Growth investing continues to be one of the most attractive areas of the private market in which to participate. We began conducting research for our annual Top 40 under 40 Growth Investors 11 years ago and we are delighted to see how firms and their talented professionals have helped shape the growth investing space into what it has become today.
GrowthCap is pleased to announce the Top 40 Under 40 Growth Investors of 2024. A notable number of awardees are repeat performers from prior years, while others are appearing in this publication for the first time. Each of those selected has demonstrated an ability to be an exceptional partner to their stakeholders, including their portfolio companies, their limited partners and their colleagues, among others.
At GrowthCap, we have conducted hundreds of interviews over the years with the most experienced investors and executives in the growth economy. We have also read hundreds of nomination submissions. Awardees excel in investment judgement, business strategy, operations, human capital, acquisitions, capital markets and beyond.
We want to acknowledge all those who were nominated and for their career achievements in what is a most competitive and challenging profession. While we could not recognize all of the impressive nominees, we want to acknowledge their contributions to the growth investing field.
Please join us in recognizing and celebrating the achievements of The Top 40 Under 40 Growth Investors of 2024.
Firm: TPG
Title: Business Unit Partner
Jacqui Hawwa is a Business Unit Partner with TPG Growth, based in San Francisco, where she focuses on investment opportunities in the internet, digital media & communications (IDMC) sector. Prior to joining TPG in 2019, Jacqui was a senior member of the investment team at GTCR, where she focused on the technology and technology-enabled services sector. She previously held roles at Barclays Capital and Lehman Brothers. Jacqui received a BS in economics from Duke University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
“Our investment strategy at TPG Growth is unique in that we are sector experts across various end markets where we’ve been thematically focused on investing for over a decade. That expertise and long-term orientation enables us to hone our pattern recognition, see around corners, think about the next stage of scaling a business, and bring to bear the resources and network to support growth. It’s a privilege to partner with incredibly successful founders and management teams to help them transform their companies for the better.” – Jacqui Hawwa
Thomas Krane
Firm: Insight Partners
Title: Managing Director
Thomas Krane is a Managing Director at Insight Partners and has been with the firm since 2012, when he joined as an Analyst. As an investor, his focus areas include cybersecurity, DevOps, IT automation and application software. Five of his investments have gone on to realize an IPO (Tenable, JFrog, Darktrace, 1stdibs, SentinelOne) and more have seen successful strategic exits, including Recorded Future, Adaptive Shield, Thycotic, Nearpod, Cylance, and QASymphony. Thomas also works closely with Insight IGNITE—Insight’s network of more than 2,000 senior tech executives across 850+ global enterprises who leverage the firm’s deep industry expertise and investment knowledge to inform their technology strategies.
Thomas studied astrophysics at the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and earned his master’s degree in four years.
“Early in my career at Insight, I had an opportunity to learn from the industry’s best when it came to sourcing, structuring and managing investments. The last few years at Insight have given me a new appreciation for the factors that play into generating successful exits and liquidity events. Seeing our founders, management teams and LPs realize these outcomes has given me a new appreciation for my role and have been some of the most gratifying moments of my career so far.” – Thomas Krane
Rebecca Liu-Doyle
Firm: Insight Partners
Title: Managing Director
Rebecca Liu-Doyle is a Managing Director at Insight Partners, where she focuses on investments in high-growth application software, fintech and consumer internet. She joined the firm in 2016 and counts notable investments such as Divvy (exited to Bill.com), Prose, Quantum Metric, and UserTesting (IPO in November 2021) among her portfolio companies.
When she first joined Insight, Rebecca spent time on Insight’s Onsite team, where she worked closely with portfolio executives on growth strategy. Rebecca started her career as a Management Consultant in McKinsey & Company’s New York office, advising clients in the technology, financial services, and consumer goods industries. Her work at McKinsey spanned a number of topics, including M&A, product development, and frontline transformation.
Rebecca graduated summa cum laude from Yale University with a BA in ethics, politics, and economics. She serves on the board of Greater NY and mentors for the Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale.
“At Insight Partners, we believe that at its core, investing in companies means partnering with people. This is a belief that has guided us through nearly 30 years of investing and is foundational to finding and scaling great companies. I’m so grateful to my colleagues, our founders, and all the team members who collectively make this work so rewarding and impactful.” – Rebecca Liu-Doyle
Firm: Thoma Bravo
Title: Partner
Adam Solomon is a Partner at Thoma Bravo, one of the largest software-focused investors in the world with over US$166 billion in AUM as of September 30, 2024. As co-lead of the firm’s Explore platform, which focuses on investing in high growth software and technology companies in the lower middle-market, Adam is responsible for identifying, executing and managing investments to drive growth across the Explore portfolio. Over the course of his tenure at Thoma Bravo, Adam has led and played pivotal roles in investments and growth strategies across a variety of market-leading software and technology companies, including BlueMatrix, SMA Technologies, Raptor Technologies, Intel471 and more.
Before joining Thoma Bravo in 2021, Adam was a Principal at Francisco Partners, an Associate at Hellman & Friedman and an Analyst at Gleacher Partners. Adam holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and he graduated cum laude with a BA in economics from Harvard University.
“I am honored to be recognized in GrowthCap’s 40 Under 40 list. This award is really a testament to the Thoma Bravo Explore team’s great work and the innovative spirit of the companies we support, and it’s my privilege to play a part in realizing each company’s vision and fostering their long-term growth.” – Adam Solomon
Colin Mistele
Firm: Summit Partners
Title: Managing Director
Colin Mistele is a Managing Director on the Technology Team at Summit Partners. Colin joined Summit’s Menlo Park office as an Associate in 2011 and was named a Managing Director in 2021. In his 13+ year tenure at Summit, Colin has established himself as a skilled investment professional, valuable partner to the firm’s portfolio company management teams and thoughtful colleague and leader within the firm.
Colin has led or played a significant role in 23 Summit investments in total, representing more than $950 million in invested capital. Colin’s investments span several software categories, including cybersecurity, vertical software, and consumer internet. His current board and investment experience includes Coderpad, DocuSketch, Foxen, Jamf (NASDAQ: JAMF), Jobber, Jungle Scout, NinjaOne, onXmaps, Podium, PriceLabs, Red Canary and TextExpander. Colin’s prior experience includes investments in Advanced Cell Diagnostics (acquired by Bio-Techne Corporation), Gainsight (acquired by Vista Equity Partners), InfoArmor (acquired by Allstate Corporation), Reverb.com (acquired by Etsy), RiskIQ (acquired by Microsoft), TeleSign (acquired by BICS), TSheets (acquired by Intuit) and Uber (NYSE: UBER).
Colin holds a BS in finance and marketing from Lehigh University.
“As a growth investor at Summit, I’ve been fortunate to partner with and work alongside talented founders and executives who are scaling their businesses with a durable growth mindset. Great executives and teams understand that customer-centric approach and focus on velocity in all functions are essential to driving – and sustaining – profitable growth.” – Colin Mistele
Sophia Popova
Firm: Summit Partners
Title: Partner
Sophia Popova is a Partner on Summit Partners’ Technology Team. She joined the firm in 2017 as a Vice President and was promoted to Partner in January 2023. Sophia has played an active role in nine Summit investments, representing more than $1.75 billion in invested capital. Sophia’s primary focus is on front-office software investments, including content creation, martech, adtech and commerce enablement. Her current board and investment experience includes Invicti Security, Klaviyo (IPO, NYSE: KVYO), Later (formerly Mavrck), Vensure Employer Services (formerly PrismHR), Sifted, StackAdapt and Ylopo.
