Scaling with Sumeru

Today, Sumeru Managing Director Jason Babcoke, explains the art and science of product marketing, the value of brand advocates, and why a founder-friendly investor is more than just a passive investor.

Jason is a Managing Director focused on the firm’s software investments and sits on the investment committee. Prior to co-founding Sumeru Equity Partners, he was a principal at Silver Lake Sumeru, the middle market investment strategy of Silver Lake and predecessor fund of Sumeru Equity Partners.

Jason has more than 15 years of technology investing and operating experience. As an operator, Jason was the Director of Engineering for Angstron Systems, a venture-backed startup he helped lead to a successful acquisition and he holds six issued patents. As an investor, Jason focuses on business-oriented software with investments including Talend (IPO – NASDAQ:TLND), Blackline (IPO – NASDAQ:BL), Buildium (Acquired), Snow Software, Criteria, Tasktop, and Loopio.

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In the summer of 2020, Sumeru placed 100 college interns across more than a dozen of its portfolio companies in just two weeks. Sumeru Vice President Jialin Zhang explains how — and more importantly why — they did it.

Jialin is a Vice President of Sumeru Equity Partners and joined the firm in 2019. Prior to joining Sumeru Equity Partners, Jialin worked in the Healthcare Investment Banking Group at Goldman Sachs in New York.

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This week, Sumeru Managing Partner Kyle Ryland shares the distinction between private equity and growth capital, the power of strong company culture, and what Sumeru looks for in a founder.

Kyle is the Managing Partner of Sumeru Equity Partners where he focuses on leading investments in software and hardware companies. He sits on the firm’s investment committee. Prior to co-founding Sumeru Equity Partners, Kyle co-founded and served as Managing Director of Silver Lake Sumeru, the middle market investment strategy of Silver Lake and predecessor fund to Sumeru Equity Partners. He has over two decades of experience with private equity investments, venture capital, corporate finance, and mergers and acquisitions in the technology sector.

Prior to co-founding Silver Lake Sumeru, Kyle was a Partner at Shah Capital Partners where he was responsible for mid-market technology private equity investments. Prior to joining Shah Capital Partners, Kyle was a Managing Director at Lehman Brothers and the head of Global Technology Investment Banking, where he served as an advisor to a number of leading technology companies. Prior to Lehman Brothers, he was a technology investment banker at Robertson Stephens and also worked in the firm’s venture capital funds where he analyzed and executed venture capital investments.

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This week, Sumeru Managing Director John Brennan shares what it takes to scale a product-led company—from UX and innovation to the role of domain knowledge.

John is a Managing Director focused on the firm’s software investments and sits on the investment committee. Prior to co-founding Sumeru Equity Partners he was a Managing Director at Silver Lake Sumeru, the middle market investment strategy of Silver Lake and predecessor fund of Sumeru Equity Partners. John has two decades of operating and investing experience in the technology sector.

Prior to joining Silver Lake Sumeru, John was at Adobe Systems where he most recently led the company’s Platform Software business unit. In addition, he directed the activities of Adobe’s Creative Professional business unit in an operating capacity in 2005. Prior to Adobe Systems, John was with Hewlett-Packard Company, Senior Vice President of SMB segment operations. John also spent 8 years working for Accenture Strategic Services where he was a Principal and Associate Partner of Electronics and High-Tech Practice.

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