Growth Investor with GrowthCap‘s RJ Lumba

In this episode we chat with René Stewart and Rachel Arnold, Senior Managing Directors and Co-Heads of Vista’s Endeavor Fund. Endeavor is one of the world’s largest tech buyout funds led by women. Both René and Rachel were recently recognized by GrowthCap as two of the Top Women Leaders in Growth Investing. Endeavor seeks to capture the opportunity among high-growth enterprise software companies in the lower-middle market. Since launch, Vista’s Endeavor platform has successfully raised two funds and now manages over $2.0 billion, investing in a growing portfolio of innovative businesses with $10 to $30 million in annual recurring revenue. In the past year, the Endeavor team announced several new platform investments including Schoox, BlueConic, BigTime, Jebbit, OfficeSpace and MedTrainer. Endeavor also realized an investment with the sale of SecureLink. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.

Graham Weaver, Founder of Alpine Investors, discusses the PeopleFirst approach in private equity, emphasizing hiring exceptional people. He shares insights on cultivating a positive company culture, memorable investments in software and health industries, and reflections on overcoming extreme challenges in high school. The podcast also explores transformation through surrender and universal laws, with valuable advice on pursuing goals fearlessly.

In this episode, we speak with Ryan Drant, Founder and Managing Partner of Questa Capital, a healthcare venture growth equity firm that invests in breakout growth companies. Ryan was recognized by GrowthCap as a Top 25 Healthcare Investor of 2022. He has been actively investing in healthcare since 1996. Ryan specializes in the medical device, healthcare services, healthcare technology and specialty pharma sectors. During his investment career, he has served on 42 boards of directors and has overseen the deployment of $1.0 billion in equity capital. Ryan’s key investments include PocketHealth, Avive, and Bicycle Health. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.

In this episode, we speak with Joshua Nelson, Managing Director and Head of the Healthcare Group for Thomas H. Lee Partners also known as “THL”. In his role, Josh leads a dynamic team with  deep understanding of the healthcare space and operating experience. Josh was recognized by GrowthCap as a Top 25 Healthcare Investor of 2022. THL invests in middle market growth companies exclusively within selected Identified Sector Opportunities (ISOs) in three industry groups: Financial Technology & Services, Healthcare and Technology & Business Solutions.  Since 1974, the firm has raised more than $34 billion of equity capital and has invested in over 160 companies.  Josh is currently on the board of Adare Pharma Solutions, Agiliti Health, Inc., Autism Home Care Holdings, Inc., CSafe Global, Hospice Care, Intelligent Medical Objects, Nextech, Professional Physical Therapy (ProPT), Senior Home Care Holdings, Inc. and Smile Doctors.  I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.

In this episode, we speak with David Schuppan, a Senior Partner and Co-Head of the Healthcare Team at The Vistria Group, a Chicago-based next generation private investment firm operating at the intersection of purpose and profit. David was recognized by GrowthCap as a Top 25 Healthcare Investor of 2022. With over 20 years of healthcare experience, David joined The Vistria Group in 2017 and has helped grow the firm to over $7.1 billion in AUM. Previously, David was a Founder and Partner of Cressey & Company, a healthcare focused private equity firm. David prides himself on working closely with management teams to address some of the nation’s largest health challenges; in particular expanding access and value of healthcare for complex and vulnerable populations. David is currently a Director of Help at Home, Homefree Pharmacy Services, Medalogix, Mission Healthcare, PHCN, Sevita (2x), Rock Dental Brands and VitalCaring Group. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.

For our 100th episode, it is only fitting we interview an investor at one of the key pioneering firms of the growth equity industry.  I’ve heard others in the industry refer to the firm as “The Mighty General Atlantic”, they are indeed the gold standard in growth investing. In this episode, we speak with Robb Vorhoff, Managing Director and Global Head of General Atlantic’s Healthcare Group.  Robb was recognized by GrowthCap as a Top 25 Healthcare Investor of 2022. General Atlantic is a leading global growth equity firm providing capital and strategic support for growth companies. Established in 1980, General Atlantic operates out of 15 global locations across five regions and is supported by 455 employees.  The firm has $64 billion in assets under management.   Robb is active on a number of boards including Alignment Healthcare, Equality Health, Included Health, Marathon Health, Oak Street Health, OneOncology, Stellar Health and Vida Health. Robb joined General Atlantic in 2003.    Previously, he was an analyst at Greenhill & Co. He graduated with a BS in Finance from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia.    I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  

In this episode, we speak with Sean Kim, President and Chief Product Officer of Kajabi, an all-in-one knowledge commerce platform.   Kajabi is used by both seasoned business owners and first-time knowledge entrepreneurs. It has helped its customers generate over $3.5 billion in sales and reach  nearly 60 million people across the globe with their valuable educational content.  Prior to joining Kajabi, Sean was Head of Product at TikTok and before that was Global Head of Product for Retention for Amazon Prime. Kajabi has raised over $550 million in funding and is backed by TPG, Tiger Global, Spectrum Equity and other notable investors. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.

In this episode, we speak with Jeff Crisan, who co-founded Silversmith Capital Partners in 2015. In his role as a Managing Partner, Jeff focuses on investments in Healthcare IT & Services. Jeff was recognized by GrowthCap as a Top 25 Healthcare Investor of 2022. Silversmith Capital Partners is a Boston-based growth equity firm focused on partnering with and supporting the best entrepreneurs in growing technology and healthcare companies. Since its founding in 2015, the firm has raised four funds and has $3.3 billion of capital under management.  With more than 20 years investing experience, Jeff has led many of the firm’s key healthcare investments including Iodine Health, LifeStance Health (Nasdaq: LFST), MediQuant, Nordic, Panalgo (acquired by MMIT/Evaluate), Partners Surgical, Sound Physicians, Upperline Health, US Health Partners and Within3.  I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  

In this episode, we speak with Chris Gordon and Devin O’Reilly who lead Bain Capital’s healthcare investing efforts and have been working closely together for 17 years. Chris also co-heads Bain Capital’s overall North American private equity business. Chris and Devin were each recognized by GrowthCap as a Top 25 Healthcare Investor of 2022.   Since joining Bain Capital in 1997, Chris has been actively involved in nearly all of the firm’s healthcare investing activity, and also helped launch Bain Capital’s dedicated life sciences investing effort in 2016.   Devin joined the firm in 2005.  Previously, he served healthcare industry clients as a consultant at Bain & Co., and also held general management positions in the technology industry.    Bain Capital is one of the world’s leading private investment firms with approximately $160 billion in assets under management. The firm pioneered the value-added approach to investing and has been at the forefront of growth investing since its founding in 1984.    I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.

In this episode, we speak with Garheng Kong, Managing Partner and Founder of HealthQuest Capital, a leading healthcare focused growth equity firm.  HealthQuest invests in commercial stage innovations across the healthcare spectrum from medical devices and technologies to biopharma and diagnostics, and beyond. Garheng founded HealthQuest in 2012.  He is a physician, scientist, and engineer by training, and has over two decades of experience investing in innovative healthcare companies with a long list of successes including 28 IPO and M&A exits.  Garheng received undergraduate degrees in both Chemical Engineering and Biological Sciences from Stanford, while on an athletic scholarship. He then earned a MD, PhD and MBA from Duke University, graduating at the top of his class in each instance. His early career included stints at GlaxoSmithKline, McKinsey and a medical device start-up, TherOx, before joining Intersouth Partners and then Sofinnova Investments. Garheng was recognized by GrowthCap as a Top 25 Healthcare Investor of 2022. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.