Podcasts about Vista Equity Partners

Welcome to the debut episode of The Holy Grail of Investing, a new podcast from Tony Robbins and Christopher Zook, inspired by their #1 New York Times bestselling book. In this premier conversation, we sit down with Robert F. Smith, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, to explore how he built one of the most successful private equity firms in the world with over $100 billion in assets under management.   Smith shares the story behind Vista's rise, how engineering principles inform his investment philosophy, and the how AI is impacting technology companies and creating extraordinary efficiencies. Watch this episode now on YouTube at @TonyRobbinsLive Learn more at www.TheHolyGrailofInvesting.com and www.CAZInvestments.com   "The Holy Grail of Investing podcast is about more than just investing—it's about giving listeners a front-row seat to how some of the world's greatest investors think,” said Tony Robbins. “These conversations usually happen behind closed doors, and now we are making them available to a much broader audience—even those just starting to explore private market opportunities.”  Hosted by Tony Robbins and investor Christopher Zook, this new podcast offers rare, behind-the-scenes conversations with legendary private market investors—exploring not just how they invest, but why they do what they do.

Dino Mavrookas is the Co-Founder and CEO of Saronic Technologies, a defense tech company pioneering AI-powered autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) to strengthen U.S. and allied naval capabilities. A former U.S. Navy SEAL with 11 years of service and eight combat tours, Mavrookas enlisted after 9/11 and gained firsthand insight into the importance of technological superiority in complex operational environments. He founded Saronic in 2022, and under his leadership, the company has raised over $850 million and reached a $4 billion valuation by early 2025—developing scalable, mission-driven ASVs for modern maritime defense. After his military service, he earned a BASC in Computer Engineering from Rutgers and an MBA from The Wharton School. He then transitioned to private equity, serving as a Senior Associate at Vista Equity Partners and Vice President at H.I.G. Capital, focusing on technology investments. A 2015 Pat Tillman Scholar, Mavrookas also serves on the board of the Navy SEAL Foundation and advocates for expanding opportunities for veterans in elite academic and professional programs. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://www.roka.com - USE CODE SRS https://uscca.com/srs https://www.aura.com/srs https://www.betterhelp.com/srs This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/srs and get on your way to being your best self. https://www.helixsleep.com/srs⁠ https://www.blackbuffalo.com https://www.meetfabric.com/shawn https://www.shawnlikesgold.com https://www.hillsdale.edu/srs https://www.paladinpower.com/srs https://www.patriotmobile.com/srs https://trueclassic.com/srs Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at trueclassic.com/srs! #trueclassicpod Dino Mavrookas Links - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dino-mavrookas  Saronic Technologies - https://www.saronic.com  Navy SEAL Foundation - https://www.navysealfoundation.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marcos Rivera is the founder of Pricing I/O and author of "Street Pricing." He brings 25 years of pricing experience, including a three-year tenure as an operating executive at Vista Equity Partners where he worked on pricing strategies across multiple portfolio companies. He's been running Pricing.io since 2019 and is passionate about the intersection of pricing and AI. In this episode, Marcos shares his insights on the evolving landscape of pricing in the age of AI, the importance of capturing value, and how companies can differentiate themselves in a competitive market. Together, they discuss the shift from traditional pricing models to outcome-based pricing and the role of AI in enhancing pricing strategies.   Why you have to check out today's podcast: Discover how AI is changing the pricing landscape and what it means for businesses.  Explore the relationship between pricing, value, and customer outcomes. Learn about the importance of low-friction entry points in pricing strategies.   “AI forces you to walk the walk versus talk the talk.” – Marcos Rivera   Topics Covered: 02:48 – The evolution of pricing in SaaS where the system gets credit for capturing more value using AI. 05:36 – The significance of capturing value quickly and efficiently. 08:09 – Differentiation in a competitive market and the role of pricing power. 12:16 – The importance of entry points and reducing friction for customers. 14:44 – How product design and pricing design are interconnected. 17:07 – The challenges of pricing in the AI landscape. 18:59 – Marcos's approach to using AI in pricing strategies. 28:56 – Pricing advice from Marcos.   Key Takeaways: “Pricing is about capturing value, and AI opens up new opportunities for that.” – Marcos Rivera  “Entry points matter; make them as low friction as possible.” – Marcos Rivera  “Understanding how to differentiate your offering is crucial in a crowded market.” – Marcos Rivera   People and Resources Mentioned: Steven Forth: https://impactpricing.com/podcast/691-pricing-in-the-agent-economy-the-future-beyond-subscriptions-with-steven-forth/ Vista Equity Partners: https://www.vistaequitypartners.com/ Pricing.io: https://www.pricingio.com/ Finn AI: https://www.glia.com/ Zendesk: https://www.zendesk.com/ Cursor: https://www.cursor.com/ HubSpot: https://www.hubspot.com/ Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/ Snowflake: https://www.snowflake.com/en/ Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/ Slack: https://slack.com/ 99designs: https://99designs.com/ DeepSeek: https://www.deepseek.com/en ChatGPT: https://openai.com/ Claude: https://claude.ai/ Grok: https://grok.com/ Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/   Connect with Marcos Rivera: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcoslrivera/ Website: https://www.pricingio.com/    Connect with Mark Stiving: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stiving/  Email: mark@impactpricing.com  

How should investors be trading these markets? We discuss with JP Morgan Asset Management's Gabriela Santos and Invesco's Brian Levitt. Plus, we drill down on what to watch from Alphabet's results with Laura Martin from Needham and Ayako Yoshioka from Wealth Enhancement Group. And, Vista Equity Partners' Robert Smith weighs in on the AI arms race, trade war and much more. 

Julius Nyanda is the Founder and CEO of HouseKeys, unlocking housing opportunity for cities, developers, homeowners, and renters. HouseKeys is a civic tech platform that helps local governments manage affordable and mixed-income housing programs across ownership, rental, and finance. Through its Program Marketplace, Julius and his team streamline administration and expand access to community-driven housing solutions, supporting cities like Beverly Hills, Morgan Hill, and San Francisco in delivering scalable, equitable outcomes.(03:22) - Challenges in Affordable Housing Development(06:10) - Housing policy incentives for Investors(10:46) - HouseKeys Marketplace approach(13:04) - The Economics of Affordable Housing(14:10) - GovTech & VC Opportunities & Challenges(22:37) - Feature: Blueprint 2025: The Future of Real Estate - Register now (23:23) - California's New YIMBY Bills(26:29) - AI & the Future of Housing Solutions(37:07) - Collaboration Superpower: Robert F. Smith (CEO at Vista Equity Partners) & Jack Ma (Founder of Alibaba)

Many businesses have embraced automation, but disconnected systems and fragmented workflows still create inefficiencies. In this episode, I sit down with Charles Crouchman, Chief Product Officer at Redwood Software, to explore how organizations can build an automation fabric. a unified approach that connects processes across legacy infrastructure and modern cloud environments. Charles explains why automation fabrics matter, how businesses can identify the best processes to automate, and why a well-structured roadmap is crucial for long-term success. He also shares insights on industry trends, including the growing role of AI in automation and how Redwood's approach enables enterprises to scale with confidence. With Redwood's recent acquisition by Vista Equity Partners and Warburg Pincus, the company is poised for even greater innovation and expansion. We also dive into the future of automation, the balance between AI-driven decision-making and human oversight, and what businesses should consider when integrating automation across departments. Whether you're just beginning your automation journey or looking to refine your strategy, this conversation provides a practical guide to building a resilient, scalable automation framework. Could automation fabrics be the missing piece in your digital strategy? Tune in to find out.

ABOUT MAHER HANAFIMaher Hanafi is a seasoned technology engineering leader, driving digital transformation and delivering impactful SaaS solutions. As Senior Vice President of Engineering at Betterworks, he leads the AI vision and applications for their AI-powered performance management software, overseeing the integration of AI tools that enhance HR functions like performance reviews, goal setting and employee development.Maher's passion for technology centers on the transformative potential of AI, particularly Generative AI. He views it as a powerful tool capable of learning, adapting and solving real-world problems, and champions its responsible development to empower individuals.Maher's vision extends beyond technology, aiming to revolutionize tech workplaces by fostering human potential alongside cutting-edge solutions. He employs a people-centric leadership style, building collaborative environments that empower teams to excel. This commitment to empowerment extends to mentoring fellow engineering leaders and sharing his knowledge through public speaking.ABOUT COREY COTOCorey Coto is a creative, data-driven, and innovative executive. He founded Kaizen Insights to help enterprises create business intelligence with their people. Corey was SVP of Product, Design and Engineering at a Vista Equity Partners portfolio company and held engineering leadership roles at Amazon, CoStar Group, and Liberty Mutual. He is a Founder Institute Mentor, an ELC Seattle Chapter Lead, and a startup advisor. Software is his favorite artistic medium because of its power to quickly move the needle on big ideas that can benefit people and the planet. He believes there has never been a better time to build. The future is bright!SHOW NOTES:When Maher realized he needed to rethink his approach to AI & upskill quickly (3:38)Milestones across Maher's AI knowledge progression (7:42)Set aside time for your eng team to experiment & apply AI learnings (11:09)Why intentionally building different use cases leads to better outcomes (14:22)The importance of revisiting AI decisions as a team (16:53)Frameworks for determining how deep to go into each learning area (19:37)How to navigate the challenges of going from proof of concept to production (22:43)Evaluating the ROI of AI applications (26:47)Strategies for deciding which resources / operating expenses go toward AI use cases (29:24)Tips for developing stakeholder confidence in your AI strategy (32:36)How non-technical experts can build AI awareness & confidence (36:22)Betterworks' AI roadmap for 2025 (38:48)Rapid fire questions (40:58)LINKS AND RESOURCESDrive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us - Drawing on four decades of scientific research on human motivation, Daniel H. Pink exposes the mismatch between what science knows and what business does—and how that affects every aspect of life. He examines the three elements of true motivation—autonomy, mastery, and purpose—and offers smart and surprising techniques for putting these into action in a unique book that will change how we think and transform how we live.This episode wouldn't have been possible without the help of our incredible production team:Patrick Gallagher - Producer & Co-HostJerry Li - Co-HostNoah Olberding - Associate Producer, Audio & Video Editor https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-olberding/Dan Overheim - Audio Engineer, Dan's also an avid 3D printer - https://www.bnd3d.com/Ellie Coggins Angus - Copywriter, Check out her other work at https://elliecoggins.com/about/

Richard Change is co-founder and CEO of PFA Solutions, the provider of FirmView software. FirmView® is the leading carry and compensation management platform for private equity investors to manage their internal compensation from fees and carried interest. Richard was a senior architect for a large private equity firm when he discovered this complex problem that was being managed on spreadsheets. He left to start PFA Solutions and bootstrapped the development of FirmView with consulting revenue. From inception, through growth and ultimately acquisition, Richard never took any outside funding. FirmView adoption grew steadily, serving large private equity firms. PFA Solutions eventually grew to 34 employees before being acquired by Allvue Systems in 2024. Allvue is a private-equity-backed software company that serves the alternative investment industry. Quote from Richard Change, co-founder and CEO of PFA Solutions "Once you're in it, once you've decided to start a company, own it. No regrets. No one's going to save you. There's not a fairy godmother that will come and wave all your problems away. You have to own it. "There's no magic wand that will come and wave a wand and say, OK, all your problems are solved. And that magic wand in my mind wasn't outside capital; it wasn't VC funding. That wasn't magic because what do when the money runs out? "Is your product generating revenue? That's the real problem. If there's a problem to be solved and you have a great idea or solution, you can generate revenue from it. Prove to yourself and the world that this is viable and has product-market fit." Links PFA Solutions on LinkedIn PFA Solutions website Allvue Systems website Vista Equity Partners website Podcast Sponsor - Cypress Growth Capital This week's podcast is sponsored by my friends at Cypress Growth Capital. For 15 years, Cypress has provided non-dilutive growth funding to bootstrapped SaaS founders, including many successful founders I've interviewed here on this podcast. The Practical Founders Podcast Tune into the Practical Founders Podcast for weekly in-depth interviews with founders who have built valuable software companies without big funding. Subscribe to the Practical Founders Podcast using your favorite podcast app or view on our YouTube channel. Get the weekly Practical Founders newsletter and podcast updates at practicalfounders.com/newsletter.