Sophia’s investment acumen is enhanced by a longstanding passion for technology and deep technical expertise gained through product management and business development roles at several startups including Contactive (acquired by Fuze in 2015) and Recombine (acquired by CooperSurgical in 2016). While at Harvard Business School, Sophia was an investment partner at the Dorm Room Fund, where she advised numerous student-founder-led startups.
Sophia holds a BA in economics and mathematics from Yale University and an MBA, with distinction, from Harvard Business School.
“At Summit, we aim to provide the resources and strategic guidance to help visionary leaders accelerate growth, reshape industries, and create lasting impact. It is a privilege to partner with these talented executives and support their journey toward building industry-defining businesses.” – Sophia Popova
Justin Chen
Firm: Francisco Partners
Title: Partner
Justin Chen is a Partner at Francisco Partners (“FP”) and helps lead the firm’s healthcare team. Based in San Francisco, he joined the firm in 2016. Justin has led a number of software and technology investments including complex corporate carve-outs and founder partnerships. In 2024, Justin helped complete 10+ transactions totaling over $8 billion of transaction value including the sales of QGenda and RedSail, the carve-out of AdvancedMD from Global Payments, and many add-on acquisitions and financings.
Justin currently serves on the Board of Directors of AdvancedMD, bswift (carveout from CVS), Merative (fka IBM Watson Health), Office Ally, RedSail Technologies, and TS Imagine. He formerly served on the boards of QGenda, Capsule, HealthcareSource, and NMI.
Justin has a BS and BA in finance and accounting from Georgetown University. Prior to FP, he held positions at FTV Capital, GTCR and Merrill Lynch.
“At Francisco Partners, our team is uniquely privileged to build and scale leading technology companies and work with driven, entrepreneurial executives. I am grateful for the opportunity to partner with leading healthcare technology companies and executives to build enduring, growth-oriented businesses with lasting impact across the healthcare ecosystem. Across FP, we embrace a culture of collaboration with a true partnership mentality.” – Justin Chen
Evan Daar
Firm: Francisco Partners
Title: Partner
Evan Daar is a Partner at Francisco Partners (“FP”) and helps lead the firm’s application software investment efforts and has been closely involved in its infrastructure software investments as well. Based in San Francisco, Evan joined the firm as an Associate in 2011. Throughout his career, Evan has helped lead many of the firm’s largest take-private and divisional carve-out transactions, including the carve-out of Forcepoint from Raytheon Technologies for $1.1 billion, the take-private of Sumo Logic for $1.7 billion, the take-private of New Relic for $6.5 billion, and the carve-out of Black Duck Software from Synopsis for $2.1 billion. Evan works closely with management teams, the broader FP investment team, and Francisco Partners Consulting to help effectuate these large-scale and complex transactions.
Evan currently serves on the boards of Black Duck Software, Perforce, New Relic, SmartBear Software, SonicWall and Sumo Logic. He also previously served on the boards of Discovery Education, Forcepoint, Optanix, ShoreGroup Solutions, and Verifone. Evan has a BA from Columbia University as well as an MBA from Stanford GSB. He previously worked at McKinsey & Company as a business analyst.
“The application and infrastructure software markets remain highly attractive investment categories, supported by strong industry tailwinds and many disruptive companies. Francisco Partners’ deep sectoral expertise and robust operational capabilities make the firm uniquely suited to partner with founders, management teams and large corporations on their most important and often complex transactions.” – Evan Daar
Firm: Optum Ventures
Title: Managing Partner
Laura is a Managing Partner and founding team member of Optum Ventures. Under Laura’s guidance and leadership, Optum Ventures has gained recognition as a leading platform in healthcare investing — now with 70+portfolio companies and over $2 billion in assets under management. Laura’s experience, which ranges from a healthcare startup to UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health, and Transformation Capital, has enabled Laura to develop a deep understanding of the healthcare system with an eye on how innovation can integrate into and transform the overall industry.
Laura received her undergraduate degree in economics and legal studies from Williams College, received an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, and currently sits on the Board of Overseers for Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
“Optum Ventures was created to develop a comprehensive and strategic presence in the startup landscape in anticipation of increased healthcare innovation at this stage. In this role, we are fortunate to work with passionate innovators across the healthcare ecosystem—from large market players to early-stage startups—all working towards making the healthcare system more affordable, accessible, efficient, and equitable for all. Cross-industry partnerships have the power to move innovation forward and through this lens, I am incredibly proud of OV’s progress to date and even more excited for what the next ten years will bring.” – Laura Veroneau
Firm: Brighton Park Capital
Title: Partner
Kevin Magan is a Partner and member of the Investment Committee at Brighton Park Capital focusing on software, marketplaces, and technology-enabled services. While at BPC, Kevin has led investments in TickPick, Storyblok, RocketReach, OPSWAT, HTEC Group, and NuORDER (acquired by Lightspeed Commerce).
Prior to joining Brighton Park Capital, Kevin was a Vice President at Great Hill Partners, a growth-stage private equity firm focused on the technology space. While at Great Hill, Kevin was involved in multiple investments across software, internet, and business services, including TodayTix, IntApp (Nasdaq: INTA), Bombas and Custom Ink. Kevin began his career in the technology, media, and telecommunications group at Barclays.
Kevin received an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a BS in finance.
“Brighton Park has assembled a best-in-class team of investors and senior advisors who are deeply committed to fostering long-term growth at our portfolio companies. Partnering with exceptional entrepreneurs as they develop the next wave of groundbreaking software companies is the highlight of my career.” – Kevin Magan
Firm: Berkshire Partners
Title: Managing Director
Ted Rainaud is a Managing Director at Berkshire Partners, a 100% employee-owned, multi-sector specialist investor in private and public equity. He is one of the Berkshire team leaders investing in the industrials sector. He co-leads the firm’s investments in Food Chain ID, a provider of food safety and supply chain compliance technology and services, and Harvey Performance Company, a leading designer and manufacturer of specialized cutting tools for precision machining applications.
Ted supported Berkshire’s investment in SRS Distribution, one of the nation’s leading distributors of roofing materials and building products. SRS was recently sold to The Home Depot for $18.25 billion, one of the largest private equity exits of 2024. Ted has also been involved with other Berkshire portfolio companies, including Advanced Drainage Systems and Consolidated Precision Products.
During his time at the firm, Ted has advanced Berkshire’s responsible investing efforts through the development and implementation of broad-based employee equity plans at multiple portfolio companies, which is consistent with the firm’s role as a founding member of Ownership Works.
Ted earned a BA in economics from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
“It’s a privilege to be recognized alongside so many outstanding investors. I am humbled to be included and appreciate the tremendous support and invaluable mentorship of my colleagues at Berkshire Partners and beyond. I feel fortunate to have the chance to partner with so many talented executives and to contribute to their organizations’ innovation and growth.” – Ted Rainaud
Firm: B Capital
Title: Partner
Adam Seabrook is a Partner at B Capital, leading the firm’s investments in healthcare and digital health. Prior to joining B Capital, Adam worked at Hyde Park Angels, one of the largest angel networks in the United States. At B Capital, he has invested in and served on the board of companies such as Positive Development, Synapticure, Atomwise, Evidation, Sift Healthcare and PicnicHealth, among others.
Adam was an early employee at Imaging Advantage, a teleradiology startup recently acquired by Envision Healthcare, where he managed implementation at hospitals around the United States, led workflow optimization efforts and helped acquire physician practices as part of a rollup strategy. As a result of a proposal Adam co-wrote to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the company was awarded $6 million to develop a decision support tool for physicians.
Adam earned an MBA from the University of Chicago and a BS in mechanical and biomedical engineering from Cornell University. He is based in Los Angeles.
