’s extensive portfolio includes notable companies such as Virgin Voyages (cruise line operator), Canada Goose (luxury apparel manufacturer), and Valeo Foods (snack and staple food platform). These investments reflect the firm’s broad sector focus and strategic investment approach.

Founding Date: 1984

Number of Investment Professionals: 500+ across Bain Capital for deep expertise across numerous industries and asset classes

Number of Funds: Bain Capital has raised numerous funds since its founding

Assets Under Management: Approximately $185 billion

Value Addition Examples: Bain Capital creates value for its portfolio companies by leveraging deep industry expertise, strategic resources, and a global network. For instance, its investment in Cardurion Pharmaceuticals involved a $300 million infusion to advance cardiovascular drug development, showcasing its commitment to innovation in life sciences. 

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Jonathan S. Lavine, Chair: Jonathan joined the private equity team in 1993, before founding Bain Capital Credit and Bain Capital Special Situations in 1998. He was also Co-Managing Partner of the firm between 2016-2024. Jonathan is crucial to leadership at Bain Capital.

• Stephen Pagliuca, Senior Advisor: Stephen is a senior advisor with a focus on numerous sectors including education, media, telecom, and financial technology. Since joining the company in 1989, he has helped many businesses in achieving their growth potential.

• Josh Bekenstein, Senior Advisor: Josh joined Bain Capital at its very beginnings in 1984, and has taken a leading role in numerous consumer and retail businesses in which Bain has made investments. He was named a Successor Trustee of Yale University back in 2013.

Recent Exits:

1. TeachTown: Acquired by L Squared Capital Partners in June 2024.

Recent Acquisitions:

• PowerSchool: Leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education, PowerSchool, was acquired in June 2024.

Office Locations:

• Boston (Headquarters): 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116
• Additional Offices: New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Palo Alto, Dublin, London, Lisbon, Madrid, Luxembourg, Munich, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Mumbai, Melbourne, and more

Website: https://www.baincapital.com/

Quote: “The concept of driving long-term, lasting positive impact for Bain Capital’s portfolio companies, teams, investors and communities is and has always been fundamental to our mission.” – John Connaughton, Co-Managing Partner at Bain Capital

Investment Style: Summit Partners specializes in growth equity investments, providing capital and resources to high-growth companies in sectors such as technology, healthcare, and growth products and services. Their strategy focuses on partnering with exceptional entrepreneurs and management teams to help them scale their businesses through strategic initiatives, operational support, and access to a broad network of industry experts.

Portfolio Companies: Summit Partners’ portfolio includes companies such as Klaviyo (a SaaS-based data and marketing platform), Healthline Media (a digital health publisher), Darktrace (an AI-driven cybersecurity company), and Redzone (connected worker SaaS platform).

Founding Date: 1984 

Number of Investment Professionals: Over 115

Number of Funds: At least 11 US growth equity funds and 4 European

Assets Under Management: Around $42 billion

Value Addition Examples: For CluePoints, risk-based quality management software for clinical trials, Summit’s expertise in life sciences and technology, along with their active support, allowed the company to accelerate product development and go-to-market expansion. For A Cloud Guru, online cloud computing training, Summit helped them recruit key executives, provided market insights and advice, and helped fund an acquisition.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Peter Chung, Managing Director and CEO: Peter joined the team in 1994 and mainly focuses on the technology sector. His investments include companies such as A10 Networks, MACOM, and Splash Technology Holdings.
• Scott Collins, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer: Scott Collins has been with Summit Partners since 1996 and is currently focused on the technology sector. He founded and managed the firm’s London office from 2001 to 2016. Scott has made investments in more than 30 companies and currently serves as a director for Invicti Security and Veepee. His deep expertise and leadership have significantly contributed to the firm’s expansion and successful investments in the European market.
• Sophia Popova, Partner: Sophia Popova joined Summit Partners in 2017 and concentrates on technology investments. She has played a crucial role in the firm’s investments in companies like Markforged, Klaviyo, and Sifted. She was also featured in GrowthCap’s list of “Top Women Leaders in Growth Investing of 2024.”

Recent Exits:

1. Acturis: Acquired by Astorg in 2019.

Recent Acquisitions:

• PostPilot: The fastest-growing direct-mail marketing company in America received investment from Summit in June 2024.

Office Locations:

• Boston (Headquarters): 222 Berkeley Street, 18th Floor, Boston, MA 02116
• Additional Offices: Menlo Park, New York, London, Luxembourg

Website: https://www.summitpartners.com/

Quote: “Our strategy remains focused on serving as the partner of choice for best-in-class growth companies identified through our unique idea generation process and deep sector expertise.” – Peter Chung, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer

Investment Style: Optum Ventures focuses on early-stage and startup companies in the healthcare sector. The firm emphasizes investing in innovative solutions that leverage data and insights to improve access to healthcare services and optimize how care is delivered and paid for. Their investment approach is rooted in partnering with exceptional entrepreneurs who are driven to disrupt the status quo in healthcare.

Portfolio Companies: Optum Ventures’ portfolio includes companies such as Holmusk (a data analytics and health technology company), RubiconMD (a healthcare platform providing specialty care consults), and Contessa Health (a company offering home healthcare services).

Founding Date: 2017

Assets Under Management: $1 billion

Value Addition Examples: Optum Ventures has helped numerous companies add value. For instance, they assisted Buoy Health, an AI health assistant, in finding PMF, establishing a scalable distribution strategy, and helped scale the start-up. They also helped Digital Diagnostics, an AI vision screening brand, by bringing in leads through their network, communicating with customers, and interacting with regulators and payors.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Larry C. Renfro, Managing Partner: Larry Renfro leads Optum Ventures. With his background as CEO of Optum and Vice Chairman of UnitedHealth Group, Larry brings significant industry expertise and strategic vision. Under his leadership, Optum Ventures has committed $600 million to innovative healthcare solutions, driving growth and business transformation in the sector​.
• Laura Veroneau, Managing Partner: Laura’s strategic guidance has enabled companies like RubiconMD and Contessa to scale their innovative solutions effectively. Laura’s deep connections and industry insights have helped facilitate strong growth trajectories for these companies​.
• Stephen Renfro, Partner & Chief Operations Officer: Stephen Renfro ensures operational excellence at Optum Ventures. His strategic support has been crucial for companies like LetsGetChecked, helping them navigate the complexities of scaling in the healthcare industry. 

Office Locations:

• Boston (Headquarters): 75 State Street, Boston, MA 02109
• Additional Offices: London

Website: https://www.optumventures.com/

Quote: “Optum Ventures is uniquely positioned to help develop and grow startups and early-stage companies” – Larry Renfro, Managing Partner

Investment Style: Insight Partners focuses on growth equity and venture capital investments in high-growth technology, software, and internet startup companies. Their strategy emphasizes partnering with innovative executives to support companies through various stages of growth.

Portfolio Companies: Insight Partners’ portfolio includes companies such as Monday.com (a work operating system), SentinelOne (a cybersecurity platform), Qualtrics (an experience management company), and nCino (a banking technology company).

Founding Date: 1995

Number of Funds: 12+

Assets Under Management: Over $80 billion in regulatory assets under management

Value Addition Examples: Insight Partners has significantly contributed to the growth of Monday.com by providing strategic guidance and operational support, helping the company achieve a successful IPO. For LeanIX, Insight Partners helped them achieve a 4x increase in ARR growth and built an A-team by hiring key functional roles throughout the company. 

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Jeff Horing, Co-Founder and Managing Director: Jeff Horing has played a critical role in establishing Insight Partners as a leading private equity and venture capital firm. He has led investments in over 150 companies, including nCino, AirWatch, and JFrog. 
• Deven Parekh, Managing Director: Deven has made more than 140 investments since joining the team in 2000, including in Europe, Africa, Israel, Australia, and North America. Some of his previous investments include Duck Creek, Website Pros, and EveryAction.
• Anika Agarwal, Managing Director: Anika focuses on leveraged buyouts and majority recapitalizations of application and infrastructure software businesses. She assists with leading investments in mature and high-growth software firms. She was named in GrowthCap’s list of “Top 40 Under 40 Growth Investors.”

Recent Exits:

1. Laminar: Acquired by Rubrik in 2023.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Alteryx: Completed acquisition with Clearlake Capital in 2024.

Office Locations:

• New York (Headquarters): 1114 Avenue of the Americas, 36th Floor, New York 10036
• Additional Offices: None

Website: https://www.insightpartners.com/

Quote: “Insight’s investment strategy is to find the best software companies in the world and invest in them with both capital and operating expertise. We invest in scaleup companies. These are companies that have proven their market fit as a startup and are now looking to double down on growth.” – Jeff Horing, Co-Founder and Managing Director​

Investment Style: Mainsail Partners focuses on growth equity investments in rapidly growing, bootstrapped software companies. Their strategy emphasizes partnering with founder-led businesses to provide not only capital but also significant operational support. Mainsail Partners helps these companies scale efficiently by leveraging their extensive operational expertise and resources.

Portfolio Companies: Mainsail Partners’ portfolio includes companies such as Apptega (a cybersecurity management platform), ServiceCore (software for liquid waste and roll-off businesses), Inspect Point (a fire inspection software), and Boostlingo (a language interpretation management software).

Founding Date: 2003

Number of Investment Professionals: 20+

Number of Funds: 6

Value Addition Examples: Mainsail Partners has significantly contributed to the growth of Red Oak Compliance Solutions. After their investment in June 2023, Red Oak scaled and acquired a company which substantially expanded their product offerings. Their product and engineering teams also grew and they even were named in the AIFinTech100 list in 2023.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Gavin Turner, Managing Partner and Co-Founder: Gavin Turner has been instrumental in driving Mainsail Partners’ strategic direction and investment success since co-founding the firm. He has deep expertise investing in financial technology, vertical SaaS, infrastructure software, and information services technology businesses. He has also been an active board member on several software firms, such as PayLease, ResMan, and GTreasury.
• Vinay Kashyap, Partner: Vinay has been a key player in executing and managing investments. His prior experience at Summit Partners has equipped him with extensive knowledge in growth equity investments across multiple regions​​.
• Anthony Hayes, Vice President: Anthony’s role at Mainsail is to source and execute new investments. In 2022, he was Chief of Staff at ServiceCore, one of Mainsail’s portfolio companies. During this time, he assisted the firm in building and monetizing its sites and digital marketing product.

