Episodes
In this episode, we speak with Ross Devor, a Partner at Thoma Bravo, which is one of the largest software investors in the world with approximately $138 billion in assets under management. Ross co-heads Thoma Bravo’s growth equity platform, a dedicated fund focused on making minority investments in high growth software and technology companies.  He leads the team’s close collaboration with founders and management teams to implement world-class operating principles and help realize their...
Published 04/24/24
In this episode, we speak with Bill Gibson, CEO of Deposco, a provider of cloud-based supply chain applications for retailers, distributors, 3PLs and brand companies. Deposco’s Bright Suite of omnichannel fulfillment supply chain applications allows fast-growing companies to rapidly scale their warehouse management and order management operations, so they can see what inventory they’ve got, where it is, and where to position it to fulfill demand. Bill first got his start in 1993 as an account...
Published 04/17/24
In this episode, we speak with Garrett Stephen, Managing Director, Co-Head of Origination & Structuring at First Eagle Alternative Credit, a credit-focused investment manager with $21 billion of assets under management, $5.7 billion of which is invested through its direct lending platform focused on private equity-backed U.S. middle market companies across various industries. Garrett became part of First Eagle in 2020 upon the firm’s acquisition of THL Credit, which he had joined in 2012....
Published 04/10/24
In this episode, we speak with Tianyi Jiang (TJ), CEO and Co-Founder of AvePoint, an independent software vendor of SaaS solutions to migrate, manage and protect data. More than 17,000 customers trust AvePoint’s Confidence Platform to optimize their SaaS operations and secure collaboration. AvePoint’s SaaS solutions are also available to managed service providers via more than 100 cloud marketplaces. TJ co-founded AvePoint in 2001 and has served as the company’s CEO since 2005.  TJ was...
Published 04/03/24
In this episode, we speak with Rashmi Gopinath of B Capital, a multi-stage global investment firm that partners with extraordinary entrepreneurs to shape the future through technology. With $6+ billion in assets under management across multiple funds, the firm focuses on seed to late-stage venture growth investments, primarily in the enterprise, financial technology and healthcare sectors. Rashmi is a General Partner and Head of Enterprise Investing at the firm. She focuses on enterprise...
Published 03/27/24
In this episode, we speak with Bill Lucchini, CEO of Nextech, the complete healthcare technology solution for specialty providers. The company services more than 16,000 physicians and over 60,000 office staff members in the clinical specialties of Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Plastic Surgery, and Med Spa. Bill’s focus is on expanding the company's industry-leading product suite into a true end-to-end ecosystem designed specifically for specialty practices. He has spent his entire...
Published 03/20/24
In this episode, we speak with Nader Naini, Managing Partner of Frazier Healthcare Partners. Nader joined the firm in 1991 and has served on Frazier’s Management Committee, Investment Committee, and led its Growth Buyout practice since 1995. Under his leadership, the Growth Buyout team has scaled from an initial team of four to over sixty and raised over $5 billion AUM from institutional limited partners globally. During his over three-decade tenure with the firm, he has been responsible for...
Published 03/13/24
In this episode, we speak with Taylor Rhodes, CEO of Applied Systems, the leading global provider of cloud-based software that powers the business of insurance. Recognized as a pioneer in insurance automation and an innovation leader, Applied is the world’s largest provider of agency and brokerage management systems. Taylor joined Applied in 2019 after serving as Chief Executive Officer of SMS Assist, the leading cloud-based software platform for multi-site property management. Previously, he...
Published 03/06/24
In this episode we speak with Alan Cline, Hg’s Head of North America, a Partner and a member of Hg’s Senior Leadership Team. He leads the firm’s activity across the USA and Canada. Alan has a long and impressive track record across leadership, tech investing and operations, having built the Foundation Fund within Vista Equity, following hands on experience as a technology entrepreneur.  He was previously Senior Managing Director, Fund Co-Head at Vista. Hg has over 400 employees across London,...
Published 02/28/24
In this episode, we speak with David Ratner, CEO of HYAS, a cybersecurity company leading the charge in the war against attacks of all kinds, including ransomware, supply-chain attacks, phishing, and trojans. David’s career spans various areas of software and technology, from writing code for some of the first and largest mobile and messaging systems to scaling, growing, and exiting multiple venture-backed, private-equity-owned, and public software companies. Before joining HYAS, David was...
Published 02/21/24
In this episode we speak with “Kim” Lechà, CEO of Typeform, a no-code SaaS platform with thoughtfully-designed tools that help companies grow their business by engaging with their audience. It provides a refreshingly different form builder that helps companies collect zero-party data while providing a stellar brand experience. The company is backed by Sofina, General Atlantic, Index Ventures, and other notable investors. Kim joined Typeform in 2018 as Chief Operating Officer, bringing more...
Published 02/14/24
In this episode, we speak with Daphne Tong, Partner and Co-Head of Investments at WestCap, an operating and investing firm for generational companies. WestCap invests in tech-enabled, asset-light marketplaces. Its focus areas include fintech, real estate tech, infrastructure tech, healthtech, and digital experiences. Prior to WestCap, Daphne was the Co-Head of the Private Equity Funds and Co-Investment Group in the Americas for GIC, a leading global investment firm established to manage...