“At B Capital, we have the privilege of partnering with visionary founders and management teams who are transforming healthcare. I’m inspired by their mission to enhance patient care, reduce healthcare costs, and broaden access to life-changing therapies. It’s an honor to support these innovators and to work with my incredible colleagues at B Capital.” – Adam Seabrook
Firm: Spectrum Equity
Title: Managing Director
As a Managing Director at Spectrum, Parag leads the firm’s investment efforts in Europe and heads up the Europe office, based in London. Having spearheaded Spectrum’s European expansion, he’s continued to cultivate the firm’s international portfolio, having completed investments in 8 countries outside the US.
In 2024, Parag played a key role in Spectrum’s exit of OffSec, a global provider of continuous cybersecurity workforce development training, and international expansion of OurFamilyWizard, supported by the acquisition of France-based FamilyWall. He continues to lead Spectrum’s investment with Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a UK-based company that specialized in pricing, data, and intelligence in the lithium-ion battery and electric vehicle supply chain; along with Spectrum’s recent partnership with UK-based cybersecurity company Netcraft.
Parag graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in mathematics and economics, and began his career as an Analyst with J.P. Morgan’s Restructuring Group in New York City. He joined Spectrum in 2012 and has been at the firm for the last 14 years.
“Partnering with founders is a privilege – amplifying their ambitions with capital, collaboration, and curiosity. The best partnerships thrive on trust, bold thinking, and tackling challenges together, because scaling exceptional companies is tough, but never dull.” – Parag Khandelwal
Firm: Sageview Capital
Title: Partner
Mike McClure is a Partner at Sageview Capital, a growth equity firm that backs high-growth, industry-leading software and tech-enabled businesses. In his role, Mike is responsible for helping lead the firm’s investment ideation, sourcing efforts, transaction activity, and post-investment value creation. Mike joined Sageview in 2011 as an Associate and returned to the firm as a Principal in 2015 after completing his MBA at Stanford Graduate School of Business. He was promoted to Partner in 2020, becoming the youngest partner in the firm’s 18-year history. Mike focuses primarily on software and tech-enabled businesses in the customer experience and supply chain sectors.
Throughout his time at Sageview, Mike has been actively involved in seven investments, representing over $1.5 billion in total enterprise value and over $300 million deployed. Mike currently serves on the Board of Directors at Aceable, CallRail, Specright, and User Interviews and is a board observer at Demandbase and Pantheon. He was previously a board observer at Womply.
Before joining Sageview, Mike was at Trilantic Capital Partners, where he focused on investing in leading companies across North America. Mike holds a BA in economics from the University of Colorado at Boulder and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
“It’s an honor to be nominated alongside so many talented friends and peers in the growth equity industry. Huge thanks to my incredible colleagues at Sageview Capital, the courageous entrepreneurs we back, and our terrific limited partners who make it all possible!” – Mike McClure
Firm: Adams Street Partners
Title: Partner
Brian Dudley is a Partner on Adams Street Partners’ Growth Equity Investment Team. He leads the firm’s investments in application software. Brian regularly authors thought leadership for our clients and participates in industry events and is a member of Adams Street’s Portfolio Construction Committee.
Since joining Adams Street, he has been involved in 20+ investments and numerous boards. He led Adams Street’s investments in ClassDojo, Dremio, Glean, poolside, Remote, Robinhood, Scale AI, Stripe, Truehold, Wiz, Zip, amongst others.
Brian holds an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business (GSB) and received a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of California, Berkeley – Walter A. Hass School of Business.
“On behalf of Adams Street, it’s a great honor to be recognized. It is truly a privilege to support the exceptional leadership teams at our portfolio companies as they seek to build category-defining businesses. Growth is very much a people-centric business, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by so many exceptional people on a daily basis.” – Brian Dudley
Firm: THL Partners
Title: Managing Director
As a Managing Director in THL’s Financial Technology & Services vertical, Ed Shahnasarian focuses on the firm’s Identified Sector Opportunities (ISOs) in Insurance Technology & Services, and Wealth & Fund. Over the past decade, he has assembled a team of investment professionals and executive partners, and a robust network of third-party advisors, to establish the firm’s industry-leading franchise in both sectors.
Ed is also a driving force in THL’s broader Financial Technology and Services (FTS) practice, in which capacity he is recognized not only for his investment and operating acumen but also for his commitment to fostering talent. He has mentored, and helped shape the careers of, numerous young professionals, contributing to the firm’s ongoing legacy of excellence and innovation. He has also played a pivotal role in building FTS’ core infrastructure to bolster the practice’s business development and value creation levers.
Ed is currently a Director for AmeriLife Group, Carpe Data, Hightower Advisors, Standish, Hexure and YA Group. His prior directorships include Prime Risk Partners.
“THL has been fortunate to partner with some of the most innovative, ambitious companies in the Insurance Technology and Services, and Wealth & Fund, sectors. We believe we can help these companies deliver more and better for their customers and drive constructive change throughout the industry. It’s exciting and rewarding work, and it’s what keeps the team challenged and engaged.” – Ed Shahnasarian
Firm: Norwest
Title: General Partner and Co-Head Equity Growth
Ran joined Norwest in 2011. As a General Partner and Co-Head of the Growth Equity team, Ran focuses on growth equity investments across a wide range of sectors including technology, business services, and consumer. His most recent investments include Banyan Software, Datacor, Elite Business Ventures and SpryPoint. Ran has been involved with Norwest’s gainful exits in AbsenceSoft (acquired by Luminate Capital), Avetta (acquired by EQT), 1010data (acquired by Advance), Envisage (sold to Vector Solutions), Galvanize (acquired by Diligent), Infutor (acquired by Verisk), Rainmaker (divisions acquired by RealPage and Cendyn) and The Retail Equation (acquired by Appriss). Additionally, he has overseen the partial recaps of Cority and YipitData.
Before joining Norwest, Ran was an analyst at Union Square Advisors, a technology investment banking firm, as well as a quantitative analyst in the Asset Backed Securities group at Citigroup. Ran holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical and computer engineering from Cornell University. Ran is also a CFA charterholder.
“I am honored to receive this recognition, but all credit should go to the talented people at Norwest and within the companies that we are fortunate to work with. We at Norwest look forward to helping great businesses and teams build value and impact for decades to come.” – Ran Ding
Firm: Altamont Capital Partners
Title: Managing Director
Sam Gaynor is a Managing Director of Altamont Capital Partners. At Altamont, Sam leads transactions in the financial services sector, with a focus on insurance (P&C and life, carriers and services), asset and wealth management, and specialty finance businesses.
Prior to Altamont, Sam was a Consultant with The Boston Consulting Group. Sam received a BA in economics and Chinese, magna cum laude, from Washington University in St. Louis. Sam serves on the board of directors of several community organizations in San Francisco.
“I am proud of all we’ve accomplished at Altamont Capital Partners and am honored to be recognized by GrowthCap this year. Our highly differentiated partnership strategy – especially in forming de novo platforms in the Financial Services sector – has driven outcomes for our investors and management teams of which we are quite proud. I look forward to continuing to back great businesses and teams over the years to come.” – Sam Gaynor
Ben Benson
Firm: Vista Equity Partners
Title: Managing Director
Ben Benson is a Managing Director at Vista Equity Partners, where he is a member of the Endeavor strategy. He serves on Endeavor’s Investment Committee and currently sits on the boards of BlueConic, COMPLY, Innovapptive, OfficeSpace, Portside and Schoox.