Recent Exits:

1. Nexus Systems: Acquired by Bottomline in September 2022.

Recent Acquisitions:

• • Teamfront: Growth investment in February 2024.
  • LinenMaster: Growth investment in November 2023.

• ProShop ERP: $32 million growth investment in July 2023. 

Office Locations:

• Austin (Headquarters): 500 West 5th Street, Suite 1100, Austin, TX 78701
• Additional Offices: San Francisco

Website: https://mainsailpartners.com/

Quote: “The most rewarding part of my job is investing in founder-led software companies that we believe have tremendous potential and striving to help them unlock the uppermost range of that potential. Mainsail was purpose-built to help bootstrapped founders succeed” – Gavin Turner, Co-Founder and Managing Partner​

Investment Style: JMI Equity is a growth equity firm that specializes in investing in software companies that demonstrate strong business models, substantial intellectual property, and significant recurring revenue. They target businesses with long-term growth potential and prefer to invest where they can apply their extensive experience in building companies to craft shareholder value. JMI’s investment range is typically between $25 million and $250 million, and they are adaptable regarding the size, form, and structure of their investments. 

Portfolio Companies: JMI Equity’s portfolio includes companies such as Seismic (a sales enablement platform), PointClickCare (a healthcare software provider), and HackerRank (a technical recruiting platform).

Founding Date: 1992

Number of Investment Professionals: Over 40

Number of Funds: 11

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Harry Gruner, Founder and Executive Chairman: Harry Gruner has led JMI Equity since its inception, and has served on the boards of over 40 information and software businesses. His current investments include Apptegy, PointClickCare, and Code42. Harry’s leadership has been crucial in scaling portfolio companies and achieving significant exits​.
• Peter Arrowsmith, Managing Partner: Peter Arrowsmith, with JMI since 1996, has led investments in Seismic, Vena Solutions, and Yello. His strategic direction and operational expertise have been instrumental in these companies’ growth.
• Matt Emery, Partner: Matt Emery focuses on investments in software and healthcare IT. Serving on boards or overseeing investments like CipherHealth and PointClickCare, his strategic guidance has driven operational improvements and market expansion for these companies, enhancing their healthcare solutions​.

Recent Exits:

1. Axonify: Acquired by Luminate Capital Partners in April 2021.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Safe Software: Strategic growth investment in January 2024.
• OnBoard: $100 million growth investment in July 2021.

Office Locations:

• Baltimore (Headquarters): 100 International Drive, Suite 19100, Baltimore, MD 21202
• Additional Offices: San Diego, Washington, DC

Website: https://www.jmi.com/

Quote: “We look forward to continuing to partner with the next generation of software company founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams to help them navigate this evolving landscape and create businesses of enduring value.” – Peter Arrowsmith, Managing Partner

Investment Style: Updata Partners specializes in growth equity investments in B2B software companies. They seek to partner with emerging leaders in the software industry to accelerate growth through both financial and operational support. They invest up to $100 million of equity per company, target investments outside of Silicon Valley, and have a preference to be the first institutional capital.

Portfolio Companies: Updata Partners’ portfolio includes companies such as PerformYard (performance management software), ContactMonkey (internal communications tool), and FusionAuth (user authentication platform)​.

Founding Date: 1998

Number of Investment Professionals: Around 20

Number of Funds: 7

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Carter Griffin, General Partner: Carter co-manages Updata and has over two decades of experience as an investor and operator in the software industry. He has numerous companies in his portfolio, including BoxCast, Jellyvision, and PerformYard.
• Jon Seeber, General Partner: Jon Seeber also co-manages the firm and brings extensive experience in the software industry to his role at Updata. He has been pivotal in investments like FusionAuth, LandTech, and Improvado. Jon’s deep understanding of software and technology markets has been crucial in driving the success of Updata’s portfolio companies​.
• John Burton, Co-Founder and Operating Partner: John Burton has been with Updata since its founding and has played a significant role in shaping the firm’s investment strategy. Between 2013 and 2018 he was CEO and Chairman of Nintex, a portfolio company of Updata.

Recent Exits:

1. MPO: Acquired by Kinaxis in August 2022.

Recent Acquisitions:

• • PerformYard: $95 million equity investment in January 2024.

• ContactMonkey: $55 million investment in December 2023.

Office Locations:

• Washington, DC (Headquarters): 2100 L Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20037
• Additional Offices: None

Website: https://updata.com/

Quote: “We are excited to continue working alongside innovative companies and to continue Updata’s legacy of success.” – Jon Seeber, General Partner

Investment Style: Battery Ventures focuses on investing in technology companies across all stages of growth, from startups to more established companies. They leverage their deep industry expertise, network, and resources to support and scale these companies. Their investments span various sectors, including application software, consumer, and industrial tech and life science tools.

Portfolio Companies: Battery Ventures’ portfolio includes companies such as Coinbase (a cryptocurrency exchange platform), Confluent (a streaming platform), Sprinklr (a social media management system), and Olo (a platform for the restaurant industry).

Founding Date: 1983

Number of Investment Professionals: Approximately 60

Number of Funds: 14 flagship funds and corresponding side funds

Assets Under Management: $17.8 billion as of March 2022

Value Addition Examples: Battery helped SPT Labtech in numerous ways. For instance, they recruited numerous C-level executives, created a more efficient capital structure, enhanced operating leverage, and assisted the company in speeding up revenue growth. Meanwhile, for Braze, they undertook effective strategies, such as introducing new board members and investors, connected Braze with a Japanese business partner to help build a joint venture in Japan, and offered tactical and strategic help around the IPO process.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Michael Brown, General Partner: Since joining the team in 1998, Michael has made or overseen numerous investments, including Cube, Mendix, and Digby. His strategic vision and operational expertise have been critical in driving the growth and market success of these companies​.
• Jesse Feldman, General Partner: Jesse focuses on investments in industrial tech and life science tools. He actually leads the firm’s industrial-technology practice, which, since 2003, has completed over 60 transactions across Europe and the US. 
• Zack Smotherman, General Partner: Recently promoted to general partner, Zack also focuses on industrial tech and life science tools, supporting later-stage, buyout investments in both the US and Europe. His current investments include Skalar, Mobius Institute, and ifp Laboratories Group.

Recent Exits:

1. AuditBoard: Acquired for over $3 billion by Hg in May 2024.

Recent Acquisitions:

• • TrueContext: Acquired in May 2024.

• steute Technologies: Acquired in May 2024.

Office Locations:

• Boston (Headquarters): One Marina Park Drive, Suite 1100, Boston, MA 02210
• Additional Offices: San Francisco, Menlo Park, New York City, London, Tel Aviv

Website: https://www.battery.com/

Quote: “I have the utmost respect for entrepreneurs who risk everything to pursue the next big idea—and their dreams. After more than two decades in venture, it’s still exciting for me to help innovative companies grow and become market leaders.” – Michael Brown, General Partner

Investment Style: Sixth Street Growth focuses on investments in mid- to late-stage technology companies. They partner with founders and management teams to provide differentiated capital solutions aimed at accelerating organic and inorganic growth. It is the growth investing platform of Sixth Street, which is a top worldwide investment firm. Sixth Street Growth targets investments in a variety of sectors, including software, business services, healthcare IT, and financial services.

Portfolio Companies: Sixth Street Growth’s portfolio includes companies such as Airbnb (a global online marketplace for lodging and tourism activities), MDLIVE (a telehealth provider), Contentsquare (a digital experience analytics platform), and Stayntouch (a hotel property management system)​.

Founding Date: 2009

Number of Investment Professionals: Over 250 worldwide

Assets Under Management: $75 billion+

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Michael McGinn, Partner of Sixth Street and Co-Head of Sixth Street Growth: Michael has played a pivotal role in leading Sixth Street Growth’s strategy and investments. His extensive background in finance and investment has been instrumental in supporting portfolio companies, helping them navigate complex market dynamics and achieve significant growth milestones​​.
• Bo Stanley, Partner of Sixth Street and Co-Head of Sixth Street Growth: Bo Stanley has been essential in shaping the firm’s growth strategy and leading significant investments. He focuses on sourcing transactions in sectors such as software and payment systems. His representative portfolio companies include PayScale and SmartDrive.

Office Locations:

• San Francisco (Headquarters): 345 California Street, Suite 2600, San Francisco, CA 94104
• Additional Offices: New York, Dallas, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Houston, London, Hong Kong, Luxembourg

Website: https://sixthstreetgrowth.com/

Quote: “Our team partners with market leaders to provide differentiated capital solutions, strategic advice, and a network of resources to promote growth across market cycles,” – Michael McGinn, Partner of Sixth Street and Co-Head of Sixth Street Growth

Investment Style: Part of Bregal Investments, Bregal Sagemount focuses on growth equity investments in middle-market companies across various technology sectors. Their investment strategy includes providing flexible capital solutions for organic growth, mergers and acquisitions, shareholder liquidity, and buyouts. Bregal Sagemount typically invests between $15 million and $400 million in companies operating in high-growth sectors such as software, financial technology, digital infrastructure, healthcare IT, and business and consumer services​​. 

Portfolio Companies: Bregal Sagemount’s portfolio includes companies such as Transflo (supply chain management and automation software), Connectria (cloud hosting and managed services), DentalXChange (dental electronic data interchange services), and Neptune Flood (flood insurance)​.

Founding Date: 2012

Number of Investment Professionals: 30+

Number of Funds: 4

Assets Under Management: Over $5.5 billion

Value Addition Examples: Bregal Sagemount assists in adding value to its portfolio companies. For instance, they led Open Lending from just 30 employees to a $5 billion publicly traded business. They achieved this through sales acceleration, talent leadership, and innovation of process and technology. They also helped Steele Compliance Solutions achieve meaningful inorganic and organic growth acceleration which resulted in a strategic exit. This was accomplished through long-term exit planning, product pricing improvements, and through four tactical M&A transactions.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Philip Yates, Partner: Phil is a partner at the firm and has a rich background of working in private equity and growth investments. Phil’s portfolio investments include Transflo, DentalXChange, and Truckstop.com. His expertise in investing has been key to enriching Bregal Sagemount’s portfolio.
• Blair Greenberg, Partner: Blair is also a partner and has past experience investing in technology and financial services businesses. His portfolio investments include Scorpion, Neptune Flood, and Accela. His previous experience includes roles at Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV) and UBS Investment Bank.
• Curt Witte, Partner, Head of Growth Factors: Curt founded and leads the Growth Factors portfolio operations team at Bregal Sagemount. Growth Factors works with businesses to attain high yield growth and operations optimization, leading to accelerated enterprise value creation. With over 20 years of operating experience, Curt has successfully driven hyper-growth and operational performance across multiple companies. His expertise has been vital in tripling the enterprise value of several portfolio companies. 