(03:55) Brought to you by Lemon.ioLemon.io is your go-to platform for hiring top-tier, pre-vetted software engineers from Europe and Latin America. You'll get matched with your developer in just 48 hours.Tech Lead Journal listeners get 15% off your first 4 weeks of work at lemon.io.Ever wonder what a credit score for your codebase would look like?In this episode, Matt Van Itallie, founder of Sema, discusses how his company is revolutionizing the way we assess and understand code quality, including the portion of GenAI usage. Learn about Sema's innovative approach to technical due diligence and their comprehensive credit score system.Key topics discussed:- The concept of “code as data” and how it's changing codebase evaluation- Measuring and improving developer productivity in the age of GenAI- The importance of the Generative AI Bill of Materials (GBOM) in technical due diligence- Why having 15-30% of your code originating from GenAI could be optimal- The seven modules Sema uses to evaluate codebases, including GenAI usage, security, and team retention- The CTO dashboard concept and its potential to transform software engineering metrics- Why treating code as a craft is crucial for effective communication with non-technical stakeholdersWhether you're a developer, engineering leader, or investor, this episode offers invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of software evaluation and the growing importance of quantitative metrics in technical due diligence.Listen out for:(02:05) Career Turning Points(05:15) Treating Code as Data and a Craft(11:09) Comprehensive Codebase Scans(14:31) How to Explain Codebase Health(20:31) Measuring & Improving Developer Productivity(23:33) GenAI for Increasing Developer Effectiveness(25:59) CTO Dashboard & The 7 Metrics(29:55) Measuring GenAI Usage(31:51) Healthy Dose of GenAI Usage(36:50) Generative AI Bill of Materials (GBOM)™(39:24) Technical Due Diligence(45:18) Sema Adoption(49:48) Integrating with Sema(52:17) 3 Tech Lead WisdomMatt Van Itallie's BioMatt Van Itallie is the Founder and CEO of Sema.Formerly, Matt was an Operating Executive at Vista Equity Partners portfolio companies, Chief Analytics Officer for a $1BN operating organization, and a McKinsey consultant. Matt has a JD from Harvard Law School.Sema is the leading provider of comprehensive codebase scans that assess the risks of software and tech-enabled businesses. They have analyzed over $1.6T of software enterprise value.Sema is a leading expert on managing GenAI risks, with presentations to leading investors and operators across sectors. They are the inventors of the Generative AI Bill of Materials (GBOM).Follow Matt:* LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/mvi* Sema – semasoftware.com* Comprehensive Codebase Scans – semasoftware.com/comprehensive-codebase-scans_____Our SponsorsEnjoy an exceptional developer experience with JetBrains. Whatever programming language and technology you use, JetBrains IDEs provide the tools you need to go beyond simple code editing and excel as a developer.Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.Make it happen. With code.Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.Like this episode?Show notes & transcript:techleadjournal.dev/episodes/205.Follow @techleadjournal onLinkedIn,Twitter, andInstagram.Buy me acoffee or become apatron.

Brandon Wright is the Co-founder and CEO of Tongo, the company he co-founded to help Real Estate agents address cash flow challenges by providing financial tools such as a commission line of credit and a payroll solution to help stabilize their incomes and automate savings. With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by agents and commission-based earners, Brandon has led Tongo in creating innovative solutions that provide liquidity and flexibility, empowering users to manage cash flow effectively. He began his career at Smith Barney in Seattle, Washington, working under renowned contrarian value investor Jamie Dimon, current CEO of JPMorgan Chase. He then ventured into entrepreneurship, starting a coffee shop in Seattle. Brandon then pursued an MBA at Cornell and joined private equity firm Vista Equity Partners, where he implemented best practices across their software portfolio. Leveraging his experience, he co-founded a company that used AI to build decision engines for lenders, ultimately transitioning into developing a buy now, pay later solution for e-commerce called Catapult.(01:09) - Brandon's Journey in Financial Services(06:28) - The Birth of Tongo(07:48) - Challenges in the Real Estate Market(11:09) - Tongo's Financial Solutions for Agents(16:26) - Feature: Pacaso - Luxury vacation home ownership, elevated. Join Pacaso's growth and become an investor of a venture-backed company at Pacaso.com/invest(18:12) - Success Stories & Future Plans(21:32) - Lowering risk with data availability & efficient distribution(27:27) - Impact of NAR Lawsuit on Real Estate agents & investors(35:07) - Feature: Blueprint - The Future of Real Estate 2025(35:54) - NYC Housing Market & FARE Act(40:43) - Collaboration Superpower: Jamie Dimon (Wiki)

Everyone is talking about evergreens.Alt Goes Mainstream has collaborated with iCapital and Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Head of Portfolio Management Nick Veronis to dive into the evergreen question with some of the leading practitioners in private markets.This three part series with industry experts from Vista Equity Partners, KKR, and Hamilton Lane shines a light on one of the fastest-growing areas in private markets and its impact on the wealth channel.The three part series features:Vista Equity Partners Managing Director, Global Head of Private Wealth Solutions Dan Parant.KKR Managing Director, Head of Americas, Global Wealth Solutions (GWS) Doug Krupa.Hamilton Lane Managing Director, Co-Head US Private Wealth Solutions Stephanie Davis.Please enjoy the third episode of the series as Nick and I talk with Hamilton Lane's Stephanie Davis.Show Notes00:00 Introduction: Setting the Stage00:17 Early Days in the Evergreen Space00:33 Stephanie's Journey into Private Wealth00:40 From Merrill Lynch to Hamilton Lane01:15 The Evolution of Alternative Investments02:09 Success in Early Evergreen Structures02:23 Challenges and Innovations in Distribution03:01 Nick's Perspective on the Evergreen Space03:20 Hamilton Lane's Thought Leadership03:50 The Importance of Private Companies04:29 The Evolution of Evergreen Funds05:11 Optimal Structures for Evergreen Funds05:35 Target Audience and Distribution Strategies06:25 Commitment to Evergreen Structures06:50 Multi-Manager Approach and Diversification07:18 Adoption of Private Capital by Advisors07:49 The Role of Private Equity in Evergreen Funds08:50 The Importance of Fee Efficiency09:45 Educating Investors on Evergreen Structures15:00 The Power of Compounding in Evergreen Funds16:02 Institutional Interest in Evergreen Funds21:54 The Role of Liquidity in Evergreen Investments22:28 Educating Advisors and Clients25:48 Challenges in Advisor Education28:14 Allocation Strategies for Evergreen Funds31:22 The Future of Evergreen Structures31:36 3.0 in the Evergreen Space34:07 Manager Selection in Private Markets35:18 The Evolving Relationship of Public and Private Markets36:03 Closing Thoughts and Key Takeaways36:33 Disclaimer and Informational Purposes

Julia Shullman is the General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer at Telly, the world's first dual-screen smart TV fully paid for by advertising. Prior to Telly, Julia was General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer at TripleLift, through its $1.4B acquisition by Vista Equity Partners. She also held various leadership positions, including Chief Privacy Counsel and Lead Attorney, Publisher Technology Group at AppNexus, through its $1.6B sale to AT&T. Before advertising, Julia spent a decade in mergers and acquisitions at both Latham & Watkins and UBM. She is recognized as an industry leader at the intersection of privacy, products, advertising, policy, and strategy. In this episode… Navigating the intersection of privacy, product, and advertising demands strategy. Companies need to view privacy as integral to their operations and growth, especially in highly regulated industries like AdTech. Without effective privacy programs, companies face potential deal disruptions, diminished valuations, and reputational damages. For early-stage companies in particular, failing to integrate privacy into their operations can hinder growth, derail funding opportunities, and even lead to regulatory scrutiny. How can organizations ensure that privacy is both a priority and an enabler of success? Developing effective privacy programs requires a tailored, pragmatic approach. Leaders need to educate their teams on privacy obligations and integrate privacy practices into business processes. This includes fostering collaboration among privacy experts and cross-functional departments, such as engineering and marketing, while adapting to industry-specific nuances. In this episode of She Said Privacy/He Said Security, Jodi and Justin Daniels speak with Julia Shullman, General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer at Telly, about building privacy programs that drive business success. Drawing from her extensive experience in M&A, privacy, and AdTech, Julia offers insights into balancing privacy with business monetization goals. She discusses the importance of understanding industry dynamics and the role of privacy in facilitating successful exits and partnerships. Julia emphasizes the value of cross-departmental collaboration and education in creating privacy solutions that resonate with a company's culture and business objectives. She also provides tips on how organizations can align their privacy programs with broader business strategies to build trust, ensure compliance, and drive innovation.

Everyone is talking about evergreens.Alt Goes Mainstream has collaborated with iCapital and Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Head of Portfolio Management Nick Veronis to dive into the evergreen question with some of the leading practitioners in private markets.This three part series with industry experts from Vista Equity Partners, KKR, and Hamilton Lane shines a light on one of the fastest-growing areas in private markets and its impact on the wealth channel.The three part series features:Vista Equity Partners Managing Director, Global Head of Private Wealth Solutions Dan Parant.KKR Managing Director, Head of Americas, Global Wealth Solutions (GWS) Doug Krupa.Hamilton Lane Managing Director, Co-Head US Private Wealth Solutions Stephanie Davis.Please enjoy the second episode of the series as Nick and I talk with KKR's Doug Krupa.Show Notes00:23 Doug's Background in Private Markets01:18 Early Career as a Financial Advisor01:55 Understanding Overfunded Pensions02:47 Focus on Making Private Markets Accessible03:12 Building Innovative Solutions at KKR03:25 Evolution of Wealth and Asset Management03:55 Challenges in Private Markets05:05 Partnering with KKR05:55 KKR's Commitment to the Wealth Channel06:04 Innovations in Fund Structures06:59 The Conglomerate Model07:15 KKR's Approach to Wealth Channel07:46 Expanding Access to Private Markets08:34 Delivering the Same Investment Experience09:36 Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs for Wealth Channel09:59 Legislation and Access to Private Markets12:56 Evergreen Structures vs. Conglomerate Model17:37 Investor Behavior in Evergreen Structures18:12 Adoption of Evergreen Strategies21:24 Educating the Industry on Evergreen22:55 The Shift from Public to Private Markets24:00 KKR's Educational Initiatives26:06 Rebranding Alternatives as Private Markets28:53 Partnerships and Hybrid Solutions29:04 Market Structure Evolutions31:11 Future of Private Markets32:32 Dominant Players in Private Markets34:18 Rapid Adoption of Evergreen Strategies34:59 Disruption in the Industry35:18 Final Thoughts on Private Markets38:58 Closing Remarks39:06 Disclaimer and Legal Information40:55 Copyright Information