Endeavor is Vista’s small-cap investment strategy, partnering with visionary leaders to build and scale emerging enterprise software businesses with $10-40 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR). Ben and the Endeavor team have a systematic approach to value creation which is anchored in their ability to work closely with founders and management teams to build and scale emerging category-leading products and businesses with enduring market value.
Prior to joining Vista, Ben was part of the software investing team at LLR Partners. Prior to LLR, Ben was an investment banker in the M&A group at BMO Capital Markets. Ben holds a BA in economics from Middlebury College where he graduated summa cum laude.
“The leaders of today’s fastest-growing software companies choose Vista and Endeavor, not just for capital, but for the invaluable partnership and operational rigor we can provide. With our collaborative approach and a wealth of insights from the entire Vista ecosystem, we are able to provide the support and guidance that help our partners tackle challenges head-on and seize new opportunities.” – Ben Benson
Stephen Foster
Firm: Vista Equity Partners
Title: Senior Vice President
Stephen Foster is a Senior Vice President in Vista Equity Partners’ Foundation Fund where he invests in growth-oriented middle-market companies with a focus on backing emerging leaders in infrastructure and cyber security software. Stephen currently sits on the boards of Critical Start, ESO Solutions, LogicMonitor and Nasuni, among others.
Since joining Vista in 2014, Stephen has been actively involved in over a dozen platform investments. Most recently, he played a critical role in Vista’s control investment in Nasuni, a leader in hybrid cloud data infrastructure. Stephen has also been instrumental in recent monetization transactions, including the sale of Aptean at a valuation of $3.5 billion and the minority recapitalization of LogicMonitor at a valuation of approximately $2.4 billion.
Prior to joining Vista, Stephen worked at Parthenon Capital Partners and Greenhill & Co., focusing on middle-market buyout transactions and advising clients on mergers and acquisitions. Stephen holds a BS in management science and engineering from Stanford University.
“We are fierce advocates for the founders and management teams we work with, supporting them as they continue to push boundaries and redefine their industries. It’s a privilege to partner with leading teams that continue to innovate, execute and scale their vision as they build leading software franchises with enduring value.” – Stephen Foster
Firm: L2 Point Management
Title: Founder, Chief Investment Officer, and Managing Partner
Kerstin Dittmar is the Founder, Chief Investment Officer, and Managing Partner of L2 Point Management, a private investment firm focused on structured equity investments in growth companies across the technology and technology-enabled, consumer, healthcare, and media sectors.
As Managing Partner, Kerstin oversees and manages all functions of the firm, including investment sourcing, structuring, and underwriting; portfolio construction and management; risk management; business development and investor relations; and fund structuring, legal, and operations. Her creative structuring across the capital structure has made her a sought-after partner to growth companies looking for an alternative cost of capital product that minimizes the dilution of equity and the operational constraints of debt.
In 2024, L2 Point successfully raised nearly $460 million across its inaugural fund and related co-investment vehicles. The firm’s investments to date include SimSpace, Wasabi Technologies, Fabletics, and Revolution Foods. Kerstin serves on the Boards of Directors of each of these companies.
Prior to founding L2 Point, Kerstin was an early team member at TPG Sixth Street Partners, and before that worked in the America’s Special Situation Group at Goldman Sachs. She received a BA in economics from Duke University where she graduated summa cum laude.
“I am deeply honored to be recognized by GrowthCap alongside such exceptional investors. At L2 Point, we seek to provide tailored capital solutions that enable growth companies to continue to heavily invest in growth while minimizing the dilutive impact to their existing shareholders. It’s a privilege to partner with extraordinary leadership teams as they drive innovation, create impact, and build enduring value.” – Kerstin Dittmar
Firm: PeakSpan Capital
Title: Co-Founder and Managing Partner
Matt Melymuka is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at PeakSpan Capital, a B2B software-focused growth equity firm with $1.6B+ in AUM with offices in New York City and San Mateo, California. PeakSpan pursues a thematic approach to working with entrepreneurs, and Matt leads the firm’s efforts in the go-to-market technology and hospitality technology sectors. Matt has been working with growth-stage software and technology businesses his whole career and has had the privilege of working with over 35 growth-stage business software companies over the last 15+ years.
Prior to co-founding PeakSpan, Matt worked at Greycroft Partners on the growth-stage investment team. Prior to Greycroft, he worked at Investor Growth Capital on the B2B software team where he met his co-founders, and they began refining the investment strategy, approach and philosophy that underpins PeakSpan today. He started his career in investment banking as a member of the Technology, Media and Telecom group at Piper Jaffray.
Matt received a BS in finance from Georgetown University, where he graduated cum laude. He lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with his wife Ratavy, his two daughters, Luna and Leyla, and their mini golden retriever, Enzo.
“It is an honor to be recognized on GrowthCap’s 40 Under 40 list alongside so many incredible investors and firms. I have the best job in the world – working with insanely ambitious entrepreneurs to build category-defining companies and working with my tremendous colleagues and thought partners to build PeakSpan. I don’t take any of it for granted and am filled with gratitude every single day.” – Matt Melymuka
Ryan Mandl
Firm: Five Elms Capital
Title: Partner
Ryan Mandl is a Partner at Five Elms Capital, a leading growth equity firm that invests in high-growth, B2B software businesses globally. Joining in 2010, Ryan has spent his entire career investing in software businesses at Five Elms. As a member of the firm’s Investment Committee, his biggest strengths span across the deal and company lifecycle, making him a valuable asset to the firm and a trusted partner to the companies he works with.
Ryan has helped lead 17 investments and numerous exits, including the recent recapitalization of Apptegy with JMI Equity and the sale of Tagger to Sprout Social (NASDAQ: SPT). Other notable exits Ryan has been a key influence in include Service Fusion to Evercommerce (Nasdaq: EVCM), OnBoard to JMI Equity, OrderUp to Groupon, and MemberClicks to Personify. Ryan currently serves on the boards of six Five Elms portfolio companies: 360Player, Apptegy, AskNicely, ContractSafe, Field Agent, and SingleOps. Ryan also spends significant time on value creation efforts with each of his companies, identifying and executing significant growth levers including product innovation, GTM initiatives, pricing and packaging, and M&A.
“For 18 years, we’ve partnered with innovative software companies, reinforcing our belief that exceptional people drive successful SaaS businesses. As we invest in high-growth B2B software globally, we remain focused on fostering strong partnerships and driving value creation. I’m honored to support visionary founders as they build category-leading companies and shape the future of software.” – Ryan Mandl
Stephanie Schneider
Firm: Five Elms Capital
Title: Partner
Stephanie Schneider is a Partner at Five Elms Capital, a leading growth equity firm that invests in fast-growing B2B software businesses. With nine years of experience at Five Elms, Stephanie has been instrumental in executing over 23 deals. As a member of the Investment Committee, she leverages her background in advising corporations and financial sponsors to collaborate with growing, founder-owned SaaS businesses. Her leadership provides these companies with the capital and resources needed to accelerate their growth and solidify their positions as industry leaders.
Stephanie currently serves on the boards of Claravine, Continu, Covideo, Opiniion, POWWR, Reachdesk, ShippyPro, and Ten Thousand Coffees (10KC). Before joining Five Elms, Stephanie worked as an investment banker in Citigroup’s Technology Group, where she advised corporations and financial sponsors on mergers, acquisitions, and corporate finance. She also has experience as an investment banker in Sterne Agee’s Financial Services Group. Stephanie holds a BA in journalism and advertising from Southern Methodist University.