Recent Exits:

1. Calltower: Exited after four years in 2022.
2. Steele Compliance Solutions: Acquired by Diligent Corporation in 2021.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Vistage International: Invested in 2023.
• BuildingLink: Strategic growth investment in July 2022.

Office Locations:

• New York (Headquarters): 200 Park Avenue, 45th Floor, New York, NY 10166
• Additional Offices: Dallas, Palo Alto, Miami (Growth Factors office)

Website: https://www.sagemount.com/

Quote: “In a tight fundraising market where the term ’flat is the new up’ best describes high conviction re-ups, we benefited from substantial existing investor loyalty and new investor interest. We haven’t lost an investor since inception and have never taken that vote of confidence for granted.” – Shea Goggin, Head of Capital Formation

Investment Style: Five Elms Capital focuses exclusively on B2B software companies, providing growth equity to help these companies scale and succeed. They invest $5-75 million in businesses with $2-20 million in revenue, supporting both minority and majority investments, as well as providing growth capital and liquidity for founders and early investors. Five Elms is dedicated to partnering with founder-owned, bootstrapped businesses, emphasizing a collaborative approach to accelerate growth.

Portfolio Companies: Five Elms Capital’s portfolio includes companies such as FMX (a SaaS provider of facilities management software), AskNicely (a SaaS provider of customer experience management software), and Sendlane (a SaaS provider of multichannel marketing automation).

Founding Date: 2007

Number of Investment Professionals: Global team of more than 70 investment professionals

Number of Funds: 5

Assets Under Management: Over $2.4 billion

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Fred Coulson, Founder and Managing Partner: Fred has been pivotal in shaping the firm’s strategic vision and investment approach. His leadership has driven the successful growth and scaling of numerous portfolio companies. Before founding Five Elms, he had a significant role as senior investment professional at TH Lee Putnam Ventures, a $1.1 billion PE firm that focuses on software companies, which helped lay the groundwork for his expertise in growth equity​.
• Thomas Kershisnik, Partner: In addition to being a partner, Thomas also sits on Five Elms’ Investment Committee. His current investments include Covideo, Lumar, Rebrandly, and Sendlane. Prior investments include SiteHawk, Panopta, and Flywheel, all of which were acquired.
• Stephanie Schneider, Partner: Stephanie also sits on the firm’s Investment Committee. She has a background as an investment banker at numerous organizations. Some of her current investments include ShippyPro, DarkOwl, and Continu. Stephanie has been recognized with numerous awards, including “GrowthCap Top Women Leaders in Growth Investing 2024” and an honorable mention at “Mergers and Acquisitions Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A 2024.”

Recent Exits:

1. OnBoard: Acquired by JMI Equity in July 2021
2. Hubb: Acquired by Intrado in August 2021

Recent Acquisitions:

• Scilife: Strategic growth investment in June 2024.

• opus1.io: Strategic investment in June 2024.

Office Locations:

• Kansas City (Headquarters): 4801 Main St, Suite 700, Kansas City, MO 64112
• Additional Offices: None

Website: https://www.fiveelms.com/

Quote: “Our Kansas City location gives us an advantage. I think entrepreneurs like to work with investors, partners and board members that are local because personal interaction in solving problems (both good and bad) is just so much more effective. Certain entrepreneurs in the middle of the country have a strong preference to work with local partners who share the same values and mindset. We are fairly unique given the capital concentration on the coasts.” – Fred Coulson, Founder and Managing Partner

Investment Style: Level Equity focuses on investments and acquisitions in technology-enabled software businesses. They provide various transaction types, including minority and majority investments, structured equity, and credit options. Level Equity partners with companies in North America, Australia & New Zealand, Europe, and Israel. Their hands-on approach helps their portfolio companies achieve their full potential.

Portfolio Companies: Level Equity’s portfolio includes companies such as Vacasa (a vacation rental management platform), Fusion Risk Management (business continuity and risk management software), and Accelo (service operations automation solution).

Founding Date: 2009

Number of Investment Professionals: 30+

Number of Funds: 10 investment funds as of March 2023

Value Addition Examples: Level Equity seeks to provide value creation for its companies, and there are several examples that demonstrate their expertise. For example, for Tripleseat, a SaaS-based sales and event management software, the firm added value in numerous ways. This included more than doubling the size of the team, enhancing KPI and financial reporting, and improving payments monetization. Meanwhile, for Wombat, Level Equity created value through strategies such as hiring an experienced SaaS CFO, leading the business through an 18-month IP litigation, and guided them through the exit process which resulted in Wombat’s sale for $225 million.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Ben Levin, Co-Founder and CEO: Ben Levin has been investing in rapidly growing private companies since 1997. He focuses on partnering with founders and managers who are building complex businesses. Notable investments include Aventri, CloudCheckr, and Vacasa. Prior to Level Equity, Ben was a Managing Director at Insight Partners and led investments in successful companies such as Airborne Entertainment and Argus Software.
• Sarah Sommer, Co-Founder and Partner: Sarah has been investing in growth-stage software and technology businesses since 2003. Her notable investments include BoardEffect, Criteria Corp, and MomentFeed. Before Level Equity, she was a Senior Associate at Insight Venture Partners, where she worked on the investment team with notable companies such as Achieve3000 and eVestment Alliance.
• George McCulloch, Co-Founder: George has been a technology investor since 1999. He previously served as a Managing Director at Insight Partners and began his career at Summit Partners. 

Recent Exits:

1. SchoolPass: Acquired by Raptor Technologies in April 2023.
2. Instaclustr: Acquired by NetApp in May 2022.

Office Locations:

• New York (Headquarters): Two Grand Central Tower, 140 East 45th Street, 42nd Floor, New York, NY 10017
• Additional Offices: Greenwich

Website: https://www.levelequity.com/

Quote: “We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all playbooks. We leverage our collective experience and get to know the unique dynamics of each business in order to provide strategic guidance. Ultimately, it’s up to the business to determine the strategy, but we’re an additional resource for support so they don’t need to reinvent the wheel.” – Ben Levin, Co-Founder and CEO

Investment Style: Volition Capital specializes in growth equity investments in high-growth, founder-owned companies. They focus primarily on sectors such as software, internet, and consumer. Their strategy includes providing significant operational support, leveraging their extensive network, and assisting with strategic planning and execution to drive growth and value creation.

Portfolio Companies: Volition Capital’s portfolio includes companies such as Digital Onboarding (a company helping financial institutions deepen customer relationships), Screenverse (a monetization and ad management partner for digital out-of-home media owners), Relish (a platform-centric, SaaS-based software company), and HALO (specializes in physical security solutions).

Founding Date: 2010

Number of Investment Professionals: 25

Number of Funds: 5

Assets Under Management: Over $1.7 billion

Value Addition Examples: Volition Capital has significantly contributed to GlobalTranz through strategies such as establishing a high-quality Board of Directors, strengthening the company’s financial infrastructure, and hiring over 50 employees. They also played a crucial role in assisting Velocify, such as by giving them advice on product offering expansion, introducing the CEO to bankers, and helping to recruit more members to the management team.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Larry Cheng, Managing Partner: Larry is a founding partner at Volition Capital. His focus is on investments in areas such as e-commerce, transactional Internet applications, and digital health. Larry has a rich, decorated background in investing and is a trusted, impactful partner at the company.
• Sean Cantwell, Managing Partner: Sean is also a managing partner and part of Volition’s founding team. He mainly focuses on companies in the software and tech-enabled services sectors. His investments include Ping Identity, Velocify, and GlobalTranz.
• Tomy Han, Partner: Tomy is a partner and serves on numerous boards, including HALO, Pramata, and Black Kite. He joined the firm in 2012 as part of the company’s first Analyst class.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Screenverse: Invested $10.5 million in April 2024.

• Relish: Invested $10 million in Series A funding in March 2024.

• HALO: Invested $20 million in February 2024.

Office Locations:

• Boston (Headquarters): 177 Huntington Avenue, 16th Floor, Boston, MA 02115
• Additional Offices: None

Website: www.volitioncapital.com

Quote: “At Volition, we strive to make a positive and meaningful impact on our portfolio companies and our limited partners. We achieve this through the discipline, focus, and consistency that has been the bedrock of our success as a leading growth equity firm with a successful track record of high-performing software and Internet companies.” – Roger Hurwitz, Managing Partner​

Investment Style: Silversmith Capital Partners focuses on growth equity investments in technology and healthcare companies. Their investment strategy is centered on partnering with and supporting the best entrepreneurs in these sectors. They prefer to invest in companies that are capital efficient and invest between $20-$125 million. 

Portfolio Companies: Silversmith Capital Partners’ portfolio includes companies such as ActiveCampaign (a SaaS-based marketing automation platform), Appfire (a leading enterprise collaboration software provider), DistroKid (a music distribution service), and Iodine Software (a healthcare AI company).

Founding Date: 2015

Number of Investment Professionals: 22 as of September 2020

Number of Funds: 4

Assets Under Management: $3.3 billion

Value Addition Examples: Silversmith Capital Partners has helped numerous companies, such as PDFTron. Since Silversmith invested, the company’s revenue has increased 3x, several key team members have been hired, and Silversmith identified and supported diligence of three acquisitions. Furthermore, for LifeStance Health, Silversmith supported the recruitment of several management team members, assisted with diligence and negotiation for numerous new state entry acquisitions, and helped review over 150 companies to find platform acquisition. 

