Growth Investor with GrowthCap‘s RJ Lumba

In this episode, we speak with Devon Kirk, General Partner at Portage Capital Solutions, the flagship growth strategy within Portage, focused on providing flexible capital solutions to later-stage fintech and financial services companies. Portage is a global investment platform with $6.3 billion in assets under management and more than 25 investment professionals across North America, Europe, and the Middle East. The firm has invested in over 100 companies since inception and invests across stages through Portage Ventures and Portage Capital Solutions. Portage is part of Sagard, a global multi-strategy alternative asset manager with over $45 billion in assets under management. Devon joined the firm in 2022 and co-leads growth equity, structured equity, and special situations investments across financial technology and financial services companies globally, and helps drive the fund’s overall strategy. She is based in Toronto. Previously, Devon spent over a decade at CPP Investments, and earlier in her career worked at BMO Harris Nesbitt and Linklaters. Portage Capital Solutions was recognized as a Top Growth Equity Firm of 2025 by GrowthCap. 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 Reed Van Gorden, Managing Director of Deerpath Capital, a leading provider of cash-flow based senior debt financing to lower middle market companies across a diverse range of industries and transaction types. Founded in 2007, Deerpath’s mission is to be the premier direct lending firm in the middle market, built on long-term relationships with investors, borrowers, private equity sponsors, and management teams. The firm has invested over $14.5 billion across more than 1,200 transactions and manages approximately $9 billion in assets, supported by a scaled origination platform across key U.S. markets and a global presence in Europe and Asia. Reed is a Managing Director, member of the Investment Committee, and Head of Origination. He joined Deerpath in 2015 and brings 18 years of industry experience, with prior roles in leveraged finance and private equity at Golub Capital, Abingworth Management, and JPMorgan. Deerpath Capital was recognized as a Top Private Credit Firm of 2025 by GrowthCap. Reed supports Make-A-Wish. 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 Todd Abbrecht, Co-CEO of THL Partners, a premier private equity firm investing in middle-market growth companies exclusively within three sectors: healthcare, financial technology & services, and technology & business solutions. Since 1974, THL’s team has managed or deployed $50 billion of equity capital, worked with over 175 partner companies worldwide, and fueled more than 700 add-on acquisitions representing an aggregate enterprise value of over $260 billion. Todd has spent more than 30 years at THL and has played a central role in the firm’s evolution towards sector specialization. The firm combines deep sector expertise through its Identified Sector Opportunity (ISO) process with dedicated internal operating resources from its Strategic Resource Group to transform and build great companies of lasting value in partnership with management teams. These resources aim to accelerate growth, improve operations, and drive long-term sustainable value.  THL Partners was recognized as a Top Private Equity Firm of 2025 by GrowthCap. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

Frank Karl, Managing Director of Kayne Anderson Private Credit and President of Kayne Anderson BDC, brings deep middle-market lending experience. He discusses the firm’s origins, focus on senior secured loans to stable, 'boring' industries, conservative deal structures, why they launched a public BDC, and plans for measured AUM growth.