“We are privileged to work alongside exceptional entrepreneurs, helping to transform innovative products into market-leading businesses. This recognition from GrowthCap reflects our firm’s commitment to providing more than capital – we offer strategic guidance, operational support, and a collaborative approach that empowers founders to achieve their full potential in the dynamic B2B software space.” – Stephanie Schneider
Firm: Wellington Management
Title: Healthcare Sector Lead, Late-Stage Growth
Josh Sommerfeld is the Healthcare Sector Lead for Wellington Management’s Private Investing platform, where he works closely with portfolio managers, global industry analysts, and other global research resources across the firm to make investments in private companies within the healthcare products and services sector. Josh is also responsible for supporting portfolio companies through board construction and expansion, M&A support and IPO readiness, and helps companies build the skills necessary to succeed as public companies.
Since joining the firm in 2020, Josh has deployed over $700 million across 9 new investments. He has a robust network within the private market investment community, establishing valuable connections with venture capitalists, crossover investors, bankers, and other industry stakeholders. This network coupled with his deep knowledge in the late-stage private healthcare ecosystem enable him to play an active role with several large clients at the firm.
Josh is an active participant in the industry, speaking at multiple pre-IPO and healthcare conferences annually. He also actively supports Wellington’s ESG commitments, intentionally integrating ESG into his diligence process, quarterly portfolio reviews and encouraging portfolio companies to improve their ESG metrics as they progress toward public market readiness.
Josh holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago.
“At Wellington, we believe in the potential of groundbreaking innovations in medical technology, digital health, and beyond. I take pride in contributing to our team’s goal of identifying long-term investment opportunities in the sector. As the industry continues to evolve, so will our approach to supporting our portfolio companies as they work to advance their missions. I am eager to continue being an active voice in the healthcare ecosystem and am excited for the future.” – Josh Sommerfeld
Larry Contrella
Firm: JMI Equity
Title: Partner
Larry has been part of the JMI team since 2010. He is a Partner and is responsible for sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities as well as providing strategic and operational support to portfolio companies. Larry is currently a director of Apptegy, Bloomerang, ChurnZero, Incident IQ, RainFocus, and Raptor Technologies.
Prior to joining JMI, Larry was an Analyst in the multi-industries group in the investment banking division at Merrill Lynch & Co. Larry graduated from Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania with a BS in economics.
“I’m honored to be recognized by GrowthCap among such a distinguished group of investors. It’s a true privilege to work alongside world-class software founders and management teams, helping them achieve their growth potential.” – Larry Contrella
Mac Williams
Firm: JMI Equity
Title: Principal
Mac joined JMI in 2016 and focuses on investments in enterprise software businesses. He is responsible for sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities as well as providing strategic and operational support to portfolio companies. Mac currently serves as director at OnBoard, Raptor Technologies, and Higher Logic and is also closely involved in the firm’s investments in Apptegy, AlertMedia, Huntress, Ontic, and UKG.
Prior to joining JMI, Mac worked at Tiger Veda Management, New Mountain Capital, and Lazard. Mac graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University with a degree in public and international affairs, and a minor in finance.
“It’s an honor to work with exceptional software founders and entrepreneurs, driving long-term, sustainable growth together. I’m truly honored to be recognized by GrowthCap among such a talented group of investors.” – Mac Williams
Firm: Hg
Title: Partner
Farouk Hussein is a Partner leading the Mercury fund in North America for Hg, a leading transatlantic software investment firm. He originates, evaluates and manages investments in the lower middle market across the firm’s core thematic clusters with an emphasis on partnering with and transforming founder-led businesses. In the past year, he has led the investments in and serves on the board of CINC Systems and Empyrean Solutions.
Before joining Hg, Farouk was previously a Founding Partner at SQN Investors where he incubated the firm’s private equity arm focused on structured growth and control investments in global software companies. Prior to SQN, he spent over a decade at HGGC, where he helped build and lead the technology investment practice, and JMI Equity. Investments, board roles and portfolio companies have included AMI, Idera, Denodo Technologies, Dealer-FX, hybris Software, Serena Software, BigMachines, Granicus, Internet Brands and ServiceNow. He started his career in technology M&A at Union Square Advisors.
Fluent in French and originally from Toronto, Canada, Farouk graduated with an HBA and distinction from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.
“I’m humbled to be recognized by GrowthCap as a Top 40 Under 40 awardee alongside so many distinguished investors and friends. It’s a testament to the mentorship I’ve enjoyed over 15+ years and the opportunity afforded. The ultimate reward I derive is learning from product-centric founders who have the courage to challenge the status quo and build innovative and enduring technology businesses. Being in the trenches with these visionary men and women is my passion and the lifeblood of what we do in Hg’s Mercury fund.” – Farouk Hussein
Firm: Bregal Milestone
Title: Managing Director
John Hales is a Managing Director at Bregal Milestone. Prior to joining Bregal, he was an investment professional with Macquarie’s Principal Finance team, the proprietary investing arm of the bank, investing debt and equity in special situations across Europe. Prior to this, he was an investment consultant to Generation Investment and Denham Capital, two growth private equity firms.
John holds two masters degrees from Oxford University, where he attended as a Rhodes Scholar, including an MBA from the Saïd Business School. He graduated summa cum laude from his B.Sc in finance at the University of Cape Town.
“At Bregal Milestone, we work alongside European founders and management teams to provide growth equity and valuable, hands-on operational expertise to help scale businesses into global leaders. With the use of our AI-driven data science team and an unwavering focus on responsible investing practices, our dedicated investment and ‘Milestone Performance Partners’ teams help to support companies as they take the next steps on their journey.” – John Hales
Firm: TSG Consumer Partners
Title: Managing Director
Erik Johnson is a Managing Director at TSG Consumer Partners (TSG), a global leader in consumer investing, where he supports partner companies on their growth strategies and is involved in originating, structuring and the due diligence of new investment opportunities.
Erik currently serves on the board and helps manage several notable investments representing more than $1.5 billion of invested equity capital, which includes BrewDog, Endeavor Schools, Joe Hudson’s Collision Centers, Legacy.com, and Super Star Car Wash, and he is a board observer at Huda Beauty. Over the course of his career at TSG, Erik has participated in twelve investments and eight exits; notable exits include IT Cosmetics, SweetWater Brewing Company, and Pabst Brewing. Erik’s investment experience spans many segments in the consumer economy including beverage, beauty, eCommerce, automotive, and education.
Erik also leads the firm’s ESG strategy with a focus on risk management. In this role, he has implemented robust due diligence with standardized scorecards, revised the firm’s ESG policy, and enhanced internal portfolio company reporting.
Before joining TSG in 2011, Erik was an investment banker at Sawaya Segalas. Erik graduated cum laude with a BA in economics from Vanderbilt University and is based in New York City.
“It is an honor to be recognized by GrowthCap alongside industry peers who are shaping the future of growth investing through collaboration and innovation. I am grateful for the team at TSG who has empowered my development over the past 14 years, and I look forward to continuing our work to help management teams build enduring consumer brands.” – Erik Johnson
Firm: Glade Brook Capital Partners
Title: Partner
Linda Guo is a Partner at Glade Brook Capital Partners, a global growth equity firm investing in emerging leaders across software, internet and deep tech. At Glade Brook, Linda helps oversee the firm’s sourcing efforts, diligence processes, team development, and recruiting.
Since joining the firm in 2016, Linda has played a key role in deploying capital across consumer internet, space tech, software, and AI. She has led investments in prominent companies such as Patreon, Hopper, and NimbleRx in the U.S., as well as Pixxel, Zomato, and Headout in India. In addition, she is deeply involved in the firm’s investments in Zepto and SpaceX.