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Jim Quagliaroli, Managing Partner: Jim co-founded Silversmith Capital Partners in 2015 and focuses on investments in SaaS & Information Services. He has served on the board of more than 25 technology companies, and has served as either chairman or director of several portfolio companies, including Absorb Software, GiveCampus, and Validity. 
• Jeff Crisan, Managing Partner: Jeff, also a co-founder, specializes in Healthcare IT & Services investments. Some notable companies in his portfolio include Iodine Software, LifeStance Health, Nordic Consulting, and Panalgo. Jeff leverages his deep industry knowledge to help businesses expand their market presence and scale effectively​.
• Lori Whelan, Managing Partner & COO: Also a co-founder, Lori oversees the firm’s operations, finance, and talent management activities. She focuses on ensuring the firm’s values are operationalized into the day-to-day culture. Lori’s background in strategy consulting and private equity has been vital in building a strong operational foundation for Silversmith​.

Recent Exits:

1. Market Access Transformation: Acquired by Genesis Research in May 2022.
2. Social Sentinel: Acquired by Navigate360 in October 2020.

Recent Acquisitions:

• • Proven Optics: Strategic growth investment in December 2022.

• Zonos: Invested in September 2021.

Office Locations:

• Boston (Headquarters): 116 Huntington Avenue, 15th Floor, Boston, MA 02116
• Additional Offices: None

Website: https://www.silversmith.com/

Quote: “We started Silversmith with the mission to build a firm with a collaborative, team-based culture that was focused on partnering with and supporting the best entrepreneurs. The success we have achieved as a firm is a testament to the dedication of our team and the strength of the entrepreneurs who work tirelessly to build great businesses.” – Jeff Crisan, Managing Partner​

Investment Style: PeakSpan Capital focuses on growth equity investments in business-to-business (B2B) software companies, partnering with companies at the emerging growth stage. PeakSpan is dedicated to driving sensible scaling while maintaining strong, collaborative relationships with entrepreneurs. 

Portfolio Companies: PeakSpan Capital’s portfolio includes companies such as Cordial (a marketing technology platform), Inference Solutions (a provider of Intelligent Virtual Agents), Petvisor (a pet care customer engagement platform), and MindBridge (a financial risk discovery and anomaly detection solution).

Founding Date: 2015

Number of Investment Professionals: 15+

Number of Funds: 3

Assets Under Management: More than $1.5 billion

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Phil Dur, Co-Founder and Managing Partner: Phil has been a software investor for over 25 years. His sector expertise includes customer experience management, human capital management, next-gen commerce, and proptech. His investments include Cordial, Bongo, and Cloudbeds.
• Matt Melymuka, Co-Founder and Managing Partner: Matt has spent his entire career working with growth-stage software and technology companies. He has sector expertise in hospitality, marketing, and sales technology. His investments include Cognism, Salonkee, and Zingle.
• Jack Freeman, Partner: Jack has been a partner to more than 20 portfolio companies at PeakSpan. He has expertise in digital health, payments, and supply chain. Jack’s notable investments include Dispatch, Petvisor, and ShipHawk.

Recent Exits:

1. Kenna Security: Acquired by Cisco in 2021.
2. Inference Solutions: Acquired by Five9 in 2020.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Abre: Invested in April 2024.

• Leasecake: Invested in April 2022.

Office Locations:

• San Mateo (Headquarters): 101 S. Ellsworth Avenue, Suite 110, San Mateo, CA 94401
• Additional Offices: New York

Website: https://www.peakspancapital.com/

Quote: “It’s a privilege to work with entrepreneurs pursuing a high quality opportunity with energy and conviction. We’re energized by the opportunity to be part of our entrepreneur’s journey.” – Phil Dur, Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Investment Style: Valor Equity Partners focuses on growth investments and early-stage investments. They emphasize a hands-on, operational approach, partnering closely with companies to drive growth and scale. Valor targets technology and technology-enabled companies that innovate existing industries.

Portfolio Companies: Valor Equity Partners’ portfolio includes companies such as Gopuff (an on-demand virtual convenience store), Harmony Biosciences (a pharmaceutical company focused on neurological diseases), Misfits Market (an online grocery delivery service), and SpaceX (aerospace manufacturer).

Founding Date: 1995

Number of Funds: Six flagship funds

Value Addition Examples: Valor Equity Partners has significantly contributed to the success of Addepar. Since receiving investment from Valor, the company was named as a Forbes Fintech 50 for five consecutive years. 

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Antonio Gracias, Founder, CIO, and CEO: Antonio has been pivotal in shaping Valor’s investment strategy and guiding its growth. He has more than 25 years experience in private equity investing and is director of numerous Valor portfolio companies.
• Jonathan Shulkin, Partner and Co-President: Jonathan’s responsibilities include investment prospect generation, investment structuring and execution, and capital raising. He has more than 20 years experience in private equity investing.
• Timothy Watkins, Operating Partner: Tim specializes in active management of portfolio companies in conjunction with existing management teams. His operational expertise has been crucial in driving value creation and implementing strategic improvements across Valor’s investments​. Tim has more than three decades of experience in operational change management and private equity investing.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Base Power: Invested in 2024.
• Strider: Invested in 2022.

Office Locations:

• Chicago (Headquarters): 875 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3214, Chicago, IL 60611
• Additional Offices: New York, San Francisco

Website: https://www.valorep.com/

Investment Style: NewSpring Capital focuses on growth equity investments in high-growth, lower-middle market companies. They emphasize a sector-focused approach, partnering with companies in industries such as technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and consumer and business services. NewSpring provides operational support and strategic guidance, aiming to help companies scale efficiently and achieve significant growth. 

Portfolio Companies: NewSpring Capital’s portfolio includes companies such as AeroSafe Global (a specialized pharmaceutical distribution services provider), BetterNight (an end-to-end sleep disorders management provider), Healthworks (a cardiovascular staffing leader), and Patheous Health (a mobile dysphagia diagnostics leader)​.

Founding Date: 1999

Number of Investment Professionals: 45+

Assets Under Management: Approximately $3.5 billion

Value Addition Examples: NewSpring Capital assisted Paragon Bioservices’s growth in numerous ways. For instance, they hired a team builder, transformed t

he business model, and expanded the manufacturing space to a more professional business setting. Paragon was then sold to Catalent for $1.2 billion.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Michael DiPiano, Managing General Partner: Michael co-founded NewSpring and is a General Partner of the company’s growth equity funds. Moreover, he serves as a member of the investment committee of all funds. Michael has received numerous awards over the years, including the 2018 PACT Legend Award.
• Jon Schwartz, President & Chief Operating Officer: Jon oversees all operational aspects of the firm, including finance, administration, compliance, and strategy. With over 25 years of experience in private equity and asset management, Jon has been integral to the firm’s operational success and strategic initiatives​.
• Kristin Lee, Partner: Kristin focuses on NewSpring’s mezzanine strategy. She brings extensive experience from her previous roles in investment banking and mezzanine funds, contributing significantly to the structuring and management of investments. 

Recent Exits:

1. Avantus Federal: Exited for $590 million to QinetiQ US in late 2022.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Green Home Solutions: Invested in September 2023.

• • AbelCine: Invested subordinated debt in March 2023.

• BetterNight: Invested in March 2023.

Office Locations:

• Radnor (Headquarters): Radnor Financial Center, 555 E. Lancaster Ave, 3rd Floor, Radnor, PA 19087
• Additional Offices: Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, New York

Website: https://newspringcapital.com/

Quote: “We partner with companies that influence healthcare by using technology and human capital in novel ways. Like our team, the management teams we invest behind are passionate about easing access to care, improving outcomes, and increasing efficiency while lowering costs.” — Dr. Kapila Ratnam, General Partner​

Investment Style: Lead Edge Capital specializes in growth equity investments in software, internet, and tech-enabled businesses. They leverage a robust network of over 700 executives, entrepreneurs, and dealmakers to connect companies with essential resources for growth. The firm employs a flexible capital approach and emphasizes strategic collaborations to drive growth and deliver value uniquely​.

Portfolio Companies: Lead Edge Capital’s portfolio includes notable companies such as Alibaba Group (e-commerce giant), Asana (work management platform), Bazaarvoice (user-generated content provider), and Toast (restaurant management platform)​.

Founding Date: 2011

Number of Funds: 6

Assets Under Management: $5 billion

Value Addition Examples: Lead Edge Capital has significantly contributed to the success of Benchling through numerous initiatives, including executive recruitment and customer introductions for enterprise sales. Furthermore, they also assisted Toast through opening doors in the restaurant industry, including potential partners to collaborate with and customer introductions.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Mitchell Green, Founder and Managing Partner: Mitchell leads Lead Edge Capital with a focus on identifying high-growth investment opportunities and fostering strategic partnerships. He has either led or co-led the firm’s investments in companies including Benchling, Grafana, and Mindbody, driving significant value creation​.
• Paul Bell, Operating Partner: Paul brings extensive operational expertise to Lead Edge, helping portfolio companies scale efficiently. He has also served on the boards of numerous portfolio companies, including Toast and Spreadfast.
• Nimay Mehta, Partner: Nimay is a Partner on the investment team and helps guide all aspects of Lead Edge’s daily operations. He has led or co-led investments in numerous companies, including Arrive Logistics, Spotify, and Uber. 

Recent Acquisitions:

• IGM Technology: Strategic growth investment in June 2024.

• PaceMate: Strategic investment in July 2023.

Office Locations:

• New York (Headquarters): 96 Spring Street, Floor 5, New York, NY 10012
• Additional Offices: Santa Barbara

Website: https://leadedge.com/

Investment Style: Brighton Park Capital focuses on growth equity investments in software, healthcare, and tech-enabled services. They aim to partner with entrepreneur-led businesses offering innovative and disruptive technology. Brighton Park employs a hands-on approach, working closely with management teams to drive growth and operational excellence.

Portfolio Companies: Brighton Park Capital’s portfolio includes companies such as Silverfort (Unified Identity Protection Platform), LucidLink (storage collaboration platform), HTEC Group (digital transformation and engineering), and OPSWAT (Critical Infrastructure Protection cybersecurity solutions)​.