Everyone is talking about evergreens.Alt Goes Mainstream has collaborated with iCapital and Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Head of Portfolio Management Nick Veronis to dive into the evergreen question with some of the leading practitioners in private markets.This three part series with industry experts from Vista Equity Partners, KKR, and Hamilton Lane shines a light on one of the fastest-growing areas in private markets and its impact on the wealth channel.The three part series features:Vista Equity Partners Managing Director, Global Head of Private Wealth Solutions Dan Parant.KKR Managing Director, Head of Americas, Global Wealth Solutions (GWS) Doug Krupa.Hamilton Lane Managing Director, Co-Head US Private Wealth Solutions Stephanie Davis.Please enjoy the first episode of the series as Nick and I talk with Vista Equity Partners' Dan Parant. Show Notes00:19 Welcome and Guest Introduction00:39 Vista's Founding and Early Days02:05 Vista's Growth and Achievements03:11 Dan's Background and Role at Vista04:07 Enterprise Software Investment Thesis05:11 The Resilience of Enterprise Software07:11 The Private Market Advantage07:25 Constructing Portfolios for Wealth Channels08:13 The Shift from Public to Private Markets09:52 Evergreen Funds and Their Benefits11:06 Evergreen Strategies in Software Investing12:01 Advantages of Evergreen Structures13:09 The Role of Private Equity in Evergreen Funds13:17 Private Companies Staying Private Longer 19:25 Vista's Approach to Different Company Sizes20:28 Growth vs. Yield in Evergreen Strategies21:11 The Importance of Scale in Evergreen Funds24:24 Challenges of Managing Evergreen Structures26:12 The Discipline of Manager Selection28:41 Educating Investors on Evergreen Structures30:08 Omnichannel Education Strategies31:04 Product-Specific Education32:00 Understanding Liquidity in Evergreen Funds33:37 Structuring Liquidity Parameters36:17 The Future of Evergreen Strategies39:45 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts40:17 Legal & Compliance Information

Guest: Dan Streetman, CEO of TaniumA graduate of West Point who served in Iraq combat operations, Tanium CEO Dan Streetman can't help but compare his business career to his military experience. Understanding huge structures and processes is a crucial skill at both Tanium and in the Army, he says, as are the skills for aligning people around a shared mission.“Before you go on an operation, you write a thing called an operations order ... [and] one of the most important things at the operations order is this paragraph called the commander's intent,” he explains, “which describes how you believe the mission is going to be accomplished and why it's important.”“You may end up doing something completely different. But as long as you understand the mission and the commander's intent, the organization can do amazing things.”Chapters:(01:05) - Election Day (02:44) - Ranger School (06:42) - Parenting and business school (09:59) - Military structures (12:27) - Serving in Iraq (15:59) - Back to normal life (21:37) - Working out (24:14) - Quality sleep (26:37) - Non-founder CEOs (31:35) - Getting the job (35:56) - Earning respect (38:49) - TIBCO (43:40) - Redline (46:37) - Going public (53:54) - Time horizons (58:35) - Free AI (01:03:11) - Whar “grit” mans to Dan (01:03:40) - Who Tanium is hiring Mentioned in this episode: Ronald Reagan, Terri Streetman, Ironman Triathlons, Jeff Bezos and Amazon, Stanley McChrystal, Jon Abizaid, Charles Jacoby, Thomas Siebel and C3, Salesforce, Bill McDermott, Carl Eschenbach, Marc Benioff, Garmin, Mark McLaughlin, Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke, World Series of Poker, Amdocs, David and Orion Hindawi, Citrix, Harvard University, Pets.com, Ben Horowitz, Vista Equity Partners, Vivek Ranadivé, Robert Smith, Operation Warp Speed, BreakLine, Bipul Sinha and Rubrik, Mikhail Gorbachev, F. Scott Fitzgerald, OpenAI and ChatGPT, and Google.Links:Connect with DanLinkedInConnect with JoubinTwitterLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.com Learn more about Kleiner PerkinsThis episode was edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm

How long can this rally last as investors game-out what the new Trump administration will mean for the markets? Morgan Stanley's Chris Toomey and NewEdge's Cameron Dawson break down where they see stocks headed into the end of the year. Plus, Vista Equity Partners' Ashley MacNeill breaks down her 2025 software playbook. And, Kenny Dichter – Real SLX Founder – discusses the big business of sports betting. 

Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.comSHOW NOTES:There's substantial evidence (just look at most of our leaders and politicians today) that humble people DON'T rise – even though research shows they are more effective leaders. Can you be humble and still get ahead, and still get big things done? In this episode of 97% Effective, host Michael Wenderoth speaks to David Harris at Vista Equity Partners about how being “humble and hungry” has propelled his rise in the investment world – and furthers his impact. Beyond being a sponge that is continually learning, David shares how he built a powerful network that opened doors, cultivated and benefitted from diverse mentors, and leveraged and created opportunities that serves larger goals. Memorable and insightful, David will make you think deeply about what it truly takes to earn your seat at the table -- and the critical steps you need to add to your playbook to get there.David and Michael were born and raised to be mortal enemies: An attempt to deal with their differences.At age 6, why David said he wanted to become a manager at McDonald's when he grew up.David and the US Air Force Academy: “the reason you come is different than the reason you stay”Is private equity about “serving”? How David sees it.His start in investing began with a terrible LinkedIn profile“Reaching out to someone like you:” the huge impact of Christian Evans, and how David reached out to himThe power of the mindset: “Humble and Hungry”Connecting with Kneeland Youngblood: doing his homework and landing the 60-day summer work at Pharos CapitalKeys to David's networking: Everyone gets the need to do secondary and tertiary research -- but few people go deeper to create a memorable first impression.Have you ever been in “LinkedIn jail?” and how to flood the market.Planning ahead: Meeting Michael Milken and benefitting from Riordan, MLT, and Tiogo to build a strong network and receive mentoring to accelerate his path into financeThe importance of making lifelong connections to institutionsDavid gives back, and forms “The Club” that helps Air Force grads get into top MBA programsHow power comes when you become a “known quantity”Creating virtuous circles: giving leads to gettingHow David stays grounded and humble? Insight from 3 football coaches, and his wise girlfriend.Why David has little to no social media presence.Lightning round: David's top influences, a non-business book recommendation, and the one place and one dish he has yet to learn how to makeThe one question I didn't ask: managing the family divide in the OU – UT rivalry.How to connect with David HarrisBIO AND LINKS:David Harris is a software investor at Vista Equity Partners, one the world's largest private equity firms with more than $100 billion in assets under management. Prior to joining Vista, David worked at Blackstone in the Tactical Opportunities Group, managed a $250 million satellite software portfolio that supported 8,000 users at the National Reconnaissance Office, and led a 30-person team with strategic oversight of the $7.3 billion development phase as Program Manager supporting the U.S. Department of Defense's Nuclear Cruise Missile. In his first role in finance, David was a summer analyst at Pharos Capita. David is member of the Milken Institute Young Leaders Circle and an active member of Management Leadership for Tomorrow. Originally from Dallas, Texas, USA, David is an avid Cowboys fan. He graduated from the US Air Force Academy and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-harris-aa401912b/Vista Equity Partners: https://www.vistaequitypartners.comThe Cowboys-Eagles rivalry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboys–Eagles_rivalryChristian Evans: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cevans2008/Kneeland Youngblood, Founding Partner, Chairmana & CEO at Pharos Capital Group: https://www.pharosfunds.com/kneeland-youngblood.phpHow to network with powerful people (HBR article): https://changwenderoth.com/articles/Milken Institute Young Leaders Circle: https://milkeninstitute.org/partner/young-leaders-circleManagement Leader for Tomorrow (MLT): https://mlt.orgToigo Foundation: https://toigofoundation.org/education/mba-program/Coach Candace Tumey at MLT: https://mlt.org/mba-prep/coach-candace-headshot-circle/Dr. Wale Lawal, Co-Founder at MesaQuantum: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wale-bumaye-lawal-phd/Having a co-pilot: A Chief Pilot's Insight, interview with Tenille Cromwell on 97% Effective: https://tinyurl.com/ypj99pmtDavid featured in Poets & Quants: From Football to the Military to an MBA at Stanford: https://tinyurl.com/5br498k6David interviewed on For the Zoomies: From the Air Force to Finance: https://tinyurl.com/4t8xpt3tMichael's award-winning book, Get Promoted: https://tinyurl.com/453txk74Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

SummaryIn this episode of the Inorganic Podcast, Christian and Erik delve into the complexities of take private transactions, using Smartsheet's recent acquisition as a case study. They discuss the economic challenges facing public companies, the lifecycle of a business transitioning from public to private, and the strategic considerations for boards contemplating such moves. The conversation highlights the importance of fairness opinions and the intricate dynamics of investor strategies in these transactions. In this conversation, Erik and Christian delve into the complexities of take-private transactions, focusing on the negotiation dynamics, the role of advisors, regulatory considerations, the impact on employees, and the financial structuring that influences investor returns. They use the Smartsheet deal as a case study to illustrate these concepts, providing insights into the motivations behind such transactions and the implications for all parties involved.TakeawaysPublic companies face unique challenges that may lead them to consider going private.The lifecycle of a business includes transitioning from public to private ownership.Smartsheet's acquisition is a significant case study in the current market.Initiating acquisition conversations requires careful preparation and strategy. The Smartsheet deal features a go-shop provision allowing for additional bids.Advisors play a crucial role in take-private transactions, including bankers and consultants.Regulatory dynamics can complicate interactions between buyers and sellers.Employees in public companies face different equity compensation structures when taken private.Investor returns are influenced by the capital structure and debt servicing costs.The liquidity of equity compensation differs significantly between public and private companies.Chapters00:00 Introduction04:04 Understanding Take Private Transactions08:28 Analyzing the Smartsheet Case Study15:53 Transaction Dynamics and Investor Strategies20:44 How Fairness Opinion Works23:28 Initiating Acquisition Conversations29:18 Advisors in Take-Private Transactions31:48 Do's and Dont's for Potential Acquirers37:33 Impact of Take-Private Transactions on Employees45:41 Erik Morton's Hypothetical Simple Exit Waterfall51:38 ConclusionConnect with Christian & In/organic PodcastChristian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassold/In/organic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inorganic-podcastIn/organic on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InorganicPodcast/featuredConnect with E20 guest, Erik Morton on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/erikimorton/Episode Referenceshttps://investors.smartsheet.com/news/news-details/2024/Smartsheet-to-be-Acquired-by-Blackstone-and-Vista-Equity-Partners-for-8.4-Billion/default.aspxhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/smartsheet-to-be-taken-private-by-pe-firms-in-8-4-billion-deal-7296758c Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this insightful conversation, Amir Ben-Efraim takes us on a journey through his remarkable career in cybersecurity, from growing up in Silicon Valley to building and scaling two successful ventures—Altor Networks and Menlo Security. Menlo Security has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Vista Equity Partners, Neuberger Berman, General Catalyst, American Express Ventures, and Ericsson Ventures.