In this episode, we speak with Vinny Pujji, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Left Lane Capital, a New York- and London-based global venture capital and growth equity firm investing in hyper-growth consumer and technology businesses with enduring customer relationships. Founded in 2019, Left Lane manages approximately $2.5B in assets and operates with a lean, high-performance team focused on partnering with entrepreneurs building category-defining companies across high-growth sectors. As a founding partner, Vinny helps drive the firm’s global investment strategy and portfolio development and plays a key role overseeing Left Lane’s investment team. Prior to Left Lane, he was an investment professional at Insight Partners, where he helped deploy approximately $1B across a portfolio of leading technology companies. Vinny was recently recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 Growth Investor of 2025 by GrowthCap. 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 Michael Henriques, Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager at Magnetar, a multi-strategy alternative investment manager with more than $22 billion in AUM. Founded in 2005, the firm invests across public and private markets in the U.S. and Europe, with a focus on alternative credit, fixed income, and venture strategies. Its Alternative Credit & Fixed Income business targets Specialty Finance, Structured Solutions, and Opportunistic Markets, seeking to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns, particularly during periods of market dislocation. Michael brings three decades of experience in fixed income, structured securities, and real estate. He joined the firm in 2007 and previously served as a Managing Director at Deutsche Bank. Before that, he spent more than ten years at Goldman Sachs, where he began as a structured finance analyst and ultimately co-headed the CDO and Synthetic ABS group. Michael received his MBA from Wharton and his BA from Princeton. Magnetar was recently recognized as a Top Private Credit Firm of 2025 by GrowthCap. Michael supports HE3AT. 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 Alexander Gorokhovskiy, Managing Director and Head of North American Corporate Direct Lending and Venture Debt at Deutsche Bank Private Credit & Infrastructure (“DB PCI”).  DB PCI provides financing, structuring, and risk management solutions across four product verticals: Corporate Direct Lending & Growth Debt, Fund Finance, Digital Infrastructure & Appraisable Assets, and Infrastructure & Energy. Together, these complementary businesses offer flexible financing solutions across the capital structure, including customized terms and product structures. Alexander’s responsibilities span underwriting, structuring, portfolio management, and syndication across DB PCI’s principal lending activities.  DB PCI was recently recognized as a Top Private Credit Firm of 2025 by GrowthCap. Alexander supports American Jewish Committee, UJA Federation NY, Hillel, and Yad Vashem. 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 Adam Hemmer, Managing Director at TSG Consumer, a leading consumer-focused private equity firm with approximately $13 billion in assets under management. With a 35+ year track record of building iconic brands, TSG leverages deep consumer expertise to partner with exceptional leaders and transformational brands, helping them grow and adapt to the ever-evolving needs of their consumers. Adam works closely with TSG’s partner companies and is actively involved in originating, structuring, and conducting due diligence on new investment opportunities. Prior to joining TSG, he was a consultant at Kurt Salmon, advising private equity clients on transactions in consumer products and retail. Adam received a BA from Stanford University. He was recently recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 Growth Investor of 2025 by GrowthCap. 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 Trevor Clark, Founder and Managing Partner of Twin Brook Capital Partners, TPG’s middle-market direct lending business. Founded in 2014, Twin Brook provides tailored, cash flow–based financing solutions to middle-market private equity–backed companies across North America.  Based in Chicago, Twin Brook has approximately 125 dedicated professionals and offers a flexible product suite supporting leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, add-on acquisitions, growth capital, and other financing needs for companies typically generating between $3 million and $50 million in EBITDA. TPG Credit is part of TPG, a leading global alternative asset management firm with $286 billion in assets under management. Prior to founding Twin Brook, Trevor was a Co-Founder and CEO of Madison Capital Funding, a subsidiary of New York Life Investments, where he led the firm’s middle-market lending platform. Earlier in his career, he held underwriting and origination roles at Antares Capital, GE Capital, and Bank of America. TPG Twin Brook was recognized as a Top Private Credit Firm of 2025 by GrowthCap. Trevor support Culinary Care. 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 Brett Hickey, Founder and CEO of Star Mountain Capital, a specialized U.S. lower middle-market asset management firm. Founded in 2010, Star Mountain focuses on providing debt and equity capital to established, growing small and medium-sized businesses, as well as acquiring LP interests in lower middle-market funds, often at a discount. Star Mountain manages approximately $4.5 billion in assets under management and has completed more than 350 direct investments and over 40 secondary or fund investments since inception. The firm is 100% employee-owned, with more than 100 team members and senior advisors sharing in the firm’s investment profits. Brett founded Star Mountain after previously co-founding and serving as President of a multi-manager platform that included four U.S. state-sponsored small business investment funds. Earlier in his career, he worked as an investment banker at Citigroup Global Markets, advising leading asset managers and financial institutions on more than $8 billion in completed transactions. Star Mountain was recognized as a Top Private Credit Firm of 2025 by GrowthCap. Brett supports YMCA. 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.