Founding Date: 2019

Number of Investment Professionals: 25+

Number of Funds: 2

Value Addition Examples: Brighton Park Capital assisted Coralogix through CEO mentoring, operational advice, and providing guidance on deals and board management. This resulted in a 70%+ decrease in cost and average time to solution, and helped them gain the trust of over 2,000 companies. Brighton Park also assisted Indegene by bringing in high-quality independent board members and helped them find and execute on acquisition opportunities. This helped Indegene become recognized as a market leader.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Mark Dzialga, Founder & Managing Partner: Mark leads Brighton Park Capital and is also a member of the Investment Committee. His extensive background includes working at General Atlantic, a global growth investment company, and he is instrumental in guiding the firm’s strategic direction and growth initiatives​. His investment experience involves working with companies such as Indegene and HTEC Group.
• Erica Keany Blob, Partner: Erica’s focus areas are investor relations and firm strategy. She is a founding Partner but also holds numerous roles as Head of Investor Relations and as a member of the Portfolio Committee and Investment Committee. She was recently awarded by GrowthCap as one of the Top Women Leaders in Growth Investing of 2023. 
• Calen Angert, Partner and Head of Healthcare Group: Calen is also a member of the Investment Committee at Brighton Park Capital. He focuses on investments in the healthcare sector and his strategic insights have been crucial in the firm’s healthcare investments​. He currently serves on the board of one of their portfolio companies, Relatient.

Recent Acquisitions:

• PortSwigger: $112 million investment in June 2024.

Office Locations:

• Greenwich (Headquarters): 330 Railroad Ave, Suite 200, Greenwich, CT 06830
• Additional Offices: None

Website: https://www.bpc.com/

Quote: “Amid today’s uncertainties, we continue to find highly disruptive, entrepreneur-inspired growth companies. The team at Brighton Park is committed to making a real difference in supporting the global aspirations of our portfolio companies.” – Mark Dzialga, Managing Partner​

Investment Style: Oak HC/FT specializes in growth equity investments in healthcare and fintech. They focus on partnering with companies that drive structural changes in these sectors. Oak HC/FT provides strategic counsel, board-level participation, and gives access to an extensive network of industry experts. Their strategy includes early-stage to growth-stage investments, with a commitment to creating measurable and lasting impacts​.

Portfolio Companies: Oak HC/FT’s portfolio includes companies such as CareBridge (value-based care for LTSS members), Feedzai (AI-driven fraud detection), Maven Clinic (virtual women’s health clinic), and Prove (digital identity verification platform).

Founding Date: 2014

Number of Investment Professionals: Approximately 30

Number of Funds: 5

Assets Under Management: Over $5.3 billion

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Annie Lamont, Co-Founder & Managing Partner: Annie is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Oak HC/FT. With decades of experience in healthcare and fintech, she has been instrumental in guiding investments and strategic initiatives. Annie has played a significant role in more than 70 successful exits, and her active investments include Bloom, Quartet, and Turning Point.
• Andrew Adams, Co-Founder & Managing Partner: Andrew focuses on healthcare investments and his expertise has been vital in supporting companies like Marathon Health and Noom, helping them scale and innovate in the healthcare sector​. Andrew was recently named one of the Top 25 Healthcare Investors of 2024.
• Allen Miller, Principal: Allen joined the team in 2019 and his focus area is on early-stage venture and growth equity opportunities in fintech. He has been crucial in guiding the growth of portfolio companies like Sendoso and 99minutos, leveraging his industry knowledge and strategic insights to drive their success​.

Recent Exits:

1. NextCapital: Sold to Goldman Sachs in August 2022.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Eating Recovery Center: Purchased with Apax Partners in October 2021.

Office Locations:

• Stamford (Headquarters): 2200 Atlantic Street, Suite 300, Stamford, CT 06902
• Additional Offices: San Francisco

Website: https://www.oakhcft.com/

Quote: “Trying to blow up the healthcare or financial system is a fool’s errand. But you can tell when a founder actually understands the system and is going to build something so much better within its constraints. Those are the people who end up forcing impact, and that’s who we get fired up about.” – Andrew Adams, Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Investment Style: Guidepost Growth Equity focuses on growth equity investments in entrepreneur-led technology companies. They target sectors such as application software, infrastructure software, and tech-enabled and data services. The firm employs a flexible investment approach, typically investing $20M-$50M of equity into capital-efficient, growth-stage businesses. Guidepost helps to accelerate growth through enhancing sales and marketing initiatives, hiring and developing talent, and expanding geographic reach, among other tactics​.

Portfolio Companies: Guidepost Growth Equity’s portfolio includes companies such as WP Engine (a WordPress technology company), Tractive (a GPS pet tracker provider), and dscout (an experience research platform).

Founding Date: 2007

Value Addition Examples: Guidepost Growth Equity assisted ActiveViam through numerous strategies, including supporting them with products and technology, sales and marketing, strategy and operational finance, and strategic HR. For instance, Guidepost supported the hiring of key positions including CFO and CRO, grew the US-based sales team, and formed audit and compensation committees. Following Guidepost’s help, ActiveViam was acquired by Nordic Capital. 

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Mike Pehl, Co-Founder and Senior Advisor: Mike Pehl co-founded Guidepost Growth Equity and has extensive experience working with growth-stage businesses as an operator as well as an investor. He has served on the boards of over 12 private and public technology firms, leveraging his deep knowledge of the industry to drive strategic growth and operational improvements for portfolio companies​.
• Russ Pyle, General Partner: Russ focuses on investments in the infrastructure software and tech-enabled services industries. His experience includes working at M/C Partners and TA Associates. His associated partnerships include ActiveViam, Intellum, and Lucid.
• Joan Fleischman, Vice President: Joan focuses on finding, assessing, and managing growth equity investments in application software and data services sectors. Her background includes operational and investment roles in the education technology sector. Her prior experience includes working at Morgan Stanley and GSV Ventures.

Recent Exits:

1. ActiveViam: Acquired by Nordic Capital in February 2024.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Intellum: $25 million investment in August 2023.

• SearchStax: Invested in July 2023.

Office Locations:

• Boston (Headquarters): The Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street, Suite 1310, Boston, MA 02199
• Additional Offices: None

Website: https://guidepostgrowth.com/

Investment Style: Spectrum Equity focuses on growth equity investments in internet-enabled software and data services companies. Their approach involves investing in businesses with scalable models, high growth potential, and recurring revenue streams. Spectrum Equity supports these companies through strategic guidance, leveraging industry expertise, and providing capital to drive long-term value creation and market leadership.

Portfolio Companies: Spectrum Equity’s portfolio includes companies such as Ancestry (a leader in online family history data and personal DNA testing services), Definitive Healthcare (healthcare commercial intelligence platform), and GoodRx (a consumer-focused digital healthcare platform).

Founding Date: 1994

Number of Funds: 10

Value Addition Examples: Spectrum Equity helped Ancestry over the course of a 15+ year partnership. Over this period, they helped the company with numerous initiatives, including globalization (it now has eight international offices), acquisitions of adjacent companies, new product launches including AncestryDNA, pricing optimization, and strategic partnerships. Ancestry was consequently acquired by Blackstone for a staggering $4.7 billion.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Vic Parker, Managing Director: Vic joined Spectrum Equity in 1998 and focuses on internet-enabled software and information services. His representative investments include Ancestry, SurveyMonkey, and ExamSoft. His strategic decision-making and industry experience were pivotal in driving the company’s success. 
• John Connolly, Managing Director: John joined in 2009 and focuses on internet-enabled software and education technology. He has previous experience working in investment banking at Credit Suisse. His representative investments include Grubhub, Headspace Health, and DataCamp.
• Adam Margolin, Managing Director: Adam has been with the firm since 2005, focusing on internet-enabled software, information services, and financial technology. His representative investments include Spreedly, Netcraft, and Ethoca.

Recent Exits:

1. Animoto: Acquired by Redbrick in August 2023.
2. Ancestry: Acquired by Blackstone for $4.7 billion in December 2020.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Customer.io: Invested in March 2022.

Office Locations:

• Boston (Headquarters): One International Place, 35th Floor, Boston, MA 02110
• Additional Offices: San Francisco, London

Website: https://www.spectrumequity.com/

Quote: “Seeing founders and management teams build enduring, transformative companies is the most rewarding part of our work. We’re grateful to our community of investors, entrepreneurs, executives, and colleagues for three decades of extraordinary partnership.” – Vic Parker, Managing Director

Investment Style: H.I.G. Growth invests in technology-oriented businesses across the United States, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. They focus on verticles including SaaS, cloud and data software, technology-enabled services, internet and digital marketing, consumer/e-commerce, and healthcare technology. They provide both majority and minority equity investments, partnering with senior management to drive growth. H.I.G. Growth leverages the resources of 500+ investment professionals across 18 global offices to offer substantial operational and strategic support to middle market growth companies​.

Portfolio Companies: H.I.G. Growth’s portfolio includes notable companies such as ECI (a provider of managed IT services and cloud solutions to financial services firms), Eruptr (a digital marketing and patient engagement solutions provider), and Fidelity Payment Services (a tech-enabled payment processing solutions provider for SMBs).

Founding Date: 1993

Number of Investment Professionals: 500+

Number of Funds: Over a dozen

Assets Under Management: $64 billion

Value Addition Examples: H.I.G. Growth assisted Worksuite in accelerating the growth of their company by adding experienced executives including a CEO and VP of Finance and Operations. H.I.G. also assisted Scuf Gaming through investment in their management team, optimizing digital marketing strategies, advising on the expansion of the product portfolio, and re-platforming e-commerce operations.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Eric Tencer, Managing Director: Eric focuses on lower middle market and growth equity investments, where he finds, executes, and monitors investments. At the firm, he has completed several investments in healthcare, digital media, and business services sectors. His investments include Boostability, Suzy, and Eruptr.
• Patrick Conroy, Managing Director: Based in the New York office, Patrick focuses on minority growth equity investments across tech-enabled consumer and software verticals. Patrick has over 10 years investing and advisory experience. He previously worked at Revolution Growth and Morgan Stanley. 
• Tony Tamer, Founder & Executive Chairman: Tony has directed H.I.G. Growth’s development since its founding and approves all capital commitments. He has a rich background in helping early-stage and middle-market companies. His strategies include growth equity, direct lending, and biohealth.

Recent Exits:

1. CarltonOne: Sold to Goldman Sachs Asset Management in June 2024.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Mobile Health: Invested in June 2024.