What sets Linda apart is her commitment to being a true partner to founders, often building relationships over many years before investing. She prides herself in always being available to help her companies, frequently assisting her companies with financial planning, customer and partnership introductions, recruiting, and more.
Beyond Glade Brook, she is also an active angel investor and passionate about improving gender diversity among start-ups.
Linda began her career in Hong Kong as an investment banking analyst at Credit Suisse. She holds a BS from the New York University Stern School of Business and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
“At Glade Brook, we are focused on investing in and working alongside the most promising founders in technology globally. It’s been an honor to work with many of the founders in our portfolio, and I could not be more excited about the opportunity ahead for growth investing.” – Linda Guo
Firm: Left Lane Capital
Title: Partner
Matthew Miller is a Partner at Left Lane Capital, where he leads high-impact investments across North America, UK/Europe, and Latin America. His areas of focus include early- and growth-stage investments in fintech, software, and consumer internet businesses. Matthew has played a strong role in driving key deals, such as investments in LemFi and Onfly, as well as successful follow-on investments in iTrustCapital, Fetcherr, and Rei do Pitaco. He also serves on the boards of several Left Lane portfolio companies, including Masterworks, iTrustCapital, Fetcherr, LemFi, Rei do Pitaco, Onfly, and Riot Security.
Matthew excels at identifying investment opportunities, developing unique investment theses, building strong relationships with founders, and negotiating complex deals. Prior to joining Left Lane in 2019, he was a Vice President at Rocket Internet, where he helped establish a later-stage internet investment practice in New York City. Matthew began his career at Lead Edge Capital, contributing to high-growth investments in late-stage internet and software companies globally.
Matthew holds a BBA in finance from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. His strategic vision and integrity have earned him a reputation as a leader in the investment industry.
“At Left Lane Capital, we partner with visionary founders building companies that redefine how people and businesses behave, engage, and transact. We focus on companies that are ingrained in the fabric of everyday society – building lasting customer relationships and transforming industries at scale. Most importantly, I’m deeply grateful to our founders for their trust, and I’m proud to work alongside the talented Left Lane team to help bring their ambitions to life.” – Matthew Miller
Firm: Volition Capital
Title: Partner
Tomy Han is a Partner at Volition Capital and joined the firm in 2012. He focuses on software and tech-enabled services investments in compliance, security, supply chain, and vertical applications. Tomy currently serves on the boards of HALO, Black Kite, Creatio, Pramata, Qure4u, and RTS.
“Being named to the GrowthCap Top 40 Under 40 2024 list is a recognition of the collective work of Volition Capital to partner with companies we believe in and founders we love to work with. It’s been over a decade since I joined Volition and have had the privilege of working alongside exceptional founders and teams, helping them unlock growth opportunities across numerous software industries. This award reflects not just personal milestones but also the strength of Volition’s mission to invest responsibly and drive meaningful outcomes. I’m proud to continue to support entrepreneurs who are championing innovation and redefining their industries.” – Tomy Han
Firm: Updata Partners
Title: General Partner
Braden is a General Partner at Updata Partners, a firm founded and run by software operators, currently investing its seventh fund and managing more than $1.5 billion of committed capital. Braden leads new investments and works with companies as a board member; he also manages the firm’s sourcing.
Today, Braden works with Adthena, Benivo, ContactMonkey, LandTech, Living Security, MD Integrations, and Shufti. His previous investments include Bridge2 Solutions (sold to Intercontinental Exchange), Glassbox (IPO), Homesnap (sold to CoStar), Mashable (sold to Ziff Davis), Netwrix (recapitalized, TA Associates / Centerbridge), and PulsePoint (sold to Internet Brands/WebMD). In the last 18 months, Braden led new investments totaling over $100 million of invested capital and helped exit companies worth over $2 billion of enterprise value.
Braden holds a BS in commerce from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce.
“Bootstrapped, capital efficient companies and the exceptional founders and operators who lead them deserve an operationally focused, collaborative partner. Updata takes that role seriously. We are hyper-focused on alignment, and we work tirelessly alongside the management teams who are doing the hard work, so everyone succeeds together. I am proud to be a part of Updata, and proud to support some of the best entrepreneurs in the industry.” – Braden Snyder
Firm: Centana Growth Partners
Title: Partner
Matthew Alfieri joined Centana in 2017 and is a Partner on the investment team. He currently serves on the board of Eventus Systems and Gradient AI, and serves as a board observer at Beacon, Plooto, Sayari Labs, SpyCloud and Zesty.ai. Matthew was recognized two years in a row as one of GrowthCap’s Top 40 Under 40 Growth Investors (2022 and 2023) and was named one of Business Insider’s Rising Stars of Wall Street (2019).
Prior to Centana, Matthew spent nine years at Goldman Sachs, most recently as a Vice President with the Principal Strategic Investments (PSI) team working in London and New York. During his time with PSI, he gained experience investing in financial technology and enterprise software companies.
Matthew led eight investments and served on the boards of six of the companies; his investments included Barefoot Networks (acquired by Intel), Vapor IO, Unbound Tech (acquired by Coinbase), Aquilon Energy Services and The New York Shipping Exchange. Prior to PSI, Matthew was an investment banker with Goldman Sachs, working within the debt and equity financing teams based in New York. He received a BA in business administration in the Financial Analyst Honors Program from the University at Albany.
“At Centana Growth Partners, we strive to identify, invest in, and support world-class founders who are building companies that will demonstrably impact the financial services industry. I am honored to be recognized by GrowthCap alongside a great cast of investors for doing a job that gives me tremendous fulfillment and joy each day.” – Matthew Alfieri
Nick Leppla
Firm: TA Associates
Title: Director
Nick Leppla is a Director at TA, a leading global private equity firm. Based in the firm’s Menlo Park office, he focuses on investing in technology companies across North America. Since joining TA in 2013, Nick has led or supported investments in 14 platform software companies and dozens of add-on acquisitions. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of TA portfolio companies LeadVenture, Radiant Logic, Rocscience, Solifi, Vercacode and VitalEdge Technologies, and is a board observer of Confluence, Fortra and Planview. He also serves on the Lick-Wilmerding Alumni Board and the Advisory Council of the Oakland Lacrosse Club, a nonprofit bringing lacrosse to public schools in Oakland, California.
Before TA, Nick was the Chief of Staff of AVG Technologies, a former TA portfolio company based in Prague, Czech Republic. He began his career as an Analyst at J.P. Morgan. Nick received a BA in both economics and engineering sciences (environmental) from Yale University and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. While at Yale, he was a member of the Varsity Men’s Lacrosse team.
“It is an honor to be recognized by GrowthCap alongside so many accomplished investors. I am consistently motivated by the entrepreneurs and management teams who have chosen to partner with TA, and feel proud of the growth we’ve been able to create together. As I look to the future, I’m eager to continue helping exceptional companies scale and reach their full potential in partnership with my incredibly talented colleagues at TA.” – Nick Leppla
Charles Ha
Firm: TA Associates
Title: Principal
Charles Ha is a Principal at TA, a leading global private equity firm. Based in the firm’s Boston office, he focuses on investments in category-leading software companies throughout North America. Charles has more than 10 years of experience investing in and working with growing & profitable software companies. He has expertise across a wide breadth of transaction types, including investments in founder-owned and run businesses, corporate divisional carve-outs and recapitalizations of venture capital & private equity-owned software companies.
Since joining TA in 2019, Charles has led or co-sponsored investments in six platform software companies. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for PowerGEM, Revalize, Riskonnect, Technosylva and Veracode and is a board observer for Mediaocean.
Charles earned an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School, and a BA with honors & distinction, in Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences (MMSS), economics and legal studies from Northwestern University.