Microsoft announced it is expanding its Global Engineering Development Center footprint to the UAE. One of Microsoft's first engineering centers to be launched in the Arab world will be established in Abu Dhabi. KT Corporation and Microsoft Corp. unveiled a five-year, multibillion-dollar partnership which includes an investment from KT in the areas of Artificial Intelligence, cloud technologies, and IT business, and a resource commitment from Microsoft in the areas of infrastructure and people. Salesforce signed a definitive agreement to acquire Zoomin, a leading data management provider for unstructured data. Smartsheet announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by funds managed by Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $8.4 billion.Connect with us!https://www.erpadvisorsgroup.com866-499-8550LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/erp-advisors-groupTwitter:https://twitter.com/erpadvisorsgrpFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/erpadvisorsInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/erpadvisorsgroupPinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/erpadvisorsgroupMedium:https://medium.com/@erpadvisorsgroup

Finally Fed makes a move (they will not be done jabbering though) Storms heading to Florida and Gulf Coast - Natural gas prices jump COVID Shot Stocks - "fun" while it lasted Confidence is waning..... CHINA! PLUS we are now on Spotify and Amazon Music/Podcasts! Click HERE for Show Notes and Links DHUnplugged is now streaming live - with listener chat. Click on link on the right sidebar. Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter DONATIONS ? Warm-Up - Finally Fed makes a move (they will not be done jabbering though) - Storms heading to Florida and Gulf Coast - Natural gas prices jump - COVID Stocks - "fun" while it lasted - Confidence is waning..... - CHINA! Bazooka Time! Markets - All-Time Highs - Same saying Goldilocks conditions - Seasonality favors the bulls starting next quarter - Uranium starting to move as people warming up to nuclear energy again - Trump Stock on the move Need to Pick a new CTP Exile - A leading economist in China has vanished following critical comments about President Xi Jinping‘s economic policies. - What Happened: Zhu Hengpeng, deputy director at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), was detained after allegedly criticizing Xi in a private WeChat group. Zhu's remarks reportedly included veiled criticisms of Xi's leadership and comments on China's struggling economy, reported The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday. - The investigation into Zhu coincides with the Chinese Communist Party's intensified efforts to suppress negative commentary about the country's economic health. Under Xi, dissent has been increasingly punished, with critics facing imprisonment or exile. - AH would be have cement shoes if this happened in the USA On The Other Hand - CHINA PROP IT UP - China said it will allow institutional investors to tap central bank financing for stock purchases and is weighing plans for a market stabilization fund, sparking the biggest rally since 2020 for the nation's beaten-down equities. - The People's Bank of China will set up a swap facility allowing securities firms, funds and insurance companies to tap liquidity from the central bank to purchase equities - The CSI 300 Index, a benchmark of onshore Chinese stocks, surged 4.3% to cap its best day since July 2020. In Hong Kong, a gauge of Chinese shares was up more than 5% intraday. - MCHI up 8%, FXI up 8.5%, YINN (3X) up 25% M&A FOLLOW UP - Buyout firms Vista Equity Partners and Blackstone are in advanced talks to acquire Smartsheet, in a deal that could value the collaboration-software maker at close to $8 billion, people familiar with the matter said on Monday. - NEWS: Collaboration software maker Smartsheet on Tuesday announced it would be acquired by Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners in an all-cash deal which valued the company at $8.4 billion. THE FED - Cuts rates by 0.50% -- Seems to have been looking to appease markets - Initial reaction was blah... Unwinding of positions put on right before the decision - Next day stocks soared - “The Committee has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2 percent, and judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals are roughly in balance,” the Federal Reserve statement said. - Last time Fed cut rates was COVID days , time before that was Financial Crisis of 2008 - The federal funds rate is now a range between 4.75%-5% Meanwhile - Consumer confidence in September suffers largest decline since August 2021 - The key takeaway from the report is that consumers' views of the current labor market situation continued to soften and became more pessimistic about future labor market conditions -- a sentiment that could weigh on consumer spending activity. ---- The Present Situation Index dropped to 124.3 from an upwardly revised 134.6 (from 134.4) in August.

Jennifer (Jen) McAdams is a seasoned marketing veteran with more than 25 years of experience within the software industry. Jen went to Northeastern where she graduated with a resume and a business suite, and hit the ground running in her career. She worked closely with Xactly in an advisory CMO role initially as part of Vista Equity Partners' Value Creation Team – and her partnership and execution of a comprehensive marketing plan that generated increased pipeline and higher quality leads led her to permanently join Xactly as a member of the senior leadership team and CMO. Before Xactly and Vista Equity Partners, she's previously held senior roles with SAP, Cisco, Progress, Ixia, and Kaseya. Xactly is a platform “for sales leaders founded by a sales leader”. Their main legacy product is for automating sales compensation and commissions. However, over the years, they have made acquisitions that have allowed them to extend their offerings into sales planning and forecasting tools that live in a single platform and are available as modular pieces that grow with their clients. On the show today, Alan and Jen talk about how she is bridging the gap between marketing and sales at Xactly and what she has seen work across the different types of companies that she's worked for. Jen gives us practical tips to align around a common goal, how she thinks about organizing teams, and the importance of leading by example. Alan and Jen also discuss how marketing is organized within her group, how that relates to customer marketing as she builds that new function and how AI can be a resource for marketers. In this episode, you'll learn: The importance of bridging the gap between marking and sales Tips on how to collaborate, align, and operationalize around a common goals How Jen organizes her team for a focus on customer marketingKey Highlights: [01:58] Life with a rescue Chihuahua (Biscuit)   [03:20] Jennifer's career path [08:06] What Xactly does and who they serve [09:13] The gap between B2B marketing and sales[11:22] Aligning goals with compensation[12:15] How to operationalize[15:15] Getting the rest of the team on the same page[16:42] What does marketing look like at Xactly[17:58] What customer marketing looks like[20:38] Experience of your past that defines you[22:39] Advice to younger self[24:37] A topic that you and other marketers need to learn more about - AI[25:47] Trends or subcultures others should follow[27:08] Largest opportunity or threat to marketers todayLooking for more?Visit our website for the full show notes, links to resources mentioned in this episode, and ways to connect with the guest! Become a member today and listen ad-free, visit https://plus.acast.com/s/marketingtoday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plus, Vista Equity Partners is raising $5 billion to extend its investment in the parent company of enterprise-software makers Citrix and Tibco. And U.S. lawmakers want to restrict a trade provision used by Chinese e-commerce giants. Danny Lewis hosts.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Venture funding in July 2024 reached over $23 billion, slightly decreasing month over month but increasing by over 20% year over year. The largest funding recipient was Vancouver-based legal tech company Clio, with $900 million led by NEA, marking the biggest round for a legal cloud tech company. Healthcare and biotech companies led sectors with $6 billion, followed by AI companies with $5.8 billion, together constituting about 50% of the total funding in July. AI funding saw significant growth in Q2, with notable rounds including Baichuan Intelligence ($687 million), Cohere ($500 million), and Helsing ($489 million). Hardware companies raised $3.3 billion, while financial services garnered $2.6 billion, ranking among the top five sectors. Michigan-based Lineage Logistics had the largest IPO of 2024, raising $4.4 billion, and Nasuni's acquisition by Vista Equity Partners was valued at $1.2 billion. Biotech and healthcare dominated billion-dollar exits, unlike AI companies, which saw fewer large-scale exits as major tech firms opted for technology licensing and team acquisitions. Data was based on information reported up to August 5, 2024, with all values in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.Learn more on this news visit us at: https://greyjournal.net/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this shorter interview, recorded at Berlin SuperReturn, Rachel Arnold, Co-Head of Vista's Endeavour strategy, a fund focused on small-cap private software companies, offers insights that echo Bill Gates comment that “software is the magic thing whose importance only goes up over time” Amazingly, over 90% of software companies are private, and as a former tech operator and CEO, Rachel brings hard-earned expertise to explain their investing approach. She discusses portfolio make up, the drivers behind software's growth and how they assist their portfolio companies on operational transformation.  She discusses the urgency and applications resulting from AI's adoption, the likely trajectory of this investing space, software's economic resilience and the runway ahead. ​​The Money Maze Podcast is kindly sponsored by Schroders, IFM Investors and the World Gold Council. Sign up to our Newsletter | Follow us on LinkedIn | Watch on YouTube

Generative AI could create trillions of dollars in impact across multiple waves of innovation and productivity gains. But how can we create the conditions for AI to thrive while helping businesses build systems of scale that are also inclusive?     Join Dr. Lori Esposito Murray and guest Robert Smith, founder, chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, to find out how Smith expects generative AI to jump-start productivity, why businesses and communities need greater access to capital, and how he's working to expand broadband access, especially for students.    This Leadership in Challenging Times discussion is featured as a C-Suite Perspectives podcast and a special CED Policy Watch Webcast. Leadership in Challenging Times features timely and insightful discussions with the outstanding CEOs who are recipients of CED's Distinguished Leadership Awards. Business leader honorees discuss the unprecedented challenges facing the nation and how they are helping chart a path forward for both their companies and communities in which they operate. 

In the latest episode of our Unicorn Leaders series, Russell Goldsmith and Debbie West were joined online from New York by David Obrand, the CEO of Salesloft, the AI powered revenue orchestration platform. Founded in 2011 by Kyle Porter and David Cummings, the company achieved unicorn status early in 2021. And then when Vista Equity Partners came on board as well, it raised the valuation of the business to $2 .3 billion.

In the world of entrepreneurship, it's all too common to see an overemphasis on quick success and profit maximization, often at the expense of the deeper, more sustainable aspects of business creation and personal fulfillment. This narrow focus can leave entrepreneurs feeling unfulfilled and isolated despite their outward success.This week, I'm delighted to welcome Abi Mandelbaum, an entrepreneur who stands out for his commitment to integrating creativity and deep personal values into his business ventures. Abi's approach not only fosters innovation but also nurtures the human spirit, creating a more holistic model for success.In this episode, we delve into Abi's journey, exploring how he seamlessly blends the art of creation with the science of business. We discuss the challenges of maintaining authenticity in a profit-driven world, the benefits of fostering a collaborative culture in business, the role of creativity in solving complex problems, and how these elements contribute to both personal well-being and business success.Join us as we uncover the essence of creating with purpose, revealing how a dedication to authenticity and creativity can redefine success and lead to more meaningful achievements both in business and in life.Topics CoveredAbi's entrepreneurial and personal journeyIntegration of personal values in businessDefining success beyond financial gainsThe role of authenticity in entrepreneurial leadershipChallenges of maintaining integrity in competitive marketsInfluence of purpose on business strategy and decisionsBuilding a values-driven company cultureImpact of entrepreneurial practices on personal well-beingStrategies for balancing profit and principlesTranscriptYou can find the transcript on the episode's web page by clicking here.Guest's Bio & ResourcesAbi Mandelbaum stands as a pioneering force in the realms of technology, education, and mental health, revered for his groundbreaking initiatives and forward-thinking approach. From the inception of YouVisit, he propelled the company to the forefront of interactive technology, fostering engagement with esteemed entities like Microsoft, HP, and top-tier academic institutions. Under his guidance, YouVisit flourished, culminating in its acquisition by Vista Equity Partners, a testament to Abi's knack for innovation and strategic leadership. Beyond YouVisit, his entrepreneurial endeavors are rooted in a profound mission—to cultivate environments fostering collective healing and human transformation, a purpose that resonates throughout his ventures.Moreover, Abi's impact extends beyond boardrooms and businesses, as he actively advocates for mental health awareness and serves as a beacon of support within his community. His involvement with Endeavor underscores his commitment to high-impact entrepreneurship on a global scale. Yet, amidst his professional pursuits, Abi maintains a harmonious balance, embracing personal interests such as tennis, exploration, and nature alongside his cherished family. Through his blog and public engagements, Abi invites others to join him in a journey where professional success intertwines with personal fulfillment, demonstrating the profound intersection of business and purpose.Abi's websiteAbi's LinkedIn profileEndeavor's websiteZen Habits Resources