Office Locations:

• Miami (Headquarters): 1450 Brickell Avenue, 31st Floor, Miami, FL 33131
• Additional Offices: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Stamford, London, Luxembourg, Hamburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogotá, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Dubai

Website: https://higgrowth.com/

Quote: “At H.I.G. Growth, our success is a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering growth and innovation. Our collaborative partnership style empowers us to work hand-in-hand with visionary entrepreneurs, driving transformative results and creating lasting value together.” – Ross Hiatt, Managing Director & Head of H.I.G. Growth

Investment Style: HealthQuest Capital focuses on growth equity investments in transformative healthcare companies. They target commercial-stage companies that are improving outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and enhancing the efficiency of healthcare delivery. HealthQuest invests broadly across the healthcare spectrum, including medical devices, diagnostics, research tools, digital health, healthcare IT, and innovative services. They typically invest $20-100 million per company, preferring to lead investments and have the capability to syndicate​.

Portfolio Companies: HealthQuest Capital’s portfolio includes companies such as Everly Health (an innovative health testing platform), Lunit (a medical AI software development company), Thirty Madison (a digital health company focused on chronic conditions), and TigerConnect (a healthcare communication and collaboration platform)​.

Founding Date: 2012

Number of Funds: 4

Assets Under Management: Roughly $2 billion

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Garheng Kong, Founding Managing Partner: Garheng founded HealthQuest Capital in 2012. With over two decades of experience, he has led over 30 companies to successful IPO/M&A exits. He has represented HealthQuest on many boards, including Castle Biosciences, Everly Health, and TigerConnect.
• Sam Brasch, Partner: Sam joined HealthQuest in 2023, bringing over 25 years of experience in leveraging technology innovations in healthcare and lifesciences. Previously, he was the Senior Managing Director for Kaiser Permanente Ventures, where he led investments in companies like Ginger, iRhythm, and Health Catalyst. He holds a BA in Public Policy from Stanford University and an MBA in Health Care Management from The Wharton School​.

Recent Exits:

1. BioIQ: Acquired by LetsGetChecked in May 2022.
2. Biotheranostics: Acquired by Hologic in February 2021.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Lunit: First investment in Asia for HealthQuest, invested in November 2021.

Office Locations:

• Redwood City (Headquarters): 555 Twin Dolphin Dr, Ste 370, Redwood City, CA 94065
• Additional Offices: Austin

Website: https://www.healthquestcapital.com/

Quote: “When it comes to the adoption of new healthcare innovations, there is a natural tension between patients, providers, and payers. Our team helps our portfolio companies understand how each player sees the problem in order to increase the likelihood of commercial success.” – Garheng Kong, Founding Managing Partner

Investment Style: Long Ridge Equity Partners focuses on growth equity investments in the financial and business technology sectors. They leverage deep sector knowledge and an extensive network of industry resources to serve as a value-added partner to high-growth businesses. Their strategy involves partnering with strong management teams and providing both capital and strategic support to help companies scale and achieve their full potential​.

Portfolio Companies: Long Ridge Equity Partners’ portfolio includes companies such as Broadway Technology (trading tech for global banks and brokers), Carson Group (wealth management services), Oritain (supply chain verification and traceability), Acqueon (omnichannel customer engagement software), and Ametros (post-settlement medical administration services).

Founding Date: 2007

Number of Investment Professionals: 25+

Number of Funds: 4

Assets Under Management: $1 billion+

Value Addition Examples: Long Ridge helped add value to ProcessUnity. They did this through strategies such as helping them add marquee clients, launch a cybersecurity program management product, gain recognition as a top vendor risk management solution, and generate consistent and significant organic revenue growth.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Jim Brown, Founder and Managing Partner: Jim leads the overall strategy and direction of Long Ridge. He has over 25 years of experience investing in high-growth companies across the financial and business services sectors. Jim’s leadership and strategic vision have been instrumental in guiding the firm’s success and supporting portfolio companies​. Some of his portfolio companies include RFG Advisory, Portware, and Proof.
• Jason Melton, Partner: Jason joined Long Ridge in 2014 and leads deal teams through all aspects of the investment process. He works closely with portfolio companies to accelerate growth. Before Long Ridge, he worked at Barclays in the Financial Institutions Group, advising fintech and services companies on M&A and capital markets transactions​. His portfolio companies include Ripjar and Drawbridge.
• Doug Nelson, Principal: Doug joined Long Ridge in 2018 and is responsible for leading deal teams and serving on several portfolio company boards. He brings experience from F-Prime Capital, Fidelity Investments, Amazon, and Flywire, and is an advisory board member for the FinTech Sandbox​.

Recent Exits:

1. SALI Fund Services: Acquired by JTC in November 2021.
2. Carson Group: Acquired by Bain Capital in July 2021.

Recent Acquisitions:

• • RFG Advisory: Invested in September 2023.

• Acqueon: Invested in October 2022.

Office Locations:

• New York (Headquarters): 505 5th Avenue, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10017
• Additional Offices: None

Website: https://long-ridge.com/

Quote: “Despite a volatile market backdrop, our collaborative approach to building market-leading financial and business technology companies has remained highly consistent and successful” – Jim Brown, Founder & Managing Partner

Investment Style: Centana Growth Partners focuses on growth equity investments in financial services, fintech, and enterprise technology companies. They aim to partner with high-growth businesses that benefit from capital, strategic networking, and board-level experience to build market-leading companies. Centana’s investment range typically falls between $10 million and $50+ million per company, tailored to meet the needs of each entrepreneur.

Portfolio Companies: Centana Growth Partners’ portfolio includes companies such as Jumio (next generation digital identity management and authentication), One Inc. (cloud-based technology platform for insurers), and SheerID (digital verification platform).

Founding Date: 2015

Number of Funds: 2

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Eric Byunn, Partner & Co-Founder: Eric co-founded Centana Growth Partners and brings over 20 years of experience in growth equity and technology. Prior to Centana, Eric spent 13 years at FTV Capital where he was a partner and led investments in enterprise technology. He currently serves on the boards of companies such as Athennian, Jumio, Operto, SheerID, Teikametrics, and Vena. Eric has a track record of leading successful investments including companies like Cloudmark, Coremetrics, and MarketShare Partners​​.
• Ben Cukier, Partner & Co-Founder: Ben co-founded Centana Growth Partners and has 24 years of experience in growth equity, corporate finance, and management consulting. Before Centana, Ben spent nearly 16 years at FTV Capital, where he was a partner and led the financial services practice. Ben’s expertise lies in navigating the financial services ecosystem and he has played a significant role in the growth of portfolio companies like Adroit, Jumio, Plooto, and Sayari Labs​​.
• Sarah Kim, Partner: Sarah joined Centana in 2023 and has over two decades of experience in technology and financial services. She has served on the Board of Directors for Corsair and ABR Re. Prior to Centana, Sarah was the Chief Financial & Business Officer at Archipelago Analytics, and held senior roles at ICONIQ Capital and Stanford Management Company. Her diverse background includes investment strategy and private equity, making her a valuable asset to Centana’s investment team​.

Recent Exits:

1. One Inc.: Acquired by Great Hill Partners in February 2020.
2. Quantitative Brokers: Acquired by Deutsche Börse in September 2020.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Cayosoft: $22.5 million minority investment in March 2024.

• Adroit Trading Technologies: Invested in February 2024.

Office Locations:

• Palo Alto (Headquarters): 540 Cowper Street, Suite 200, Palo Alto, CA 94301
• Additional Offices: San Francisco, New York

Website: https://www.centanagrowth.com/

Quote: “Our team has a tried-and-true formula for finding the real change-makers among the noise, drawing on our deep sector expertise, theme-based sourcing, and our advisory network.” – Eric Byunn, Partner & Co-Founder

Investment Style: K1 Investment Management specializes in investments in B2B enterprise SaaS software companies. Their strategy involves partnering with management teams to identify and execute organic growth opportunities and strategic acquisitions. K1 focuses on driving value through operational improvements and scaling businesses to achieve market leadership​. 

Portfolio Companies: K1 Investment Management’s portfolio includes companies such as Granicus (digital government services), Litera (legal document management software), Onit (enterprise legal management software), and Reveal (AI-powered eDiscovery).

Founding Date: 2011

Number of Investment Professionals: 70+

Assets Under Management: Over $13 billion

Value Addition Examples: K1 Investment Management has assisted numerous companies with value addition. For instance, they helped Emburse transform expense management and become the biggest independent player worldwide. They also helped Smarsh grow 10x bigger than they were prior to investment.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Neil Malik, Founder and CEO: Neil manages the firm’s strategy, governance, and investment activities. He serves on the boards of numerous K1 companies and is actively involved in the professional development of K1’s team and management teams of K1’s portfolio companies​​. Before K1, Neil established the growth equity practice at Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors and held positions at Brentwood Associates and Olympus Partners. 
• Hasan Askari, Managing Partner: Hasan focuses on sourcing new investments and providing strategic guidance to portfolio companies. Before joining K1, Hasan worked at Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, where he focused on growth equity and buyout investments. 

Recent Exits:

1. GoCanvas: Exited in July 2024 to Nemetschek Group.

Recent Acquisitions:

• ELMO Software: Invested in February 2023.

Office Locations:

• Manhattan Beach (Headquarters): 875 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
• Additional Offices: None

Website: https://k1.com/

Investment Style: Norwest Venture Partners focuses on venture capital and growth equity investments across various sectors, including technology, healthcare, and consumer products. They invest in early to late-stage companies, offering strategic support and resources to help businesses scale and achieve market leadership. 

Portfolio Companies: Norwest Venture Partners’ portfolio includes companies such as Gong (revenue intelligence technology for sales teams), Opendoor (an online home-selling service), Plaid (APIs to connect financial applications), Ritual (a health brand), and Kendra Scott (a jewelry and lifestyle brand)​.

