Growth Investor with GrowthCap‘s RJ Lumba

Expansion-Stage Software Investor: Updata’s Jon Seeber

In this episode we speak with Jon Seeber, General Partner of Updata Partners, a leading technology-focused growth equity firm based in Washington, D.C.

Led by an investment team averaging more than 25 years of technology experience, and who began their software careers working in operating companies, Updata invests in high-growth B2B software and software-driven businesses where the combination of capital and operating experience will help accelerate success. Updata has partnered with more than 75 entrepreneurs to date, and has raised more than $1.5 billion in committed capital.

Jon has been a member of Updata’s investment team since 2006. He has more than 20 years of experience as an operator and investor in the software industry.

Jon supports Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy. 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.

Growth Equity Reimagined: Brighton Park Capital’s Mark Dzialga

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.

Software Savior: PAR Technologies’ Savneet Singh

In this episode we speak with Savneet Singh, the President and CEO of PAR Technology, a global leader in restaurant technology. Since taking the helm, he has led PAR’s transformation from near bankruptcy to a market cap of over $2.5 billion. 

Building on over 40 years of experience, PAR is recognized as one of the largest suppliers of point of sale systems in the United States, EMEA and APAC regions.  

Previously, Savneet co-founded GBI, a financial software platform for trading and storing physical precious metals, and worked in investment banking at Morgan Stanley.

Savneet supports SHDF.  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.

Structured Equity Growth Investor: L2 Point’s Kerstin Dittmar

In this episode we speak with Kerstin Dittmar, the Founder, Chief Investment Officer, and Managing Partner of L2 Point, a private investment firm focused on structured equity investments in growth companies across the technology and technology-enabled, consumer, healthcare, and media sectors.

Her creative structuring across the capital structure has made her a sought-after partner to growth companies looking for an alternative cost of capital product that minimizes the dilution of equity and the operational constraints of debt.  Kerstin began her career with Goldman Sachs’ Special Situations Group.  She later went on to TPG Sixth Street Partners where she last served as a Principal.

Kerstin was a 2024 GrowthCap Top 40 Under 40 Growth Investor awardee.

I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

Private Credit Innovator: Monroe Capital’s Zia Uddin

In this episode we speak with Zia Uddin, President of Monroe Capital, a premier asset management firm specializing in private credit markets across various strategies, including direct lending, technology finance, venture debt, alternative credit, structured credit, real estate and equity.  

Since 2004, the firm has been successfully providing capital solutions to clients in the U.S. and Canada.  As of January 1, 2025, Monroe had $20.3 billion in committed and managed capital. The firm is headquartered in Chicago and maintains 11 offices throughout the United States, Asia and Australia.

Zia has over 30 years of management consulting, corporate finance, private equity, turnaround and investing experience. As President, Zia focuses on Monroe’s day-to-day and strategic long-term growth initiatives.  He also assists in both Monroe Capital’s software, technology-enabled and business services lending, as well as the Firms Independent Sponsor activities.

Zia's experience includes past and present roles as a Board member of various public and private companies. He joined the firm in 2007 and is a member of Monroe’s Investment Committee.

I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

Growth Equity Leader: Norwest’s Ran Ding

In this episode we speak with Ran Ding, General Partner at Norwest, a global venture and growth equity investment firm managing more than $15.5 billion in capital. Since its inception, the firm has invested in more than 700 companies and currently partners with more than 250 companies in its venture and growth equity portfolio.

Ran joined Norwest in 2011. As a General Partner and Co-Head of the Growth Equity team, Ran focuses on growth equity investments across a wide range of sectors including technology, business services, and consumer. His most recent investments include Banyan Software, Datacor, Elite Business Ventures and SpryPoint.

Ran is a two-time awardee of GrowthCap’s Top 40 Under 40 Growth Investors, as well as GrowthCap’s Top Software Investors.

I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.

Providing Lasting Healthcare Change: Omada Health’s Sean Duffy

In this episode, we speak with Sean Duffy, the Co-Founder and CEO of Omada Health, a virtual-first healthcare provider that nurtures lifelong health, one day at a time.

Since 2011, Sean and his team’s mission has been to inspire and enable people everywhere to live free of chronic disease. They do this by building digital health programs that are evidence-based, performance-priced, and designed to delight their users.

Omada is backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Norwest Venture Partners, Fidelity, Wellington Management, and other notable investors.

I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode click to follow.

Data-Intelligence Leader: Alation’s Satyen Sangani

In this episode, we speak with Satyen Sangani, the Co-Founder and CEO of Alation, an enterprise software company, whose data catalog serves enterprises in organizing and consolidating their data. Nearly 600 global enterprises — including 40% of the Fortune 100 — rely on Alation to realize value from every data and AI initiative.

Alation is backed by Thoma Bravo, Riverwood Capital, Salesforce Ventures and other notable investors.

Since 2012, Satyen and his team have been passionate about helping enterprises create thriving data cultures where anyone can find, understand, and trust data. Prior to founding Alation, Satyen spent a decade at Oracle where he managed the financial services warehousing and performance management business.

I am your host RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode click to follow.

Leading FinTech Growth Investor: Centana’s Eric Byunn

In this episode we speak with Eric Byunn, Co-Founder and Partner of Centana Growth Partners, a growth equity firm with deep, relevant sector experience investing in and working with companies in financial services, fintech, and related enterprise software.

Eric is a three-time awardee of GrowthCap’s Top Software Investors.

He co-founded Centana in 2015 and previously worked over 20 years in growth equity and technology.  He spent 13 years at FTV Capital, a multi-billion dollar growth equity fund, where he was a partner, served on the management committee and led investments in enterprise technology.  In the earlier part of his career, Eric held positions at Netscape, mCFO and McKinsey.

Eric supports Smithsonian Institution. 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.

Excellence in Software Investing: JMI Equity’s Larry Contrella

In this episode we speak with Larry Contrella, Partner at JMI Equity, a growth equity firm focused on investing in leading software companies. Today, the Firm’s portfolio represents $9 billion in combined revenue, $75 billion in aggregate enterprise value, and over 37,000 jobs.

Larry joined the firm in 2010 and focuses on investments in B2B software businesses.

For the sixth consecutive year, Larry has been recognized by GrowthCap as a Top 40 Under 40 Growth Investor, in addition to being recognized as a Top Software investor for the past two years.

Larry supports Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Friends of Patterson Park.

I am your host RJ Lumba.  We hope you enjoy the show.  If you like the episode, click to follow.