Join us at our first in-person conference on June 25 all about AI Quality: https://www.aiqualityconference.com/ ⁠Peter Guagenti⁠ is an accomplished business builder and entrepreneur with expertise in strategy, product development, marketing, sales, and operations. Peter has helped build multiple successful start-ups to exits, fueling high growth in each company along the way. He brings a broad perspective, deep problem-solving skills, the ability to drive innovation amongst teams, and a proven ability to convert strategy into action -- all backed up by a history of delivering results. Huge thank you to AWS for sponsoring this episode. AWS - https://aws.amazon.com/ MLOps podcast #222 with Peter Guagenti, President & CMO of Tabnine - What Business Stakeholders Want to See from the ML Teams. // Abstract Peter Guagenti shares his expertise in the tech industry, discussing topics from managing large-scale tech legacy applications and data experimentation to the evolution of the Internet. He returns to his history of building and transforming businesses, such as his work in the early 90s for People magazine's website and his current involvement in AI development for software companies. Guagenti discusses the use of predictive modeling in customer management and emphasizes the importance of re-architecting solutions to fit customer needs. He also delves deeper into the AI tools' effectiveness in software development and the value of maintaining privacy. Guagenti sees a bright future in AI democratization and shares his company's development of AI coding assistants. Discussing successful entrepreneurship, Guagenti highlights balancing technology and go-to-market strategies and the value of failing fast. // Bio Peter Guagenti is the President and Chief Marketing Officer at Tabnine. Guagenti is an accomplished business leader and entrepreneur with expertise in strategy, product development, marketing, sales, and operations. He most recently served as chief marketing officer at Cockroach Labs, and he previously held leadership positions at SingleStore, NGINX (acquired by F5 Networks), and Acquia (acquired by Vista Equity Partners). Guagenti also serves as an advisor to a number of visionary AI and data companies including DragonflyDB, Memgraph, and Treeverse. // MLOps Jobs board https://mlops.pallet.xyz/jobs // MLOps Swag/Merch https://mlops-community.myshopify.com/ // Related Links AI Quality in Person Conference: https://www.aiqualityconference.com/ Measuring the impact of GitHub Copilot Survey: https://resources.github.com/learn/pathways/copilot/essentials/measuring-the-impact-of-github-copilot/ AWS Trainium and Inferentia: https://aws.amazon.com/machine-learning/trainium/ https://aws.amazon.com/machine-learning/inferentia/AI coding assistants: 8 features enterprises should seek: https://www.infoworld.com/article/3694900/ai-coding-assistants-8-features-enterprises-should-seek.htmlCareers at Tabnine: https://www.tabnine.com/careers --------------- ✌️Connect With Us ✌️ ------------- Join our slack community: https://go.mlops.community/slack Follow us on Twitter: @mlopscommunity Sign up for the next meetup: https://go.mlops.community/register Catch all episodes, blogs, newsletters, and more: https://mlops.community/ Connect with Demetrios on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpbrinkm/ Connect with Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterguagenti/

Our guest today is Ken Burke, founder, and CEO of The EntrepreneurNOW! Network. Ken is particularly focused on delivering educational courses online, but not in the academic sense. Rather, Ken focuses on how this approach can be used to build closer connections with your prospects and existing customers.  Ken is a speaker, serial entrepreneur, mentor, and author. Ken founded MarketLive, a market-leading, enterprise-class eCommerce software platform used by major merchants generating $2b in online sales through the platform. He sold MarketLive to Vista Equity Partners in 2016.  Ken has taught well over 10,000 entrepreneurs how to successfully start and grow their companies. His courses are viewed by students all over the world. Ken recently published his book called, "Prosper: 5 Steps to Thriving in Business and Life". After listening to today's episode, visit Ken's website for free resources!  

Mark your calendars for February 13, 2024, as Tony Robbins -- the unparalleled force in life/business strategy and financial insight -- is back with his eagerly anticipated new book "The Holy Grail of Investing."  The final book in Tony's legendary financial freedom trilogy, Tony reveals the strategies and insights of some of the world's most successful investors.  As a special bonus, Tony is sharing the audio version of Chapter One for free, which he's narrated himself.  PRE-ORDER BOOK & Get a Free Gift Here: https://tonyr.co/47ZGr0O  ABOUT TONY'S BOOK: Tony Robbins, alongside renowned investor Christopher Zook, delves into the realm of alternative investments, unlocking the doors to unprecedented financial success. The duo sat down with over a dozen of the world's leading investment minds, each managing vast fortunes in private equity, private credit, private real estate, and venture capital. Combined, these visionaries oversee a staggering half a trillion dollars on behalf of investors.  Some of the names include:  -Robert F. Smith – Founder of Vista Equity Partners, recognized as the most successful enterprise software investor in history. -Vinod Khosla – Founder of Khosla Ventures, a legendary figure in Venture Capital known for transforming a $4 million investment into a $7 billion windfall.  -Michael B. Kim – Revered as the "Godfather of Private Equity" in Asia, Kim has created the largest private equity firm on the continent, making him South Korea's wealthiest man.  And the list goes on!  Tony and Zook share the favorite strategies and profound insights of these investment titans. Learn from the best, as they disclose their time-tested methods to achieve financial prosperity.  IN THE HOLY GRAIL OF INVESTING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:  How to take advantage of the trillions flowing into private equity by becoming an owner of firms that manage assets and share in generated revenue.  How to leverage two to three times higher returns of private credit as an alternative (or complement) to bonds.  How new rule changes allow individual investors to own a piece of major professional sports teams (MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS) and benefit from this fanatically driven asset class.  How to invest in the "energy evolution" and ride the wave of trillions in global investments.  How investments in private real estate can work as an inflationary hedge and source of tax-efficient income.  How many of the world's greatest investors thrive in good times and bad.  PRE-ORDER NOW FOR A SPECIAL REWARD: Once you've secured your copy today by pre-ordering from your favorite online retailers – visit https://theholygrailofinvesting.com, enter your proof of purchase, and gain free access to Tony's exclusive ten-part video series on the "7 Pillars of Business Mastery." This is a great opportunity to level up your financial game.  The journey to financial freedom begins on February 13, 2024! Please enjoy chapter one!

In this episode, Bill sits down with David Breach, President and COO of Vista Equity Partners. With over two decades in the industry, David shares his journey from a non-traditional background into the private equity world. The conversation delves into the transformative nature of enterprise software investments, the implications of market shifts, and the strategies for successful asset management. Listen in as they discuss the importance of governance, the impact of technological advancements, and the future of private equity in a changing financial landscape.

Robert F. Smith, Chairman and Founder of Vista Equity Partners, joined Doug Peterson, CEO at S&P Global and host Joe Cass on this episode of Fixed Income in 15. Discussion focused on how to build a culture of success in business, the evolution of GenAI, the growth of private markets and the guests experience of growing up in New Mexico and Colorado.

Sam Shapiro is a technologist and entrepreneur who is leading the charge to an electric future for the outdoor recreation industry. Key topics in this conversation include: Sam's path from a tech company, to a DIY camper build, and ultimately Grounded Why electric is the right choice for a camper van Grounded's recent 1500-mile road trip in their G2 An electric trailer, and Grounded's future plans Why Grounded is taking a scrappy approach to growth, rooted in grit, ownership, and sustainability Links: Show notes: http://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/samshapiro https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/18/23922147/grounded-g2-gm-brightdrop-electric-rv-price-specs https://www.groundedrvs.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sambshapiro/ Bio Sam Shapiro is a technologist and entrepreneur who is leading the charge to an electric future for the outdoor recreation industry. Before founding Grounded, Shapiro worked as a Senior Software Engineer at SpaceX, where he wrote embedded software for Starlink hardware. Prior to SpaceX, Sam was a Product Engineering Manager for TripleLift, where he incubated new product lines for the company before it was acquired by Vista Equity Partners for $1.4 billion. About Grounded Grounded is a team of ex-SpaceX engineers building the future of outdoor recreation. Our mission is to create vehicles and technology that give people the freedom and self-reliance to live, work, and explore anywhere, sustainably integrated with nature. We just launched the 250-mile range G2 electric campervan, which we're now shipping to customers. Next year we plan to launch an electric, light-weight aerodynamic towable RV trailer. Future of Mobility: The Future of Mobility podcast is focused on the development and implementation of safe, sustainable, effective, and accessible mobility solutions, with a spotlight on the people and technology advancing these fields. linkedin.com/in/brandonbartneck/ brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/

In today's business landscape, the relationship between the CFO, CEO, and Board of Directors is a pivotal axis that can either drive an organization to new heights or lead it astray. To better understand the intricacies of this relationship, Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller enlist the help of someone with a unique point of view: Kim Eaton, Operating Managing Director at Vista Equity Partners. Kim has served as both a CEO and a board member, giving her unique insights into what causes this relationship to flourish (and what makes it fall apart).Join us as we discuss:How CFOs can help build a shared trust with their CEO and boardTips for managing a productive board meetingHandling disagreements in a way that preserves relationshipsThe importance of pre-meeting touch points (e.g. the board dinner)Traits of the most effective CFOs from the board's perspectiveAdditional resources:Managing Your Relationship as the CFO With the CEO and Board of Directors: https://bit.ly/451EpM1

In today's business landscape, the relationship between the CFO, CEO, and Board of Directors is a pivotal axis that can either drive an organization to new heights or lead it astray. To better understand the intricacies of this relationship, Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller enlist the help of someone with a unique point of view: Kim Eaton, Operating Managing Director at Vista Equity Partners. Kim has served as both a CEO and a board member, giving her unique insights into what causes this relationship to flourish (and what makes it fall apart).Join us as we discuss:How CFOs can help build a shared trust with their CEO and boardTips for managing a productive board meetingHandling disagreements in a way that preserves relationshipsThe importance of pre-meeting touch points (e.g. the board dinner)Traits of the most effective CFOs from the board's perspectiveAdditional resources:Managing Your Relationship as the CFO With the CEO and Board of Directors: https://bit.ly/451EpM1

Has data-driven marketing killed creativity?In this interview, the Head of Marketing at Finastra, Joerg Klueckmann chats with Sammy about the importance of creative freedom in marketing, why companies must dare to be different, how to acquire budget for outside-the-box initiatives, and much more.You'll learn:1. Why creativity must make a comeback if we're to avoid repetitiveness and mundanity in marketing2. How to ensure ROI on your marketing investments while leaving room for experimenting3. How Joerg allocates marketing budget to differentiating initiatives4. Why Finastra built their own video streaming channel Finastra TV5. Which KPIs to measure to report proof of value for outside-the-box initiatives__________About Joerg:With more than 20 years of leadership experience, Joerg transformed global marketing organizations across the B2B software industry. He has led teams to become integrated, high performing and digital first. Joerg believes in focus, simplicity, and the courage to be different. He enjoys a good espresso and rides his mountain bike with passion. His superpower is endless positivity.Find Joerg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joergklueckmann/ Joerg's favorite business book:Play Bigger by Al Ramadam and Kevin Maney | https://shorturl.at/afjTW Impromptu by Reid Hoffman | https://shorturl.at/afor7 Joerg's favorite podcasts: Capital Allocators with Ted Seides | https://www.capitalallocators.com/ __________About Finastra:Formed in 2017 by the integration of Misys and D+H under Vista Equity Partners, Finastra enables the financial services world to deliver the future of banking. Applications that power financial institutions, marketplaces that accelerate industry & an open innovation platform for banks, fintechs & non-banks to connect and collaborate. Finastra delivers this vitally important technology to financial institutions of all sizes across the globe, including 90 of the world's top 100 banks.Website: https://www.finastra.com/ Industry: Financial ServicesCompany size: 5,001-10,000 employeesHeadquarters: Paddington, LondonFounded: 2017__________About the host Sammy:Sammy and SAWOO enable you to become a thought leader and win leads directly through your own podcast & great content on LinkedIn.Get in touch with Sammy here on LinkedIn.__________Past guests on the GROW B2B FASTER Show include: Justin Welsh, Ian Koniak, Jamal Reimer, Mike Troiano, John Kaplan, Greg Alexander, and many more. 

