Growth Investor with GrowthCap‘s RJ Lumba

In this episode, we speak with Jeffrey Stevenson, Managing Partner of VSS Capital Partners, a private investment firm that invests in healthcare, business services, and education companies. Since its founding in 1987, VSS has partnered with lower middle-market companies, working closely with management teams to facilitate their next stage of growth. With approximately $4 billion in committed capital across eight funds, VSS has completed over 100 platform investments and more than 600 add-on acquisitions. Jeffrey has overall responsibility for the management of the firm and each of its funds. He joined VSS in 1982, shortly after its formation, and founded its private equity business in 1987. He currently serves as Chairman of the Investment Committee and has been a board member of over 31 portfolio companies.  VSS was recently recognized by GrowthCap as a Top Private Equity Firm of 2025. Jeffrey supports The Center for Discovery. To learn more about this organization click here. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with David Katz, Managing Director at Charlesbank Capital Partners, a $24 billion AUM middle-market private equity firm that spun out of the Harvard Management Company in 1998. Drawing on its endowment heritage, Charlesbank takes a research-based approach to investing across its four target sectors: business & consumer services, healthcare, industrial, and technology. The firm partners with management teams to help businesses unlock value and accelerate growth. At Charlesbank, David oversees the firm’s Business & Consumer Services sector team. Since formalizing the sector in 2019, Charlesbank has been among the most active and successful private equity investors in business services, including several notable realizations. Charlesbank views the services ecosystem as offering compelling and durable opportunities for continued private equity investment. David has been with Charlesbank for nearly 13 years, during which time he has also helped to advance the firm’s investing system including its “fan of outcomes” underwriting approach. He is a member of the firm’s Investment Committee, and previously worked at Bain Capital and McKinsey. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Kirk Konert, Managing Partner at AE Industrial Partners—a private investment firm with $7.2 billion in assets under management, focused on specialized sectors including national security, aerospace, and industrial services. Since its founding in 1998, AEI has completed more than 140 investments in market-leading companies, leveraging deep industry expertise, operational experience, and a broad network across its core sectors. Kirk joined AEI in 2014 and is primarily responsible for sourcing, executing, and managing the firm’s portfolio investments. Prior to AEI, he held roles at Sun Capital Partners and was a member of Wells Fargo Securities’ Industrials Group.  AE Industrial Partners was recently recognized by GrowthCap as a Top Private Equity Firm of 2025. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Randall Eason and Keoni Schwartz, Co-Founders and Managing Directors at Altamont Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on transforming and scaling lower-middle market companies through deep operational expertise and value-creation capabilities. Since its founding, Altamont has invested in over 45 companies across the industrials, business services, financial services, and franchising & multi-unit sectors, with more than $4 billion in capital under management. Randall leads investments in the industrials and franchising & multi-unit sectors. Previously, he was a Principal at Golden Gate Capital, and held roles at Bain & Company and Williams-Sonoma. He holds an MA in sociology and a BA in economics, Phi Beta Kappa, from Stanford. Keoni leads investments in the financial and business services sectors. He was formerly a Principal at Golden Gate Capital and began his career as a consultant at Bain & Company and The Bridgespan Group. He holds a BA in history with honors from Princeton. Altamont was recently recognized by GrowthCap as a Top Private Equity Firm of 2025. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Bob Morse, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Strattam Capital, a private equity firm with over $1B in AUM, partnering with founder-led B2B software and technology companies positioned to become vertical market leaders. Since its founding in 2014, Strattam has completed more than 50 partnerships—helping founders scale their teams, expand market reach, and adopt transformative technologies—including AI—to solve the customer problems they understand so well. Prior to co-founding Strattam, Bob was a Partner and Investment Committee member at Oak Hill Capital Partners and held roles at GCC Investments and Morgan Stanley. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton and earned his MBA from Stanford, where he was an Arjay Miller Scholar. Bob was recently named a Top Software Investor of 2025 by GrowthCap. Strattam was also recognized as a Top Private Equity Firm of 2025. Bob supports USRowing Foundation. To learn more about this organization click here. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Marco Ferrari and Tom Reardon, Managing Directors and Co-Heads of North America at PSG, a growth equity firm that partners with software and technology-enabled services companies to navigate transformational growth, capitalize on strategic opportunities, and build strong teams. Since its founding in 2014, PSG has backed more than 150 companies and facilitated over 520 add-on acquisitions, bringing deep expertise in software and technology and a commitment to collaborating with management teams. Marco has been with PSG since 2014 and was previously a principal at BV Investment Partners and investment partner at Siemens Venture Capital.  He received an MBA and BA from Harvard.   Tom has been with the firm since 2015 and was previously a general partner at WestView Capital Partners and director at CIBC Capital Partners.  He received his MBA and BA from Harvard.   Marco and Tom were recently recognized by GrowthCap as Top Software Investors of 2025. Marco and Tom supports Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation. To learn more about this organization click here. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Jeff Chapman, Head of Growth Lending at Wellington Management, a global investment firm with over $1.2 trillion in assets under management. Founded in 1928 and headquartered in Boston, Wellington offers a broad platform spanning public equities, fixed income, private credit, alternatives, and multi-asset solutions. Within that, the firm manages more than $400 billion in fixed income and credit strategies, making it one of the world’s largest investors in the space. Jeff leads Wellington’s growth lending strategy, partnering with portfolio managers, venture capital investors, and the firm’s global research platform to back innovative companies. He also plays a key role in developing investment talent and shaping the next generation of leaders within the firm. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Mark Haller, Managing Director and Founding Principal of Sumeru Equity Partners, a technology-focused growth equity firm investing in leading enterprise software companies. Sumeru has invested more than $3 billion across more than 50 platform and add-on investments spanning enterprise and vertical SaaS, data analytics, education technology, infrastructure software, and cybersecurity.  Mark has been with the firm since 2012 and leads investments in human capital management, supply chain, and eCommerce software. He brings extensive experience in technology and growth investing, having started his career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs.  Mark supports National Brain Tumor Society and CASA. I am your host RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode click to follow.

In this episode, we speak with Russ Roenick, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Transom Capital Group, an operationally focused private equity firm known for thriving in complexity and unlocking value in the middle market. Based in Los Angeles, Transom specializes in corporate carve-outs and lender-owned businesses. Supported by an in-house operations team with deep functional expertise, the firm partners with management teams to transform and grow companies across business services, industrials, consumer, and specialty distribution. Transom was most recently recognized by GrowthCap as a Top Private Equity Firm of 2025. Russ supports Young Presidents Organization. To learn more about this organization click here. I am your host RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode click to follow.

Join Matt Amico, a Partner at Turn/River Capital, as he discusses the revolutionary growth engineering strategy of his firm. Delve into how Turn/River targets software businesses with distribution inefficiencies, turning them into market leaders. Matt shares his unique journey from Goldman Sachs to private equity, emphasizing relationship-building and operational expertise. He also highlights his commitment to education and the enduring impact of his experiences at Tufts University, enriching both his professional and personal growth.