Growth Investor with GrowthCap‘s RJ Lumba

Enterprise-Scale AI: SambaNova Systems’ Rodrigo Liang

In this episode, we speak with Rodrigo Liang, the Co-Founder and CEO of SambaNova Systems.

Customers turn to SambaNova to quickly deploy state-of-the-art generative AI capabilities within the enterprise.  Its purpose-built enterprise-scale AI platform is the technology backbone for the next generation of AI computing.

Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, the company was founded in 2017 by industry luminaries and is backed by investors including SoftBank, funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, Intel Capital, Google Ventures, and other notable investors.

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

Leading Franchisor Investor: Princeton Equity Group’s Jim Waskovich

In this episode, we speak with Princeton Equity Group Co-Founder and Managing Partner Jim Waskovich.  The firm is among the most experienced franchise and multi-unit investors in the United States, having sponsored investments in some of the most admired, growth-oriented brands in the consumer, healthcare, and business services industries.

Jim co-founded Princeton Equity Group, co-leads its investment activities, and sits on the Firm’s investment committee. Prior to co-founding the firm, Jim spent nearly 20 years as a private equity investor at Summit Partners, ABS Capital, and Princeton Ventures, which he founded in 2006.  Jim is also the Founder and Chairman of Princeton Medspa Partners, a leading consolidator and franchisor in the noninvasive medical aesthetics industry.

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

A Business Savant: Ardurra’s Ernesto Aguilar

In this episode, we speak with Ernesto Aguilar, the President and CEO of Ardurra, which is a multidisciplinary services firm, providing broad-based solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of the public and private sector.  The company is backed by Littlejohn & Co, a middle market private equity firm.

Ardurra provides services in the areas of water, transportation, public works, environmental, aviation, civil, aquatics, emergency management, transit, surveying, structural, community relations and landscape architecture, among others.

Ernesto is a visionary leader and seasoned Professional Engineer with 30+ years of experience encompassing all aspects of operations, management, business development and project delivery for engineering and consulting. He also leads the sourcing, valuation and merging of acquired companies, with an emphasis on integration as the key to building a unified firm.

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

Transforming Transcription: Verbit’s Tom Livne

In this episode, we speak with Tom Livne, CEO and Founder of Verbit, a provider of live captioning and transcription services. The company uses voice AI, integrations and professional transcribers to help businesses provide accessible, compliant meetings and events for a host of industries.

A leader in the $30 billion transcription industry, Verbit has raised $360 million to date after closing its Series E funding round.

A former lawyer, Tom founded Verbit knowing how much money was being spent on transcription. He saw that many more industries could benefit from access to accurate transcripts. He has expertise in enterprise software, as well as tech-enabled and SaaS businesses, and is an active investor in promising tech companies.

Tom supports Keshet. To know more about the organization click here.

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

Top Software Investor: H.I.G. Growth’s Ross Hiatt

In this episode, we speak with Ross Hiatt, Head of H.I.G. Growth, the dedicated growth capital affiliate of H.I.G. Capital, a global alternative investment firm with nearly $60 billion in assets under management. The firm is a multi-industry investor with a primary focus in growing, technology-oriented businesses across sectors including SaaS, Cloud & Data, Software, FinTech, and Technology-Enabled Services.

Ross was named one of GrowthCap’s Top Software Investors of 2023.

He oversees all day-to-day activities of H.I.G. Growth. Prior to joining H.I.G., Ross was a technology investor at TPG. He also lived and worked in Asia, for a combined 10 years in Hong Kong and Tokyo, with both Goldman and TPG.

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

Buy and Build in the Middle Market: GenNx360’s Daphne Dufresne

In this episode, we speak with Daphne Dufresne of GenNx360 Capital Partners, a middle market private equity firm that invests in business-to-business services and manufacturing companies throughout North America.

Daphne has over 25 years of investment experience and plays a crucial role in all aspects of the firm's investment activities and portfolio management. She led the firm’s investments in and chairs the boards of PAG, Genserve, AeroRepair and Whitson’s.

Daphne was named one of GrowthCap’s Top Women Leaders in Growth Investing of 2023 and is a champion for the advancement of women and people of color in finance.

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

Transforming Hospitality Management: Cloudbeds’ Adam Harris

In this episode, we speak with Adam Harris, Co-founder and CEO of Cloudbeds, a leading cloud-based hospitality management system provider. Its software combines solutions for front desk, revenue management, distribution, guest acquisition, and guest engagement in a single unified system.

The company has been through four financing rounds, acquired multiple companies, and driven billions in revenue for tens of thousands of properties. Today, Cloudbeds is in more than 157 countries.

The company has raised over $240 million from investors such as Softbank, Viking Global, PeakSpan and other notable investors.

Adam co-founded Cloudbeds in 2012 after finding it difficult to book local accommodation while traveling in Brazil. He and co-founder Richard Castle envisioned a platform that would allow any property, no matter their size, type, or location, to run their lodging business successfully.

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

Leading Consumer Growth Investor: Blackstone Growth’s Katie Storer

In this episode, we speak with Katie Storer, a Managing Director with Blackstone Growth. Katie was recently recognized by GrowthCap as a Top Woman Leader in Growth Investing of 2023.

Katie focuses on investments in the consumer sector and was a leader of the all-female investment team for Spanx, the revolutionary womenswear brand founded by Sara Blakely. Katie has also been a leader in BXG’S Talent & Development committee, which focuses on the growth of employees and cultivating that pool of talent.

Blackstone Growth is Blackstone’s dedicated growth equity investing platform. It is backed by the scale, operating expertise, and global reach of the world’s largest alternative asset manager.

Katie supports Delivering Good. 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 subscribe.

Business AI Maestro: Fractal’s Srikanth Velamakanni

In this episode, we speak with Srikanth Velamakanni, Co-Founder, Group Chief Executive & Executive Vice-Chairman of Fractal, a provider of artificial intelligence to companies. Fractal's businesses include:  Crux Intelligence , which provides AI driven business intelligence;  Eugenie.ai  for sustainability;  Asper.ai  for revenue growth management; and Senseforth.ai, conversational AI for sales and customer service.

Since its founding in 2000, the company has raised more than $680 million from TPG, Apax, TA Associates and other notable investors and has empowered more than 100 Fortune 500 companies with its AI, data, and analytics-driven business strategies.

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

Tech Investing Legend: TCV’s Jay Hoag

In this episode, we speak with Jay Hoag, Founding General Partner at TCV. Founded in 1995, TCV has built a track record of partnering with private and public technology companies that have developed into global, category-defining players.

The firm has invested over $17 billion in more than 350 technology companies worldwide and has supported over 145 IPOs and strategic acquisitions, making it one of the most active technology investors. Select investments include Airbnb, Celonis, Clio, Cradlepoint, ExactTarget, Expedia, Facebook, Fandango, GoDaddy, GoFundMe, HomeAway, Netflix, Nubank, Revolut, Splunk, Spotify, Toast, Twillio, and Zillow.

Jay has been a venture capitalist and technology investor for 40 years. Prior to TCV, Jay was a Managing Director at Chancellor Capital Management, where he spent more than 12 years as a technology-focused venture capitalist and fund manager. Jay is currently on the board of directors of Netflix, Peloton, TripAdvisor, and Zillow.

Jay supports Part the Cloud. 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 subscribe.