This week, we discuss Cisco's acquisition of Splunk, AWS's investment in Anthropic, and VC Market Overview Presentations. Plus, we share some thoughts on Dungeons and Dragons, as well as standardized testing. Watch the YouTube Live Recording of Episode (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNyPzGCpfT0) 434 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNyPzGCpfT0) Runner-up Titles So much about sheep Maybe Ten Middle mega-cap The data stays the same, only the story changes Ribbon Wall Rundown Splunk Cisco acquires cybersecurity company Splunk in cash deal worth $28 billion (https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/21/cisco-acquiring-splunk-for-157-a-share-in-cash.html) Splunk Is Good For Cisco, But Cisco Needs To Convince Splunk Customers That Cisco Is Good For Them (https://www.forrester.com/blogs/splunk-is-good-for-cisco-but-cisco-needs-to-convince-splunk-customers-that-cisco-is-good-for-them/) AWS to invest up to $4B in Anthropic Google invested $300 million in AI firm founded by former OpenAI researchers (https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/3/23584540/google-anthropic-investment-300-million-openai-chatgpt-rival-claude) Amazon agreed to invest up to $4 billion into Anthropic (https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-pro-rata-e50e38f2-cb3f-4ec6-ab85-a758a8daf33e.html?chunk=1&utm_term=emshare#story1) I's $240B Question (https://www.sequoiacap.com/article/follow-the-gpus-perspective) Anti Portfolio (https://www.bvp.com/anti-portfolio) Relevant to your Interests Upbound Contributes Control Plane Provider Technology to Crossplane (https://blog.upbound.io/donate-upjet-provider-project-to-cncf) Your iPhone can now restore your Apple TV if the streaming box has problems (https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/19/23880671/apple-tv-4k-hd-iphone-restore-recovery) Elon Musk's Neuralink is recruiting patients for its first human trial (https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/20/elon-musks-neuralink-is-recruiting-patients-for-its-first-human-trial.html) Roblox acquires voice moderation startup Speechly | TechCrunch (https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/20/roblox-acquires-voice-moderation-startup-speechly/?guccounter=1) Harness launches Gitness, an open source GitHub competitor | TechCrunch (https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/21/oh-gitness-harness-launches-gitness-an-open-source-github-competitor/?guccounter=1) Broadcom-VMware Deal Inches Closer In China: Report | CRN (https://www.crn.com/news/channel-news/broadcom-vmware-deal-inches-closer-in-china-report) 1Password rolls out public passkey support to its mobile apps and web extensions (https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/20/23880714/1password-mobile-passkey-support-web-browser-extension-release-date) Intel Unveils Industry-Leading Glass Substrates (https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/newsroom/news/intel-unveils-industry-leading-glass-substrates.html) Amazon's Prime Video will show ads unless you pay $3 more per month (https://www.engadget.com/amazons-prime-video-will-show-ads-unless-you-pay-3-more-per-month-111709384.html) Salesforce to acquire Airkit.ai, a low-code platform for building AI customer service agents | TechCrunch (https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/21/salesforce-airkit/) Spreadsheets are the long tail of datasets that don't have their own SaaS tool yet (https://x.com/davidsacks/status/1078755080478715904?s=46&t=zgzybiDdIcGuQ_7WuoOX0A) Microsoft Cloud hiring to "implement global small modular reactor and microreactor" strategy to power data centers (https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/microsoft-cloud-hiring-to-implement-global-small-modular-reactor-and-microreactor-strategy-to-power-data-centers/) Demand for Software Developers will STILL outweigh the supply. (https://x.com/DThompsonDev/status/1706015535861768404?s=20) No sacred masterpieces (https://basta.substack.com/p/no-sacred-masterpieces) Vista Equity Partners has quietly topped $100 billion in assets under management (https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-pro-rata-e50e38f2-cb3f-4ec6-ab85-a758a8daf33e.html?chunk=0&utm_term=emshare#story0) ll iPhone 15 Models Can Be Connected To An Ethernet Cable Through The USB-C Port Via Dongle To Enable Incredibly Fast Wired Speeds (https://wccftech.com/all-iphone-15-models-can-connect-to-ethernet-cable-with-usb-c-cable/) U.S. Accuses Amazon of Illegally Protecting Monopoly in Online Retail (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/26/technology/ftc-amazon.html) Google Podcasts to shut down in 2024 with listeners migrated to YouTube Music (https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/26/google-podcasts-to-shut-down-in-2024-with-listeners-migrated-to-youtube-music/) Tech layoffs are all but a thing of the past (https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/26/tech-layoffs-are-all-but-a-thing-of-the-past/) Terraform fork OpenTF gets renamed to OpenTofu (https://www.theregister.com/2023/09/20/terraform_fork_opentf_opentofu/) What's Up With Open Terraform? — Arrested DevOps (https://overcast.fm/+BvUXjLzWQ) Open source is at a crossroads with Steve O'Grady from RedMonk (Changelog Interviews #558) (https://changelog.com/podcast/558) Ads are coming to Amazon Prime Video, unless you pay more (https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/22/23885242/amazon-prime-tv-movies-streaming-ads-subscription-date) Airlines Are Just Banks Now (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/09/airlines-banks-mileage-programs/675374/) (https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/microsoft-cloud-hiring-to-implement-global-small-modular-reactor-and-microreactor-strategy-to-power-data-centers/)## Nonsense F-35 crash: Pilot called 911 after parachuting into backyard (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66890941) You can find love on Tinder for $500 a month, if you qualify for its elite tier (https://www.engadget.com/you-can-find-love-on-tinder-for-500-a-month-if-you-qualify-for-its-elite-tier-213159522.html) Apple Podcasts adds original programming from Apple Music, Apple News+ and other apps | TechCrunch (https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/26/apple-podcasts-adds-original-programming-from-apple-music-apple-news-and-other-apps/) Listener Feedback Slack's revamped UI feels like a step in the wrong direction (https://www.androidpolice.com/slack-revamped-ui-wrong-direction/) Brett's Slack Tip: Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+S when the new Slack design lands on you. It'll give you your Slack community sidebar back. Conferences Oct 3rd Enterprise DevOps Techcon (https://enterprisedevopstechcon.nl/?utm_source=cote&utm_campaign=devrel&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_content=newsletterUpcoming), Utrecht. October 6, 2023, KCD Texas 2023 (https://community.cncf.io/events/details/cncf-kcd-texas-presents-kcd-texas-2023/), CFP Closes: August 30, 2023 October 5 - 6, 2023, Devopsdays Indianapolis 2023 (https://devopsdays.org/events/2023-indianapolis/welcome/) Oct 9th Spring Tour Amsterdam (https://connect.tanzu.vmware.com/EMEA_P7_DG_FE_Q324_Event_S1TourAmsterdam_TanzuLP-AltS1TBanner.html?utm_source=cote&utm_campaign=devrel&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_content=newsletterUpcoming) Oct 10th, 17th, 24th talk series: Building a Path to Production: A Guide for Managers and Leaders in Platform Engineering (https://series.brighttalk.com/series/6011/?utm_source=cote&utm_campaign=devrel&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_content=newsletterUpcoming) November 6-9, 2023, KubeCon NA (https://events.linuxfoundation.org/kubecon-cloudnativecon-north-america/), SDT's a sponsor, Matt's there November 6-9, 2023 VMware Explore Barcelona (https://www.vmware.com/explore/eu.html), Coté's attending Jan 29, 2024 to Feb 1, 2024 That Conference Texas (https://that.us/events/tx/2024/schedule/) If you want your conference mentioned, let's talk media sponsorships. SDT news & hype Join us in Slack (http://www.softwaredefinedtalk.com/slack). Get a SDT Sticker! Send your postal address to stickers@softwaredefinedtalk.com (mailto:stickers@softwaredefinedtalk.com) and we will send you free laptop stickers! Follow us: Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/sdtpodcast), Twitter (https://twitter.com/softwaredeftalk), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/softwaredefinedtalk/), Mastodon (https://hachyderm.io/@softwaredefinedtalk), BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/softwaredefinedtalk.com), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/software-defined-talk/), TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@softwaredefinedtalk), Threads (https://www.threads.net/@softwaredefinedtalk) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi3OJPV6h9tp-hbsGBLGsDQ/featured). Use the code SDT to get $20 off Coté's book, Digital WTF (https://leanpub.com/digitalwtf/c/sdt), so $5 total. Become a sponsor of Software Defined Talk (https://www.softwaredefinedtalk.com/ads)! Recommendations Brandon: iPhone Messages Stickers (https://9to5mac.com/2023/09/23/how-to-make-use-iphone-messages-stickers-ios-17/) Coté: Notes.app: iOS 17 Notes and Reminders Features (https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-17-notes-reminders/). Photo Credits Header (https://unsplash.com/photos/eubgK-4bzKA) Artwork (https://unsplash.com/photos/colorful-software-or-web-code-on-a-computer-monitor-Skf7HxARcoc)