“For more than fifty years, TA has followed an investment strategy built on a commitment to helping high-quality companies reach their full potential. It is a true privilege to collaborate with visionary management teams, founders, and entrepreneurs every day, and I am grateful to GrowthCap for this recognition.” – Charles Ha
Dhruva Kaul
Firm: Charlesbank Capital Partners
Title: Principal
Dhruva Kaul is a Principal at Charlesbank Capital Partners, focusing on investments within the technology opportunities strategy. Since joining in 2019, he has demonstrated his significant domain expertise across software and technology services – particularly in cybersecurity, where he helps lead the firm’s thematic efforts and has contributed notably to establishing Charlesbank as a recognized investor in the field.
Dhruva has been instrumental in eight Charlesbank platform investments across diverse subsectors such as cybersecurity, vertical application software and fintech, spanning the U.S and Europe. He has helped lead key recent investments in Maltego, Searchlight Cyber and Quorum Cyber, where he also serves on the boards. Known for his thoughtful, reliable partnership with CEOs and management teams, Dhruva helps businesses execute their vision, set strategic goals, build talented teams and solve challenging problems.
Dhruva previously worked at Pamplona Capital Management, Cerberus Capital Management and Greenhill & Co. He earned a BS in statistics and finance from NYU Stern School of Business and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
“I am grateful for the amazing team that we’ve built at Charlesbank and for the incredibly experienced partners I’ve been working with and learning from for nearly a decade. We focus on building long-term relationships with our management teams, and I value these partnerships tremendously – it’s a privilege to support these executives as they scale their businesses and create meaningful value for our stakeholders.” – Dhruva Kaul
Michael Zirngibl
Firm: Charlesbank Capital Partners
Title: Principal
Michael Zirngibl is a Principal at Charlesbank Capital Partners, focusing on investments within the technology opportunities strategy. After completing his MBA, Mike joined Charlesbank in 2018 to help found the strategy. He played a pivotal role in the inaugural fundraise, which closed in 2020, and has been actively involved in seven of the fifteen platform investments across Technology Opportunities Funds I and II, creating meaningful equity value for investors.
Mike brings a strong focus on the healthcare IT subsector, where he has been instrumental in sourcing and assessing a variety of thematic opportunities and helped lead two key platform investments – Healthcare Fraud Shield and Kleer-Membersy. Mike is a valued board member of DoiT International, Healthcare Fraud Shield, ImageQuix and Kleer-Membersy, where his close work with management teams entails fostering an open dialogue to identify effective solutions. His creativity, determination and strategic mindset consistently helps drive value creation across the portfolio.
Prior to Charlesbank, Mike held investment roles at Audax Private Equity and Centerbridge Capital Partners and an operating role at Data Intensity. He holds an AB in engineering sciences from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
“At Charlesbank, we bring deep sector expertise and a collaborative, partnership-driven approach to help management teams unlock growth. I’m continually inspired by my mentors at Charlesbank and by the tireless and talented executives who are building innovative and important companies with real and measurable value for customers and society.” – Mike Zirngibl
Chris Andrews
Firm: PSG
Title: Principal
Chris Andrews is a Principal at PSG, and during his nine-year tenure, has served as a key investor and partner to portfolio companies. He leverages his industry experience, insight and commitment to partnership to help PSG’s portfolio companies achieve key objectives and support continued growth.
To date, Chris has supported 17 platform investments and 34 add-on acquisitions. He currently sits on the board of seven PSG portfolio companies, including CENTRL, DigitalEd, Searchspring, Skybox Security, Tentacle, Traliant and Vehlo.
Prior to PSG, Chris spent five years on Providence Equity Partners’ valuation and strategic analysis team. Prior to this, Chris started his career in GE Capital’s financial management program. Chris received his MBA from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science from Fairfield University.
“Thank you to GrowthCap – I’m honored to be recognized among such talented investors. At PSG, I’ve been fortunate to work with incredible individuals across our firm and portfolio, which has highlighted the importance of strong, collaborative partnerships. I’m proud of all we have accomplished as a team at PSG and excited to continue working with management teams to help scale their businesses.” – Chris Andrews
Chris Collins
Firm: PSG
Title: Senior Vice President
Chris Collins is a Senior Vice President at PSG. In his role, he helps lead the initial investment process, and over the course of PSG’s investment, works to grow portfolio companies both organically and through add-on acquisitions. Since rejoining PSG in 2019 after business school, he has held leading roles supporting 11 platform investments and 15 add-on acquisitions.
Chris currently sits on the board of six portfolio companies: DoseSpot, Lumaverse Technologies, PatientNow, PlayMetrics, Qmulos and Verity IQ/Campus Ivy. He works closely with portfolio companies’ management teams to help develop growth strategies, including identifying acquisition opportunities, recruiting senior talent and exploring new markets for expansion.
Chris also co-leads programming and recruiting for PSG’s MBA internship program and serves on PSG’s ESG Committee, where he helps advance PSG’s commitment to incorporating ESG principles throughout its investment process, portfolio management and within its own organization.
Chris joined PSG as a Senior Associate in 2019. He originally joined Providence Equity in 2014 as part of the valuation and strategic analysis team. Prior to this, Chris worked in PwC’s deals practice. Chris received his MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science in finance from Bentley University. He is a CFA Charterholder.
“After 10 years in the space, I remain inspired by our portfolio companies’ business leaders and look forward to continuing to help them navigate and scale through critical inflection points in their growth journey. I’m honored by this recognition and to be included alongside such a strong group of investors!” – Chris Collins
Firm: Blackstone Growth
Title: Principal
Kevin Chang is a Principal at Blackstone Growth (BXG). He focuses on minority growth and growth-oriented buyout investments across enterprise software, most notably within vertical and infrastructure software.
Since joining Blackstone in 2019 to help launch BXG, Kevin has helped lead or play a key role across multiple minority and majority technology investments, including M3, GeoComply, Cloudinary, HealthEdge, Wiz, Snowflake, Cvent, and Hotel Engine.
Prior to Blackstone, Kevin worked at Softbank’s Vision Fund and J.P. Morgan. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a BS in business administration and BA in economics.
“I’m honored to be recognized by GrowthCap alongside an immensely talented group of investors. I believe that Blackstone Growth brings a unique approach to growth investing and we are fortunate to have the opportunity to partner with great founders and management teams. I’m grateful to work with colleagues and companies that choose to place their trust in the firm.” – Kevin Chang
Ned Kingsley
Firm: Silversmith Capital Partners
Title: Principal
Ned joined Silversmith in 2016 and is currently a Principal. He focuses on investments in growth-stage software, data, and information services businesses and he has been involved with a wide range of investments across North America and Europe. His recent investments and board positions include Appfire, Ascend Analytics, Impel, JETNET, and Novatus Global. Additionally, he has played a key role in the firm’s investments in Apryse, DistroKid, MediQuant, RedAwning and Vastian.
Prior to Silversmith, Ned was an investor at Battery Ventures, where he focused on enterprise technology investments. He also worked at Appfire, a Silversmith portfolio company, during business school where he helped the company with a range of strategic initiatives including multiple acquisitions. Ned received a BA in engineering from Dartmouth College and received an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
“At Silversmith, our collective success is entirely a result of the extraordinary founders, CEOs, and teams that we have the privilege of supporting. We are grateful for the trust that they place in us as partners and it is a joy to work alongside them as they build exceptional products into world class companies.” – Ned Kingsley
Danielle Waldman
Firm: Silversmith Capital Partners
Title: Principal
Danielle joined Silversmith in 2020 and is currently a Principal. Her investments at the firm focus on the SaaS & information services sectors, with a particular interest in developer & IT tools, security, and vertical applications. Danielle is an investor known for her domain expertise, integrity, and ability to build genuine relationships with entrepreneurs and management teams. She is also a mentor within the firm and a dedicated community builder for women seeking to advance their careers in business and growth equity. Her current investment and board experience at the firm includes Gearset, GiveCampus, Proven Optics and Worldly.
