Growth Investor with GrowthCap‘s RJ Lumba

In this episode, we speak with Tyler Wolfram, a Managing Partner at Oak Hill Capital, a longstanding private equity firm that has been investing in the North American middle market for nearly 40 years. Oak Hill applies a specialized, theme-based approach to investing across services and digital infrastructure.  Since 1986, Oak Hill and its predecessors have raised over $23 billion in initial capital commitments and co-investments and have invested in more than 110 companies. Tyler has been a Managing Partner at Oak Hill Capital since 2012 and has been with the firm since 2001. Previously, he was a Managing Director at J.H. Whitney and spent the early part of his career at DLJ.   I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.  

Marc Bhargava, Managing Director at General Catalyst, dives into the transformative impact of AI on investment strategies. He discusses his pioneering role in incubating new businesses and enhancing existing ones through AI integration, emphasizing long-term growth and founder-led approaches. Marc shares insights on navigating the complexities of private equity and the advantages of innovative deal structures. He also reflects on his family's immigrant background and its influence on his entrepreneurial mindset and commitment to global humanitarian efforts.

In this episode, we speak with Michael Dominguez, Chief Investment Officer and Senior Managing Director at Providence Equity Partners — a leading private equity firm specializing in growth-oriented media, communications, education, and technology companies across North America and Europe. Since its founding in 1989, Providence has combined deep industry expertise with a collaborative investment approach, deploying over $40 billion across more than 180 portfolio companies to help build exceptional businesses and generate attractive returns. Michael joined the firm’s Providence office in 1998. He is the chair of the investment committee and a member of the executive and portfolio review committees. He oversees the firm’s portfolio operations group and serves as co-chair of Providence’s responsible investing committee. I am your host, RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode, click to follow.

Brendan Carroll, Co-Founder and Senior Partner at Victory Park Capital, shares insights on the evolution of private asset-backed credit and the firm's innovative lending strategies. He discusses how VPC fills financing gaps left by traditional banks and emphasizes the growing appeal of private credit for retail investors. Brendan also dives into his unique journey from politics to finance, underscoring the importance of mentorship and community support, particularly through his commitment to pediatric cancer services.

In this episode we speak with Brian Dudley, Partner at Adams Street Partners, a global private markets investment manager with investments in more than 30 countries across five continents. Adams Street is 100% employee-owned and has $62 billion in AUM across primary, secondary, growth equity, credit, and co-investment strategies. The firm strives to generate actionable investment insights across market cycles by drawing on over 50 years of private markets experience, proprietary intelligence, and trusted relationships. Since joining Adams Street’s Growth Equity Team in 2013, Brian has led the firm’s application software investments, focusing on growth equity in software, fintech, and consumer sectors, while actively contributing to thought leadership, industry events, and several key committees. Brian supports RallyCap Sports. 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.

Matthew Carroll, Managing Partner at WestView Capital Partners, shares invaluable insights on growth investing in middle-market companies. He discusses the significance of teamwork and humility among WestView's founders, revealing their enduring partnership over two decades. Carroll also dives into their 'control agnostic' investment philosophy and adaptive strategies in healthcare and IT sectors. Personal influences, like a supportive spouse and a late cousin, shaped his work ethic, reinforcing his commitment to community impact and first-generation college students.

Satoshi Harris-Koizumi, a Partner at Battery Ventures, specializes in later-stage B2B software investments. He discusses Battery's unique S-curve investment model and the intensifying competition in later-stage deals, highlighting their hands-on approach. Satoshi explains the attraction to vertical SaaS markets and shares insights on AI's evolving role in the software landscape. He emphasizes the importance of mentorship within Battery's culture and offers advice for aspiring investors, advocating for persistence and authenticity.

In this episode, we speak with Jason Guss, Co-Founder and CEO of Octane, a financing platform assisting fast and confident powersports purchases by making financing as easy as cash and creating access through fair credit products. Under Jason’s leadership, Octane has raised both debt and equity amounting to approximately  $2.6 billion.  Prior to Octane, Jason worked at Capital One in Corporate Strategy.  Since 2014, Octane has partnered with dozens of manufacturers and thousands of powersports dealerships to help drive more sales with their platform. They are backed by Valar Ventures, Contour Venture Partners, IA Ventures, DreamIt Ventures, FinTech Collective, Third Prime Ventures and Citi Ventures. Jason supports Baby2Baby. 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.

Jon Seeber, General Partner at Updata Partners, shares insights from his 20+ years in the software industry. He discusses the dynamic growth equity landscape in D.C., emphasizing strategic partnerships with management teams of B2B software firms. A case study on Viewpoint Construction Software illustrates how operational expertise fuels success. Jon also highlights the importance of teamwork, drawing parallels with his wrestling background, and reflects on the value of community, showcasing Updata's support for the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy.

In this episode we speak with Mark Dzialga, the Founder and Managing Partner of Brighton Park Capital, a growth equity investment firm focused on entrepreneur-led, growth-stage software, healthcare, and tech-enabled services companies. Brighton Park Capital invests in companies that provide highly innovative solutions in partnership with great management teams. The firm brings purpose-built, value-add capabilities that match the unique requirements of each of its companies to build market leading products and to execute the needed strategies to create important global companies. Prior to starting Brighton Park Capital, Mark was a Managing Director at General Atlantic for more than 20 years. I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.