Published 02/07/24
In this episode, we speak with Sean Hinton, CEO and Founder of SkyHive. SkyHive is a generative AI software company that rapidly re-skills companies and communities around the world. SkyHive invented Quantum Labor Analysis, the application of Artificial Intelligence to analyze a workforce at its most granular and real-time level. Sean is a member of the 2023 Class of Henry Crown Fellows within the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute and he was recently named one of The...
Published 01/31/24
In this episode, we speak with Raghu Ravinutala, Co-Founder and CEO of Yellow.ai, a global leader in generative AI-powered customer service automation. Raghu co-founded the company with a vision to make customer and enterprise interactions more effective and effortless. Since its inception, Raghu and his team have successfully expanded Yellow.ai’s presence across the U.S., Southeast Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Australia and Latin America with over 1,000 customers in over 85...
Published 01/24/24
In this episode, we speak with Rodrigo Liang, the Co-Founder and CEO of SambaNova Systems. Customers turn to SambaNova to quickly deploy state-of-the-art generative AI capabilities within the enterprise.  Its purpose-built enterprise-scale AI platform is the technology backbone for the next generation of AI computing. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, the company was founded in 2017 by industry luminaries and is backed by investors including SoftBank, funds and accounts managed by...
Published 01/17/24
In this episode, we speak with Princeton Equity Group Co-Founder and Managing Partner Jim Waskovich.  The firm is among the most experienced franchise and multi-unit investors in the United States, having sponsored investments in some of the most admired, growth-oriented brands in the consumer, healthcare, and business services industries. Jim co-founded Princeton Equity Group, co-leads its investment activities, and sits on the Firm’s investment committee. Prior to co-founding the firm, Jim...
Published 01/10/24
In this episode, we speak with Ernesto Aguilar, the President and CEO of Ardurra, which is a multidisciplinary services firm, providing broad-based solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of the public and private sector.  The company is backed by Littlejohn & Co, a middle market private equity firm. Ardurra provides services in the areas of water, transportation, public works, environmental, aviation, civil, aquatics, emergency management, transit, surveying, structural,...
Published 01/03/24
In this episode, we speak with Tom Livne, CEO and Founder of Verbit, a provider of live captioning and transcription services. The company uses voice AI, integrations and professional transcribers to help businesses provide accessible, compliant meetings and events for a host of industries. A leader in the $30 billion transcription industry, Verbit has raised $360 million to date after closing its Series E funding round. A former lawyer, Tom founded Verbit knowing how much money was being...
Published 12/27/23
In this episode, we speak with Ross Hiatt, Head of H.I.G. Growth, the dedicated growth capital affiliate of H.I.G. Capital, a global alternative investment firm with nearly $60 billion in assets under management. The firm is a multi-industry investor with a primary focus in growing, technology-oriented businesses across sectors including SaaS, Cloud & Data, Software, FinTech, and Technology-Enabled Services. Ross was named one of GrowthCap’s Top Software Investors of 2023. He oversees all...
Published 12/20/23
In this episode, we speak with Daphne Dufresne of GenNx360 Capital Partners, a middle market private equity firm that invests in business-to-business services and manufacturing companies throughout North America. Daphne has over 25 years of investment experience and plays a crucial role in all aspects of the firm's investment activities and portfolio management. She led the firm’s investments in and chairs the boards of PAG, Genserve, AeroRepair and Whitson’s. Daphne was named one of...
Published 12/13/23
In this episode, we speak with Adam Harris, Co-founder and CEO of Cloudbeds, a leading cloud-based hospitality management system provider. Its software combines solutions for front desk, revenue management, distribution, guest acquisition, and guest engagement in a single unified system. The company has been through four financing rounds, acquired multiple companies, and driven billions in revenue for tens of thousands of properties. Today, Cloudbeds is in more than 157 countries. The company...
Published 12/06/23
In this episode, we speak with Katie Storer, a Managing Director with Blackstone Growth. Katie was recently recognized by GrowthCap as a Top Woman Leader in Growth Investing of 2023. Katie focuses on investments in the consumer sector and was a leader of the all-female investment team for Spanx, the revolutionary womenswear brand founded by Sara Blakely. Katie has also been a leader in BXG’S Talent & Development committee, which focuses on the growth of employees and cultivating that pool...
Published 11/29/23
In this episode, we speak with Srikanth Velamakanni, Co-Founder, Group Chief Executive & Executive Vice-Chairman of Fractal, a provider of artificial intelligence to companies. Fractal's businesses include:  Crux Intelligence , which provides AI driven business intelligence;  Eugenie.ai  for sustainability;  Asper.ai  for revenue growth management; and Senseforth.ai, conversational AI for sales and customer service. Since its founding in 2000, the company has raised more than $680 million...
Published 11/22/23
In this episode, we speak with Jay Hoag, Founding General Partner at TCV. Founded in 1995, TCV has built a track record of partnering with private and public technology companies that have developed into global, category-defining players. The firm has invested over $17 billion in more than 350 technology companies worldwide and has supported over 145 IPOs and strategic acquisitions, making it one of the most active technology investors. Select investments include Airbnb, Celonis, Clio,...
Published 11/15/23