Prior to Silversmith, Danielle was a private equity investor at Vector Capital and an Investment Banking Analyst at Morgan Stanley. Her passion for technology stems from her first job at MongoDB in operations. Danielle graduated from Brown University with a degree in history and received an MBA with second year honors from Harvard Business School.
“At Silversmith, we are dedicated to partnering with extraordinary entrepreneurs in technology and healthcare. It is an honor to collaborate with and support visionary founders whose dedication turns bold ideas into impactful companies.” – Danielle Waldman
Firm: H.I.G. Growth Partners
Title: Principal
Andy is a Principal at H.I.G. Growth Partners and is based in the firm’s San Francisco office. He focuses on growth equity investments in the software sector.
Andy has 11 years of experience exclusively investing in B2B SaaS growth equity. Andy has in-depth investment and board experience, including 6sense, Carebox, Kajabi, Klaviyo, SalesLoft, Split, UserZoom, and Worksuite. Andy stands out amongst investors not only for his strong track record with successful investments and IPOs, but also for his collaborative approach to working with portfolio company leadership.
Prior to joining H.I.G. Growth Partners, Andy helped lead the late-stage venture investing practice at Blue Owl Capital. Before Blue Owl, Andy held investment professional roles at Spectrum Equity and Guidepost Growth Equity.
“I’m thankful to be part of a firm that emphasizes forging lasting partnerships with CEOs, entrepreneurs, and management teams. At H.I.G. Growth, we pride ourselves on a tailored approach and deep expertise, enabling us to leverage the full strength of the broader H.I.G. Capital platform. I’m excited to continue collaborating with these visionary leaders as they create industry-leading companies.” – Andy Lefkarites
Firm: K1 Investment Management
Title: Senior Vice President
Simon Yu is a Senior Vice President at K1 Investment Management, where he has helped lead investments in driving growth and long-term value creation for category-leading software businesses since joining the firm in 2016. K1 is one of the largest investors in small-cap enterprise software companies, partnering with founders to scale businesses into industry leaders.
Simon has led several notable transactions, including the successful exit of GoCanvas to Nemetschek Group, where he helped scale the business. Most recently, he played a key role in Simpro’s acquisition of BigChange, which enhanced its position as a comprehensive field service management software and built on their mission of creating the global leader in field service management software.
With a background in finance and investment strategy from Goldman Sachs and a degree in accounting and finance from NYU’s Stern School of Business, Simon brings both operational and strategic experience to K1’s portfolio. He is equally committed to fostering a culture of excellence and inclusion, championing initiatives that support diversity and mentorship within K1 and the broader finance industry.
“It’s a privilege to partner with visionary founders and leaders to help scale their businesses and deliver lasting impact. At K1, we are dedicated to transforming industries by partnering with small-cap software companies and helping them become category leaders. I’m proud to contribute to that mission.” – Simon Yu
Firm: Bregal Sagemount
Title: Principal
Jaskaran Heir is a Principal at Bregal Sagemount and is responsible for originating and underwriting investments in the software, healthcare, financial technology, business services, and consumer services sectors. Jaskaran also serves as the CFO of Independence Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ:ACQR).
Prior to joining Bregal Sagemount, Jaskaran was an Associate at CIVC Partners focusing on business services investments. Previously, Jaskaran was an investment banking analyst at Moelis & Company where he focused primarily on mergers and acquisitions. Jaskaran received a BS in economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
“At Sagemount, we collaborate with founders and entrepreneurs to help accelerate growth and create value. We take a custom approach to every investment, combining flexible capital and value-creation solutions to address the unique needs of successful entrepreneurs. We believe our partnership helps deliver outsized outcomes for our companies.” – Jaskaran Heir
Firm: Spectrum Equity
Title: Principal
Michael originally joined Spectrum in 2009 as an Associate and rejoined the firm in 2016 after graduating from Wharton Business School. Based in Boston, he primarily invests in growth stage healthcare technology, financial technology and vertical data businesses, including Payer Compass (acquired by Zelis), Datassential (acquired by New Mountain Capital), Spreedly, PWNHealth (acquired by Everly), SavvyMoney, and VBA Software.
Michael started his career in investment banking at Financial Technology Partners. He completed undergrad at Villanova University.
“Spectrum has been investing in category defining growth stage technology companies for over 30 years now. It’s an honor to be a part of the firm’s journey and to have the opportunity to partner with such passionate and high caliber business leaders and entrepreneurs across the portfolio.” – Michael Radonich
Firm: WestCap
Title: Partner
Joshua Dart is a Partner at WestCap, a strategic investing and operating firm with nearly $6B AUM. Joshua was instrumental in the development of WestCap’s investment thesis for real estate technology and capital markets technology. Over the last five years at WestCap, he has led over $350M of investments in those sectors in several notable companies where he also serves on the board, including Avenue One, Point, Qualia and Valon.
WestCap’s investment strategy is based on its unique operating platform, comprised of a team of in-house operators engaging with portfolio companies to drive strategic value following investment. Most recently, Josh has partnered with the operating team in addition to our founders and CEOs on initiatives from defining their value proposition and go-to-market strategies to completing transformative M&A.
Prior to WestCap, Josh was a Senior Director at Tishman Speyer, focusing on acquisitions, dispositions, deal structuring, and asset management. He received a dual Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Real Estate from The University of Wisconsin.
“It’s a great honor to be recognized for our contributions. WestCap was designed to empower founders and management teams to efficiently scale their market-leading technology businesses. As a team of mission-driven individuals with a diverse skill set, we work alongside our portfolio companies to achieve their full potential by combining innovation and creativity with disciplined operating principles and best-in-class execution.” – Joshua Dart
Firm: Mainsail Partners
Title: Vice President
Anthony joined Mainsail Partners in 2018 and is currently a Vice President responsible for sourcing and executing new portfolio investments. Anthony serves on the boards of Skimmer, ServiceCore, ProShop, and Flight Schedule Pro. In 2022, Anthony served as Chief of Staff at ServiceCore. During his time at ServiceCore, Anthony helped the company build and monetize its websites and digital marketing product.
Prior to joining Mainsail, Anthony was an Investment Banker at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Palo Alto, CA. While at BofA Merrill Lynch, Anthony advised on transactions for public and private companies in the technology space.
Anthony graduated from Stanford University, where he earned a BA in political science and played on the varsity football team, winning two PAC-12 Championships and a Rose Bowl.
“At Mainsail, we partner with founders of bootstrapped B2B software companies to help them realize their full potential. It has been a privilege to work with founders, CEOs, and management teams, supporting them as they scale their businesses and aim to build industry-leading SaaS companies. I’m honored to be recognized by GrowthCap alongside this group of investors.” – Anthony Hayes
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Copyright: GrowthCap’s Top 40 Under 40 Growth Investors of 2024 publication is copyrighted material, produced and published by GrowthCap, LLC. For information pertaining to content permissions, please refer to GrowthCap’s award usage regulations.
Disclaimer: The data provided in this publication is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, endorsement, nor recommendation. GrowthCap believes the information in this publication to be accurate but does not verify its accuracy independently and does not warrant or guarantee that it is accurate or complete. GrowthCap has no obligation to provide any updates or changes to the information. No investment decisions should be made using this information.
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