This week, Matt Kraft, COO of Mosaic Learning, discusses how he rallied his team through a 17-hour marathon to overcome a total system collapse in the 11th hour before the very first earnings call for their new CEO.   In this episode you will learn: The challenges of e-learning platforms and the need for more immersive and connected learning experiences. The potential applications of AI in everyday life, such as using it to manage children's activities and schedules. Why Matt discarded his past approach of appearing older and more stoic, and instead embraced prioritizing connection. How Matt and his team faced a major crisis when their system experienced a quadruple raid failure, and despite the odds, Matthew motivated his team and worked tirelessly to restore the system, ultimately achieving a successful outcome and minimal data loss.   24 Hour Challenge: Matt challenges listeners to come up with novel ideas on how AI can fundamentally improve their lives and organizations, and share them on LinkedIn.   About Matt Kraft : With a career spanning more than 2.5 decades and billions in enterprise value creation, Matthew Kraft believes in the power of harnessing technology to drive ecosystem change.  Matthew presently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Mosaic Learning, Inc, the leading provider of eLearning Platforms to the Union and Member Trade Organizations.  Prior to joining Mosaic Learning, Matthew served in Executive Capacities for Bonterra, Inc. (acquired by Apax Partners), StraighterLine, Inc, (acquired by BV Investment Partners), and Crawford Media Services, Inc. Prior to Crawford, Matthew served in Management Positions with Advertising.com/Aol (acquired by Apollo Global) and Web.com (acquired by Clearlake Capital.) Previous to that, he served in various capacities for J/K Foods, Inc. and its Affiliates in North Dakota.  In 2012, Matthew successfully merged J/K Foods with an entity primarily controlled by Coborn's, Inc. of St. Cloud, MN.  Matthew graduated from Vista Equity Partners' High Potential Executive Leadership Program in 2017. He is a prior recipient of the Education 2.0 Leadership Awards, along with Business Man of the Year (GA.) Matthew attended the University of Washington and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Georgia State University in 2005.  He appeared as a nerdy student in 2003's Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd   You can connect with Matt in the following ways: Web: https://combobulate.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkraft2/ Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mosaiclearning/   You can connect with Laura in the following ways: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vocal-impact-productions/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions Facebook: Vocal Impact Productions Twitter: @LauraSicola Instagram: @VocalImpactProductions Website: https://vocalimpactproductions.com/ Laura's Online Course: virtualinfluence.today See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our third anniversary episode features the first of three episodes recorded live at GroceryShop in the Vantage podcast studio. We welcome three rock star venture capitalists--Ashley Hartman (Bluestein Ventures), Matt Nichols (Commerce Ventures), and Kevin Parakkattu (Plug and Play) --who share their thoughts on the future of retail tech. In a fast-paced discussion, we dig into the current funding environment, challenges scaling once promising technology, and what each of our panelists are looking for now. We also discuss the outlook for generative AI, connecting offline and online behavior, personalization, sustainability, store level analytics, retail media, and more!As usual, we kick things off with our analysis of the week in retail news, starting with the Fed's interest rate pause and IPO fever. We then discuss Lowe's CEO saying the quiet part out loud when it comes to addressing a big driver of retail theft, before returning to the Wobbly Unicorn Corner for news of Stitch Fix's plans to right the ship. Then it's an early look at both holiday hiring plans and several firm's sales forecasts. About VantageEnterprise brands and retailers in over 120 countries around the world use Vantage for data-driven ecommerce advertising. Vantage was built on the primary goal of helping ecommerce businesses of all sizes around the world grow. Driving this growth: artificial intelligence, machine-learning technology, predictive analytics, and performance at scale. We're committed to helping businesses identify opportunities and grow revenue in an easy and data-driven way. We leverage the data from the thousands of retailers worldwide to best understand how to be successful. About AshleyAshley co-leads Bluestein Ventures, driving the firm's strategy, portfolio company support, and deal pipeline. Ashley has made over 30 investments in the space, and is an observer on three boards, including Base Culture, Grovara, and Rethink. Ashley has appeared in Forbes (here and here), has been featured on industry podcasts (here, here, and here), and regularly serves on food industry panels.Ashley has deep experience leading growth strategy and establishing scalable infrastructure necessary to build sustainable ventures. Prior to Bluestein, Ashley was Vice President of Strategy & Operations at Hartman Windows & Doors, where she was responsible for growth strategy, leading expansion across the U.S. as well as setting the platform on which to grow. Ashley also worked for Coinstar in Business Development, focusing on launching their new ventures. After college, Ashley was an Analyst at NERA Economic Consulting.Active in the Chicago and food community, Ashley serves on the Board of Naturally Chicago, on Selection Committee of the Good Food Accelerator, and as a mentor at Food Foundry, The Hatchery, and the LeAD Accelerator, in addition to being a judge at Booth's new venture competitions. She is also on the National Leadership Council of United States Artists. Ashley received an MBA with honors from Harvard Business School and a BA in Political Economy, summa cum laude, from Williams College.About MattMatt has been an investor in and operator of early-stage technology companies for more than 20 years. He leads the firm's commerce infrastructure/retail technology investment team and is a member of the management committee. He serves on the boards of several portfolio companies, including Grabango and Pensa.Prior to Commerce Ventures, Matt was the CEO of Gemvara, a disruptive jewelry eCommerce business that was sold to Berkshire Hathaway. Matt also worked as a venture capitalist at Highland Capital Partners and Morgan Stanley Venture Partners where his investments included Bullhorn (Acq'd by Vista Equity Partners), Pixable (Acq'd by SingTel), Avamar (Acq'd by EMC), Tarari (Acq'd by LSI), and Perceptive Software (Acq'd by Lexmark). Matt was a member of Morgan Stanley‘s Technology Corporate Finance team where he was part of the Google IPO team and also spent time in Google's corporate development group.Matt studied Economics at Pomona College and earned an MBA with high distinction from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.Fun Fact: Matt was once a nationally-ranked badminton player.About KevinHighly versatile venture capital leader with a track record of demonstrated performance. Sourced and led 40+ Seed and Series A investments exceeding $10MM deployed with a combined market value of >$50MM inclusive of portfolio companies BigID, Madison Reed, ZigZag Global, ChargeAfter, MANSCAPED. Developed strategic partnerships with Nike, McDonalds, YUM Brands, Ernst & Young, PVH, and 12 other retailers and brands. Tenacious at developing investments, securing customer loyalty, and forging long term relationships with internal and external business partners. An adept people leader with a reputation of attracting and developing high performance teams.About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor, keynote speaker, and bestselling author of focused on growth, innovation, and the impact of digital disruption. He is widely considered one of the foremost and influential voices in the retail industry. You can learn more about Steve on his  website.  His #1 bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption is available at  Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.Michael LeBlanc  is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice.   He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.  Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada's top retail industry podcast,       The Voice of Retail, plus  Global eCommerce Leaders podcast, and The Food Professor  with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois.    You can learn more about Michael   here  or on     LinkedIn. Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue,  his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

S02:E10 - Lauren Dillard, Senior Managing Director & CFO, Vista Equity PartnersMoments that Made Her is a podcast where the rare and unique women that hold senior private equity roles share their stories, including the key personal and professional moments that defined their journeys and lessons they learned along the way.Moments that Made Her is a production of the Private Equity Women Investor Network, also known as PEWIN, which is the preeminent organization for senior-level women investment professionals in private equity.PEWIN provides its members with opportunities to network, share ideas, make deep connections with peers, and empower each other to succeed. Our mission is to increase the profile of women in private equity, and members represent institutions with over $3 trillion in assets under management.Moments that Made Her is hosted by Kelly Williams, PEWIN's Founding Chair, and is produced in collaboration with Purple Photo Group.To learn more please visit pewin.org.

Guest: Nick Mehta, CEO of GainsightGainsight CEO Nick Mehta describes himself as “the person who goes all in, on whatever.” So when he had a personally difficult year, he didn't just go to therapy — he also talked to a professional coach, and read about religion, and experimented with (legal) ketamine therapy. All of that led to him “better understanding the inner self ... [and] helping to find ways to suppress the exterior.” In other words, even though Gainsight's culture is suffused with Nick's values, he is consciously trying to unpack a “new version of myself” that is greater than his company: “There's a lot more to me than I realized,” he says.In this episode, Nick and Joubin discuss Mike Moritz, golf clubs, Don Valentine, eclectic fashion, loneliness, Enneagram types, setting the tone, moments of vulnerability, Vista Equity Partners, talking to customers, Jack Dorsey, building others' brands, startups as kids, Marc Benioff, and the ship of Theseus.In this episode, we cover: The mystique of Sand Hill Road (00:58) Un-measurable marketing (05:07)  Launching Chipshot.com (09:17) I-banking culture and fitting in (13:14) Getting help after a rough year (19:48) Immigrant achievers and the meaning of work (21:32) Fueling success and belief in institutions (24:44) Winning while being human-first (30:19) Founder-defined values and culture (3 5:41) What happened to Chipshot? (40:46) Empathy for all entrepreneurs (44:11) Growing & selling LiveOffice (46:03) The new Nick (48:53) Selling Gainsight for $1.1 billion (51:56) Coda and time management (55:20) Ghost notes (59:01) When the spotlight goes away (01:02:17) Philosophy and science books (01:05:45) Deleting work apps every weekend (01:09:23) Who Gainsight is hiring and what “grit” means to Nick (01:10:26) Links: Connect with Nick Twitter LinkedIn Coda Connect with Joubin Twitter LinkedIn Email: grit@kleinerperkins.com  Learn more about Kleiner Perkins This episode was edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm

In today's episode of Saas Fuel™ Expert Series, we are thrilled to have Carlos Antequera, the CEO, and co-founder of Novel Capital, a disruptive fintech company revolutionizing the way startup founders grow and fund their businesses. Carlos is a seasoned entrepreneur, angel investor, startup mentor, and Kauffman fellow. He has an impressive track record, having previously sold his K-12 talent management company, NetCHemia, to Vista Equity Partners.Carlos highlights the importance of understanding customer needs and implementing effective talent management strategies for business and education growth. By recognizing market gaps, tailoring solutions, and supporting the growth of personnel, companies can achieve positive outcomes and drive success.Key Takeaways[00:01:21] - Calling an expert for the tree.[00:04:30] - Foster a learn it all culture.[00:09:04] - Changing the way startup founders grow and fund their businesses.[00:12:01] - Other financing options.[00:16:03] - Giving up company ownership.[00:21:47] - Optimizing the cost of capital.[00:24:25] - Transparent and streamlined funding process.[00:29:36] - The risks with funding.[00:32:09] - Finding the first company.[00:36:53] - Building and Exiting Startups.[00:38:48] - Co-founders in startup success.[00:45:22] - Kick Up for Education.[00:47:38] - Kansas City as a tech hub.[00:51:05] - Get the funds you need and keep all your equity.Tweetable Quotes"And as leaders, our growth isn't a luxury, it's a necessity." - 00:03:35 Jeff Mains"But if you don't have the right principals, you don't have the right teachers in the classroom, it doesn't matter how much you change around the framework." - 00:33:54 Carlos Antequera"If you don't have the right people to execute, just like in business, then good results will not, good outcomes will not happen." - 00:34:10 Carlos Antequera"Sometimes when you're riding a wave, the world makes you think or those successes make you think that you're smarter than the rest of the world." - 00:44:52 Carlos Antequera"But also, I think what was critical is that when things got hard, we were all willing to pitch in and kind of put our egos aside." - 00:40:03 Carlos AntequeraSaaS Leadership LessonsUnderstanding customer needs to identify opportunities and drive business growth. By prioritizing customer-centricity and developing a deep understanding of their needs, leaders can make informed decisions, build strong relationships, and create innovative solutions that resonate with their target audience.Personal growth and development are essential to fuel the growth and success of their businesses.Building collaborative relationships enables leaders to work closely with customers to co-create solutions and foster a sense of partnership.Constructive feedback provides valuable insights into blind spots and areas of improvement.Without the right people to execute tasks, good results will not happen. It's important to prioritize building a capable and motivated team to drive...