Founding Date: 1961

Number of Investment Professionals: 80+

Number of Funds: 17

Value Addition Examples: Norwest Venture Partners helped Spiff add value in numerous ways. This included sourcing and closing deals and executives, facilitating important introductions, providing strategic guidance at each board meeting, and focusing on non-linear growth strategies. Spiff was later acquired by Salesforce.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Promod Haque, General Partner: Promod has been with Norwest since 1990 and has over three decades of experience in venture capital. He has been named to the Forbes Midas List multiple times. Promod focuses on investments in numerous sectors, including IT infrastructure, healthcare IT, and software, guiding firms to market leadership and successful exits. His active portfolio companies include Vanu and DTEX.
• Jon Kossow, Managing Partner: Jon joined Norwest in 2009 and co-heads the Growth Equity team. He has over 25 years of investment experience, focusing on information services, software, internet, and consumer companies. Jon was previously a director at Goldman Sachs and worked at TA Associates. His active portfolio companies include GoFundMe and Ebbo.
• Lisa Wu, Partner: Lisa focuses on investments in consumer Internet and B2B application software. Her active portfolio companies include Calm and Plaid. Lisa has worked at Amazon and Bessemer Venture Partners. 

Recent Exits:

1. Spiff: Acquired by Salesforce in 2023.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Aesthetic Partners: Minority investment in November 2023.

Office Locations:

• Menlo Park (Headquarters): 1300 El Camino Real, Suite 200, Menlo Park, CA 94025
• Additional Offices: San Francisco, Mumbai, Tel Aviv

Website: https://www.nvp.com/

Quote: “Our diversified investment strategy, long-term commitment and collaborative approach allows us to adapt to a wide range of market conditions and support founders and CEOs at every stage of their journey.” – Jeff Crowe, Senior Managing Partner

Investment Style: Edison Partners focuses on growth equity investments in various sectors including fintech, healthcare IT, and enterprise solutions. Their investment types include minority and control investments and they focus on companies that generate $10-$30 million in revenue, are capital efficient, and located outside of Silicon Valley. They aim to partner with growth-stage companies, providing not just capital but also strategic guidance through their Edison Edge platform. 

Portfolio Companies: Edison Partners’ portfolio includes companies such as MoneyLion (a mobile personal finance platform), Field Effect (a global cyber security company), Superpedestrian (a mobility engineering and technology business), and Upright (an online platform for investing in short-term residential real estate debt).

Founding Date: 1986 

Number of Investment Professionals: 17 as of 2022 

Number of Funds: 10 

Assets Under Management: $1.8 billion 

Value Addition Examples: Edison Partners helped Northpass with value addition in numerous ways. The firm provided capital as well as strategic, industry, and operating expertise. This enabled Northpass to expand their team, accelerate their go-to-market, and fortify their competitive position. Northpass was later sold to Gainsight.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Chris Sugden, Managing Partner: Chris has been with Edison Partners since 2002. He has been a leading fintech investor and executive for more than 25 years and he has a track record of leading dozens of new investments and more than 60 rounds of financing. He currently sits on the boards of four Edison fintech businesses. Chris’s portfolio companies include MoneyLion and 120Water. His extensive experience and leadership have been instrumental in driving the firm’s overall strategy and investment approach​​.
• Kelly Ford Buckley, General Partner and COO: Kelly leads firm operations, such as investment development, value creation, portfolio management, and marketing. She manages investments in enterprise SaaS and fintech, and is the pioneer of the Edison Edge value creation platform. She has a history of creating new categories and scaling growth for disruptive SaaS companies, including Groove Networks and LivePerson.
• Lenard Marcus, General Partner: Lenard leads investments in the mid-Atlantic region, co-leads healthcare IT investments, and heads Edison’s security practice. Lenard’s contributions have been vital in the success of companies such as Field Effect and Suuchi, ensuring they achieve significant market impact and operational improvements​.

Recent Exits:

1. Northpass: Sold to Gainsight in July 2023.

Recent Acquisitions:

• 120Water: $43 million growth investment in January 2024.

• Take Command: $25 million growth investment in September 2023.

Office Locations:

• Princeton (Headquarters): 281 Witherspoon Street, 3rd Floor, Princeton, NJ 08540
• Additional Offices: Nashville

Website: https://www.edisonpartners.com/

Quote: “Our strategy of thoughtful, high growth, but not growth at all costs, and building enterprise value through value-added service, is the antithesis of the current growth equity environment. Capital formation tied to the business’ growth strategy, not fund size, is our mantra. We go far beyond writing checks, through meaningful partnership with our portfolio companies.” – Chris Sugden, Managing Partner 

Investment Style: Guinness Ventures is a prominent investor in early-stage and growth-stage companies, primarily focusing on EIS (Enterprise Investment Scheme) qualifying companies. The firm invests in a diverse range of sectors, including technology, healthcare, and fashion. They aim to provide scale-up capital to businesses with proven products, services, or technologies, helping them accelerate growth and achieve significant value appreciation.

Portfolio Companies: Guinness Ventures’ portfolio includes companies such as Blu Wireless (high-speed wireless technology), Imagen (video management technology), and Pasta Evangelists (premium pasta delivery service).

Founding Date: 2010

Number of Investment Professionals: 11

Number of Funds: Multiple EIS funds, including Guinness EIS and Guinness AIM EIS, as well as the Guinness VCT (Venture Capital Trust).

Assets Under Management: Over £255 million

Value Addition Examples: Guinness Ventures has played a crucial role in the growth of its portfolio companies by providing not just capital but also strategic support and guidance. For example, they helped Blu Wireless expand its technology and market reach. Meanwhile, Pasta Evangelists matured significantly as a company through proactive support from Guinness.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Shane Gallwey, Managing Director: Shane leads the Guinness Ventures team and has a strong background in advising growth companies. He has been pivotal in shaping the strategic direction of several portfolio companies.
• Malcolm King, Chief Investment Officer: Malcolm has extensive experience in identifying and supporting high-growth businesses, contributing significantly to the success of several portfolio companies.
• Ashley Abrahams, Head of Origination: Ashley focuses on developing and supporting growth strategies for SMEs. He has been instrumental in guiding companies through their growth phases, contributing to the expansion and market positioning of businesses.

Recent Exits:

1. Imagen: Exited in July 2023 to Thomson Reuters, delivering an expected 1.9x ROI for investors.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Sportable: Guinness Ventures recently invested £3 million in Sportable, a company specializing in sports technology solutions. 
• Cera Care: Acquired to expand its healthcare portfolio, focusing on innovative home care solutions. 

Office Locations:

• London (Headquarters): 27 Furnival Street, London, EC4A 1JQ
• Additional Offices: None

Website: https://www.guinnessgi.com/ventures

Quote: “Guinness Ventures has a long track record of finding and helping successful small businesses” – Shane Gallwey, Managing Director

Investment Style: Puma Private Equity is the private equity division of the fund manager Puma Investments. They focus on providing growth capital to small and medium-sized businesses across the UK. Their investment strategy is sector-agnostic, targeting companies poised for significant growth and scalability. Puma emphasizes a hands-on approach, partnering closely with management teams to support strategic initiatives, operational improvements, and market expansion.

Portfolio Companies: Puma Private Equity’s portfolio includes companies such as MUSO (a data company), Everpress (an online platform enabling creators to design and sell custom clothing), Transreport (an accessibility technology company), and HR Duo (an HR tech company offering comprehensive HR solutions to SMEs).

Founding Date: Puma Private Equity was established as a standalone division in 2018

Number of Investment Professionals: Over 15 investment professionals

Value Addition Examples: They have helped numerous companies add value to their businesses. For example, for Le Col, Puma made investments up to £14.4 million, allowing the cycling brand to expand into new markets, including the US and Germany. Additionally, for HR Duo, their investment allowed the tech firm to speed up product development, grow its workforce, and drive international expansion.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Harriet Rosethorn, Investment Director: Harriet played a pivotal role in the investment and strategic growth of numerous portfolio companies, including MUSO, leveraging her expertise to help the company navigate the complexities of the media and entertainment market. 
• Mark Lyons, Investment Director: Mark has been significantly involved with Transreport, supporting the company’s mission to transform the travel experience for older and disabled people. His efforts have helped Transreport achieve significant growth, operational efficiencies, and a broader global audience. 
• Kelvin Reader, Investment Director: Kelvin has worked closely with several portfolio companies, including Ostmodern and NRG Gyms. His efforts have been crucial in driving value creation, investment analysis, and execution, providing strategic support to help these companies scale and achieve their growth objectives​​.

Recent Exits:

1. Rosebourne: Garden center business, exited in 2022.
2. Pure Cremation: Exited the direct cremations provider in June 2021.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Lucky Saint: Involved since December 2023, invested £4 million of equity to help the alcohol-free beer brand through its next growth stage.
• Transreport: Involved since December 2023, invested £7 million.

Office Locations:

• London (Headquarters): Cassini House, 57 St James’s Street, London, SW1A 1LD
• Additional Offices: Manchester

Website: www.pumaprivateequity.co.uk

Quote: “Puma Private Equity has developed a stellar reputation over the last 10 years of partnering with stand-out growth businesses and driving transformational change.” – Mark Lyons, Investment Director.

Investment Style: Vitruvian Partners focuses on growth buyout and growth capital investments in middle-market companies. Their investment strategy includes backing companies with strong growth potential in sectors such as digital, technology, healthcare, next-generation finance, and e-commerce. They emphasize partnering with dynamic and ambitious management teams to drive transformational change and sustainable growth.

Portfolio Companies: Vitruvian Partners’ portfolio includes companies such as Just Eat (a global online food delivery marketplace), Skyscanner (a global travel metasearch engine), Trustpilot (a consumer review website), and Marqeta (a modern payments card platform).

Founding Date: 2006

Number of Investment Professionals: Over 175 professionals

Number of Funds: 5

Assets Under Management: €16 billion

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Ian Riley, Co-Founder & Advisor: Ian has over 26 years of experience in private equity and has led successful investments in companies operating in Europe and the US. His expertise spans various industries, including leisure, media, consumer products, and business services.
• Mike Risman, Co-Founder & Managing Partner: Mike has played a crucial role in shaping Vitruvian’s investment strategy and guiding portfolio companies through significant growth phases. 
• David Nahama, Co-Founder & Senior Partner: David is focused on the Technology Infrastructure & Communications, Business Services, and Software sectors at Vitruvian. He has a background as a Venture Partner at Apax Partners and has extensive entrepreneurial and operational experience​.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Aduro Advisors: Invested in the financial services company in 2024.
• Aspia: Invested in the data and business services brand in 2023.
• Civitatis: Invested in the consumer technology and internet brand in 2022.

Office Locations:

• London (Headquarters): 105 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 1QY
• Additional Offices: Luxembourg, Madrid, Mumbai, Munich, San Francisco, Shanghai, Singapore, Stockholm

Website: https://www.vitruvianpartners.com/

Investment Style: YFM Equity Partners focuses on providing growth capital and supporting management buyouts for small businesses across the UK. They specialize in investing in businesses with strong growth potential, often participating in transactions ranging from £2 million to £10 million. Their strategy includes partnering with ambitious management teams to scale operations and achieve rapid growth, often providing follow-on investments as needed.

Portfolio Companies: YFM Equity Partners’ portfolio includes companies such as Go Outdoors (a retailer of outdoor equipment and clothing), Matillion (a cloud-based data integration platform), DSP (a provider of database managed services), and FourNet (cloud and communication services).

Founding Date: 1982

Number of Investment Professionals: Over 50

Number of Funds: YFM manages several funds, including the British Smaller Companies VCT plc, British Smaller Companies VCT2 plc, and Buyout Funds I, II, and III​

Assets Under Management: Over £730 million

Value Addition Examples: YFM helped Cozart, next generation drug testing equipment, such as by introducing a non-executive director, whose expertise assisted the business scale rapidly. Additionally, they assisted Checkmate Fire, passive fire protection services, in becoming a leading player within their sector. Furthermore, their investment in Displayplan, retail display specialist, saw the brand undergo international expansion, grow their teams, and saw profits increase six-fold within five years.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Jamie Roberts, Partner and Chief Investment Officer: Jamie leads all investment and portfolio activities across the UK, having supported dozens of investments and exits. His leadership has been crucial in managing significant investments and providing strategic guidance to portfolio companies​.
• David Hall, Executive Chairman: David oversees all aspects of the business, including fundraising and investment management. He has been directly involved in YFM’s investment in Matillion, contributing to its strategic growth and market positioning​​.
• Ian Waterfield, Partner and COO: Ian is responsible for scaling internal processes and driving key operational initiatives within YFM. He chairs the ESG Committee and is a member of the Investment Committee, ensuring sustainable investment practices across the portfolio.

Recent Exits:

1. Checkmate Fire: Exited in March 2024 to IK Partners.
2. Displayplan: Exited in February 2024 after 12 years of investment.

Recent Acquisitions:

• AutomatePro: Invested in the SaaS platform in 2022.
• DrDoctor: Invested in the patient engagement and communications software platform in 2023.
• Resulting IT: Invested in the ERP advisory and consultancy firm in 2023.

Office Locations:

• Leeds (Headquarters): 5th Floor, Valiant Building, 14 South Parade, Leeds, LS1 5QS
• Additional Offices: London, Manchester, Birmingham, Reading

Website: https://yfmep.com/

Quote: “Our collegiate, positive, and inclusive approach is key to our success. We actively share ideas and speak up without fear of criticism or blame. This approach promotes initiative and collaboration, differentiating us as a great place to work and creates real empowerment.” – Eamon Nolan, Managing Director

Investment Style: Keyhaven Capital Partners specializes in lower mid-market businesses across Europe. They focus on high-growth, entrepreneurial companies and partner with local sponsors and management teams to implement strategic and operational improvements. Their investment strategy includes both direct equity and secondary transactions, emphasizing flexibility and creativity in capital solutions.

Portfolio Companies: Keyhaven’s diverse portfolio includes companies such as Agrupapulpi (a leading Spanish producer and exporter of fruit and vegetables), Real Good Dental (a significant dental practice group based in the UK), and SSI Diagnostica (a manufacturer of diagnostic solutions for respiratory and tropical diseases).

Founding Date: 2003

Number of Investment Professionals: 12

Value Addition Examples: A great example of value addition is how Keyhaven assisted Agrupapulpi in numerous ways. This included helping them increase production capacity. They also helped the brand implement several environmental and sustainability initiatives which reduced energy and water consumption during the production process, which led Agrupapulpi to receive numerous ESG accreditations.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Sarah Brereton, Partner: Sarah has been instrumental in sourcing, executing, and monitoring UK-based and Pan-European investments. She maintains relationships across Keyhaven’s network of local partners, supporting the firm’s relationship-driven investment approach. 
• Michael Haddad, Investment Manager: Michael is responsible for the sourcing, analysis, monitoring, and exiting of investments. He currently serves as an observer on the board of PCML Group. His previous experience includes roles at Nomura International’s sales and trading division and AXA Investment Managers.
• Vignesh Kumaravel, Investment Manager: Vignesh has a critical role in sourcing, analyzing, monitoring, and exiting investments. He has held observer and board positions with companies like DARAG Group, elseco, and Steer Automotive Group. Vignesh’s previous experience includes working as an Investment Associate at Kester Capital and as a Manager in the transaction services division at PricewaterhouseCoopers. 

Recent Exits:

1. Steer Automotive Group: Exited in 2024 to Oakley Capital.
2. Agrupapulpi: Sold to a US-based financial investor in June 2023.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Phrasee: Backed capital D’s acquisition in March 2022.

Office Locations:

• London (Headquarters): 45 Whitfield Street, London, W1T 4HD
• Additional Offices: None

Website: https://www.keyhavencapital.com/

Quote: “This latest round of promotions is a testament to the breadth and depth of talent that we have developed across our team as we continue to find a compelling level of opportunities in lower middle-market European businesses”​ – Claus Stenbaek, Managing Partner

Investment Style: Dawn Capital is a venture capital firm with a strong focus on early-stage investments, particularly in B2B software and fintech sectors. They primarily invest in Series A and B rounds and continue to support their top portfolio companies through growth stages to exit. Dawn Capital emphasizes partnering closely with founders to scale businesses and build global category leaders.

Portfolio Companies: Dawn Capital’s portfolio includes companies such as Collibra (data intelligence platform), Mimecast (email security), Dataiku (AI and machine learning platform), iZettle (mobile payments), and Quantexa (contextual decision intelligence).

Founding Date: 2007

Number of Investment Professionals: 14

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Norman Fiore, Co-Founder & General Partner: Norman Fiore has a rich background in managing significant investment funds, including co-managing Reuters’ corporate technology fund, where he invested over $450 million in more than 80 companies globally across early, mid, and late stages. His experience and vision have been instrumental in scaling companies like Mimecast and Collibra​.
• Haakon Overli, Co-Founder & General Partner: Haakon has extensive experience in founding and leading companies. Before Dawn, he was the UK CEO and founder of Self Trade, which was sold for €911 million. At Dawn Capital, Haakon focuses on strategic growth and market expansion initiatives. He emphasizes the importance of backing strong founders and continuously supporting them throughout their growth journey.
• Evgenia Plotnikova, General Partner: Evgenia leads Dawn Capital’s investments in SaaS, from early stage to pre-IPO. She has been crucial in supporting the growth of companies like Dataiku, BRYTER, and Firebolt. 

Recent Exits:

1. Cleanshelf: The SaaS management brand was acquired in March 2021 by LeanIX.
2. Granulate: The autonomous workload optimization brand was acquired in March 2022 by Intel for $600 million.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Bondaval: Invested in the insurance technology business in 2024.
• Brite Payments: Invested in the banking technology brand in 2023.

Office Locations:

• London (Headquarters): Ilona Rose House, Manette Street, London, W1D 4AL
• Additional Offices: None

Website: https://dawncapital.com/

Quote: “There has never been a better time to be a B2B founder in Europe. As a market with significant tech and operational talent, a sophisticated investor and adviser network, and a growing catalogue of success stories, the opportunity to build a new class of B2B software leaders has never been greater.” – Haakon Overli, General Partner at Dawn Capital​

Investment Style: Bregal Milestone, part of Bregal Investments, specializes in providing late-stage growth capital to ambitious European high-growth technology companies, with a specific focus on software and technology-enabled services. The firm aims to generate strong returns by combining downside protection with significant upside participation through a tech-enabled, data-driven sourcing approach, operational focus, and strong ESG commitments​.

Portfolio Companies: Bregal Milestone’s portfolio includes companies such as Epassi (B2B payments for corporate benefits), Paack (technology platform for e-commerce deliveries), and Redstor (data management SaaS solutions)​.

Founding Date: 2018

Number of Investment Professionals: Over 20

Number of Funds: 2

Assets Under Management: Approximately €1.3 billion

Value Addition Examples: Bregal Milestone helped Epipoli achieve impressive double digit annual growth rates, expand their management team, and has assisted them with transformative acquisitions. For Cube, they assisted in numerous ways, including expanding their global footprint, strengthening their leadership, and helped them make technological advancements.

Key Investment Professionals and Contributions:

• Cyrus Shey, Co-Founder & Managing Partner: Cyrus has been instrumental in structuring and executing significant deals at Bregal Milestone. His leadership in investments such as Arkphire and Epassi has driven substantial growth and successful exits. He utilizes his extensive background in leveraged buyouts and growth capital financings to enhance the firm’s strategic initiatives.
• Philippe Lautenberg, Co-Founder & Managing Partner: Philippe has been a key figure in Bregal Milestone since its inception, bringing his extensive experience from roles at Credit Suisse and Circle Capital Partners. Philippe’s deep understanding of the European market has been vital to the firm’s strategic initiatives​.
• Jan Bruennler, Co-Founder & Managing Partner: Jan is integral to shaping the firm’s investment strategy and execution. He has driven significant growth and market positioning for Bregal Milestone’s portfolio, such as with Paack. Jan’s prior experience as a partner at Makuria Investment Management and his time at Sculptor Capital Management provide a strong foundation for his contributions to the firm’s success​.

Recent Exits:

1. Cube: Exited to Hg in March 2024.
2. Basware: Exited in November 2020.

Recent Acquisitions:

• Cafeyn: Invested in November 2020 to accelerate international expansion.

Office Locations:

• London (Headquarters): 20 Air Street, 5th Floor, London, W1B 5AN
• Additional Offices: None

Website: https://www.bregalmilestone.com/

Quote: Our thesis was that this market is really under-served… By the time you get to growth stage, Europe is about a quarter of the size of the US, so the support wasn’t there. There were US funds active in this space and it was a strategy that was well understood in the US but not in Europe.” – Jan Bruennler, Co-Founder of Bregal Milestone​