Lauren Dillard is the CFO of Vista Equity Partners, a private equity firm with over $96 billion in assets under management and over 20 years investing exclusively in enterprise software. Before joining Vista, she was the Executive Vice President of Nasdaq's Investment Intelligence Division, where she oversaw the company's data, index, and analytics divisions. Prior to Nasdaq, Lauren spent 17 years at Carlyle where she served as the Head of the Investment Solutions unit and was a member of the Management Committee, and she began her career at Arthur Anderson's tax practice. Our conversation covers Lauren's early career at Arthur Anderson and her transitions to Carlyle, Nasdaq and eventually Vista. We discuss the dynamics of being an executive in investment management, operational flexibility, outsourcing vs. insourcing, and internal deal processes. We close on the increasing sophistication of LPs and GPs and the importance of a growth mindset. Learn More Follow Capital Allocators at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access transcript with Premium Membership Connect with Vista LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

“Do it on purpose.” - Marcos RiveraEPISODE OVERVIEW: From a boy in the Bronx, to growing up in San Diego, today's guest not only shares with us his journey of discovering his passion, but the intentional perseverance it takes to do “it” on purpose and achieve our goals. Watch or listen now to this great episode and discover what it means to have a Ladder Mindset, the importance of pricing our products and services on purpose, and how to take regular “gut-checks” in our lives. Listen now to experience what our guest learned the hard way, and apply it to your own life for accelerated success. Ladies & Gentlemen, welcome to the Marcos Rivera story! GUEST BIO:Marcos Rivera is the founder and CEO of Pricing I/O, a pricing boutique helping SaaS leaders around the world capture value by refining their monetization models. After his years at Vista Equity Partners as a pricing and product management executive, Marcos decided to start his own company zeroing in on monetizing value and unlocking growth. SaaS companies spend an average of 6 hours per year discussing pricing strategy and Marcos aims to evolve that culture by shifting pricing from guesswork to framework. SHOW NOTES:Guest Contact Info:Website: www.pricingio.comLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/MarcosLRiveraLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pricingio Remarkable People Podcast Listener Special Offer(s):Exclusive “Street Pricing” book offer for RPP listeners! Email info@pricingio.com for 20% off of your order.Support the showWant Even More?

This episode is part of our new Capital Series hosted by MCJ partner, Jason Jacobs. This series will explore a diverse range of capital sources and the individuals who drive them. From family offices and institutional LPs to private equity, government funding, and more, we'll take a deep dive into the world of capital and its critical role in driving innovation and progress. Today's guest is Lucas Joppa, Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Managing Director at Haveli Investments. Haveli Investments is a new and rapidly growing investment firm led by Brian Sheth, former president of Vista Equity Partners. Prior to Haveli, Lucas was the longtime Chief Environmental Officer at Microsoft where he was responsible for Microsoft's overall environmental sustainability vision, strategy, and program execution. In this episode, Jason and Lucas have an in-depth discussion about Lucas's journey to becoming aware of and caring about climate change, how his views have evolved on the nature of the problem, and the best path forward from when he first started doing this work to today. They also talk about Microsoft's journey when it started caring about sustainability and its evolution to being one of the leaders in driving net-zero ambitions for big corporations. And finally we cover Lucas's decision to switch from wildlife conservation to the private equity world, his motivations and of course, Haveli's approach.In this episode, we cover: [2:10] An overview of Haveli Investments and Lucas's role at the firm [4:29] How Lucas came to work in climate and what got him to care about the problem [11:09] His experience at Microsoft[14:08] What inspired Microsoft to address the climate problem [16:32] The company's internal process[21:51] Influencing factors that led to climate action at Microsoft [28:57] Lucas's thoughts on corporate net-zero commitments[32:52] Weighing the implications of GHG reductions on biodiversity loss[38:40] Radical transformations vs. replacing current systems with sustainable alternatives[42:09] Challenges with private equity embracing sustainability [49:17] Haveli's internal net-zero operations [50:53] How founders should evaluate Haveli's portfolio management relative to other private equity firms[53:30] Lucas' work on sustainable softwareGet connected: Jason JacobsLucas Joppa / Haveli InvestmentsMCJ Podcast / Collective*You can also reach us via email at info@mcjcollective.com, where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on March 20, 2023. 

One key takeaway from Gainsight CFO Alka Tandan's career journey is the importance of being open to new opportunities and pivoting when necessary. Tandan started in investment banking, transitioned to media, and then vectored again to the SaaS industry. Looking back on the first move of her career, Tandan says that she “came to a decision” and quickly became focused on the best way to execute it. “Investment banking gave me incredible exposure to a range of business models and industries, but after 5 years, I realized that I really wanted to be on a company's journey, so business school became the tool that I used to transition to industry,” Tandan reports. To better highlight her industry career-building years, Tandan discusses with us the 4.5 years that she spent with IGN Entertainment, an Internet media company that at the time was operating as a division of News Corp. “I came in as they were separating IGN's finance organization from News Corp., which required us to build the finance function from the ground up,” recalls Tandan, who adds that in the years that followed, IGN's finance team became involved in six different M&A transactions. Other career chapters that Tandan highlights for us include her experience as interim CFO (2021–2022) for Gainsight, the SaaS software developer that pioneered the customer experience realm known as “customer success.” Tandan tells us that her year as interim CFO allowed her to “test out the role” before assuming the position. There's little doubt that fortunate timing contributed to what became Tandan's ultimate door-opener for the CFO office. Having first joined Gainsight in May 2019 as vice president of finance, Tandan had already logged 18 months with Gainsight when Vista Equity Partners acquired the firm for $1.5 billion in November 2020. Tandan would assume her interim CFO role only 3 months later. Overall, CFO Tandan's story is a reminder that career paths are rarely linear and that being adaptable and open to new experiences can lead to unexpected opportunities. Asked how Gainsight's finance team has worked to better educate the organization when it comes to achieving more profitable growth in the current economic environment, Tandan responds: “Luckily, since we were already with Vista, we were on the right path, so I wouldn't say that there has been any huge shift for us in terms of educating the organization.” –Jack Sweeney

Metrc is contracted by state regulators and committed to a secure and credible regulatory environment. At the center of the regulatory apex, Metrc's role is critical for cannabis operators from seed to sale.This week on The Dime, we host Michael Johnson, CEO of Metrc, to discuss:  Uptime vs. functional timeAPI Changes, Metrc ConnectImplementing regulatory changes across 23 statesAbout Metrc:Metrc is the most trusted and experienced provider of cannabis regulatory systems in the United States. Our solution combines advanced software, radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, a dedicated customer- support team, and a secure database to track and trace cannabis from growth, harvest, and processing to testing, transport, and sale.Governments contracting with Metrc receive an off-the-shelf software-as-a-service (SaaS) system configured specifically to their needs. Our cloud-based tracking software and securely encoded RFID-enabled tags give regulators full supply-chain visibility. Metrc also provides data management, reporting services, third-party integrator support, cloud hosting, technical updates, along with training and support for users in government and industry. About Michael Johnson:Focused operational finance leader with expertise in harvesting growth potential and facilitating process efficiencies at Vista Equity Partners, Insight Venture Partners, TT Capital Partners, NovaQuest and FristCressey portfolio companies. Proven performance in building highly effective teams, integrating acquisitions and rebuilding enterprise-wide processes to harmonize customer experience and profitability.#cannabisindustry #cannabisinider #metrcGuest Links https://www.metrc.com/https://twitter.com/official_metrc?lang=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-johnson-41458115/Follow us: Our Links.At Eighth Revolution (8th Rev), we provide services from capital to cannabinoid and everything in between in the cannabinoid industry.8th Revolution Cannabinoid Playbook is an Industry-leading report covering the entire cannabis supply chain The Dime is a top 5% most shared  global podcast The Dime is a top 50 Cannabis Podcast Sign up for our playbook here:

Here's what we got into for this week's Monday episode:Big Tech: Vista Equity Partners scooped up Duck Creek for $2.6 billion, and that's not the only billion-dollar figure we've seen from them over the past twelve months. Enterprise deals to start off the year? Take notes, startups.Big Idea: I'm thinking all about generative AI, especially thanks to Rebecca Szkutak's latest piece: "Whoops! Is generative AI already becoming a bubble?" I talk through the thesis of the piece, why venture always needs a buzzword, and why that's not necessarily a bad thing.And Big Innovation: We end with our roots in the world of startups. I'm talking Magic Leap's comeback story and a can't miss Dominic-Madori Davis piece tracking Black founder funding trends. And with that, goodbye until Wednesday! You can follow me on Twitter @nmasc_ or on Instagram @natashathereporter. And, as always, follow Equity on Twitter @equitypod. Equity drops at 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday and at 7:00 a.m. PT on Wednesdays and Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotifyand all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto, a show that interviews founders, one that details how our stories come together, and more!

My guest today is Robert Smith, the founder, Chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners. An engineer by training, Robert started Vista at the turn of the millennium and built it into one of the world's most successful software-focused investment firms. We discuss the white space left in enterprise software investing, the importance of capital cycles, and what he's learned building an iconic investing franchise. Please enjoy my discussion with Robert Smith.   For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.   -----   This episode is brought to you by Tegus. Tegus streamlines the investment research process so you can get up to speed and find answers to critical questions on companies faster and more efficiently. The Tegus platform surfaces the hard-to-get qualitative insights, gives instant access to critical public financial data through BamSEC, and helps you set up customized expert calls. It's all done on a single, modern SaaS platform that offers 360-degree insight into any public or private company. As a listener, you can take Tegus for a free test drive by visiting tegus.co/patrick. And until 2023 every Tegus license comes with complimentary access to BamSec by Tegus.   -----   Today's episode is brought to you by Brex. Brex is the integrated financial platform trusted by the world's most innovative entrepreneurs and fastest-growing companies. With Brex, you can move money fast for instant impact with high-limit corporate cards, payments, venture debt, and spend management software all in one place. Ready to accelerate your business? Learn more at brex.com/best.   -----   Invest Like the Best is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Invest Like the Best, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.    Past guests include Tobi Lutke, Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger, John Collison, Kat Cole, Marc Andreessen, Matthew Ball, Bill Gurley, Anu Hariharan, Ben Thompson, and many more.   Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here.   Follow us on Twitter: @patrick_oshag | @JoinColossus   Show Notes [00:02:34] - [First question] - What the enterprise software market looks and feels like to him [00:05:52] - Whether or not software is becoming a saturated market and what will drive demand over the coming decades [00:09:42] - Bringing an engineering mindset to enterprise software investing and culture [00:12:36] - A single change he made to a business that stands out most in memory [00:14:33] - Qualities that are most critical in defining a good enterprise software company [00:18:07] - How the profile of companies he's bought has changed over the years [00:20:33] - Categories of software he tends to gravitate towards  [00:23:56] - Evolving his model for considering what multiple to pay for a business and thinking about p/e growth multiples  [00:27:17] - Lessons learned about customer churn over his twenty two year career [00:29:44] - Capital cycles and how much they truly impact the software world  [00:31:53] - What elements of building Vista have most appealed to him over the years   [00:34:31] - Changing their investment strategy as the world continues to change [00:38:06] - The war for talent and what his senior team would debate most  [00:40:01] - Biggest mistakes Vista has made and what they taught him [00:41:09] - What has him most insecure or paranoid about the platform he's built [00:43:10] - The advice he'd give on having good relationships with LPs [00:44:57] - The largest risk he or Vista has ever intentionally taken  [00:46:15] - What he's learned about having a winning negotiations and sales approach [00:49:27] - Who he'd give all of his capital to outside of Vista [00:50:06] - How he arrived at the themes he tends to be philanthropic towards [00:53:08] - The work he does in the foster world [00:54:49] - The kindest thing anyone has ever done for him