Top Growth Equity Investors 2026
An independent editorial leaderboard recognizing the partners, principals, and operators shaping growth investing — across software, healthcare, fintech, and beyond. Selection reflects editorial research and peer signal, not paid placement.
By the Coyote Wealth Editorial Team — researchers and writers with experience across leading Wall Street financial institutions. Updated June 30, 2026.
Evidence-led research
Recognition draws on public track record, deal leadership, board roles, and peer signal — reviewed together, not in isolation.
No pay-to-rank
Placement can't be purchased. Our tiers reflect editorial judgment and disclosures stay visible.
Compiled from public sources
Profiles are our own summaries drawn from firm sites, filings, and press — not performance guarantees.
How to read the tiers
Highest editorial recognition — sustained, multi-cycle standing across our growth-investing research.
High editorial recognition — repeat standouts with a strong, well-documented track of leadership.
Notable editorial recognition — investors building a clear and growing presence in their segment.
What growth equity investors do
Growth equity sits between venture capital and buyouts: it backs companies that already have a proven product and real revenue but need capital and expertise to scale. The investors below lead minority and control deals — most often in software, healthcare IT, and fintech — and typically take board seats to support hiring, go-to-market, and M&A. We recognize the individuals doing that work, not the funds alone, because in growth investing the partner across the table is the relationship that compounds.
This edition by the numbers
19
investors
40
investors
30
investors
Most represented firms
- 1TA Associates7 recognized
- 2JMI Equity6 recognized
- 3Insight Partners5 recognized
- 4Spectrum Equity5 recognized
- 5Summit Partners5 recognized
- 6B Capital3 recognized
- 7Five Elms Capital3 recognized
- 8Lead Edge Capital3 recognized
Firms with multiple recognized investors, ranked by count within this edition. Concentration reflects bench depth across a platform, not an endorsement of returns.
Amara Suebsaeng
Director · TA Associates
Technology-enabled services investments in North America, partnering closely with management teams.
Ben Levin
Co-Founder & CEO · Level Equity
Investing in rapidly growing private software companies since the late 1990s.
Danielle Waldman
Principal · Silversmith Capital Partners
Software and technology-enabled businesses, with emphasis on AI-native platforms and developer tooling.
Hythem El-Nazer
Co-Managing Partner · TA Associates
Firm-wide strategy and North America technology investing as co-head of the technology group.
Jeff Haywood
Managing Director · Spectrum Equity
Co-leads healthcare investing in high-growth software and data services across the care continuum.
Joshua Nelson
Managing Director · THL Partners
Heads the healthcare vertical and sits on the operating and investment committees at THL.
Larry Contrella
Partner · JMI Equity
Minority and majority investments in growth-stage software and AI companies alongside founders and CEOs.
Laura Veroneau
Managing Partner & Founding Team Member · Optum Ventures
Healthcare technology investing; helped build Optum Ventures into a leading digital-health platform with a large portfolio.
Leon Chen
Co-Founder & Managing Partner · Composition Capital
Hands-on support for growth-stage companies; over a decade building founder relationships.
Maggie Schmitt
Partner & Chief Financial Officer · JMI Equity
Oversees accounting, finance, tax, and treasury as JMI's CFO.
Matt Emery
Partner · JMI Equity
High-growth software and AI-driven businesses, including healthcare IT; long-tenured JMI board director.
Nishita Cummings
Co-Founder & Managing Partner · Composition Capital
Growth-stage businesses with a fundamentals-driven approach; co-founded Composition Capital in 2024.
Parag Khandelwal
Managing Director · Spectrum Equity
Leads Spectrum's European investing from London, including the firm's largest European deal.
Rashmi Gopinath
Co-Founder & Managing Partner · BAM Corner Point
Early-growth (Series B–D) enterprise technology, built in partnership with Balyasny Asset Management.
Rebecca Liu-Doyle
Managing Director · Insight Partners
High-growth software, fintech, and consumer internet investments.
Sonya Brown
General Partner & Co-Head of Growth Equity · Norwest
20+ years investing; co-leads Norwest's growth equity team from Menlo Park.
Sophia Popova
Partner · Summit Partners
Growth investments in software platforms at the intersection of content, commerce, and data.
Stephanie Schneider
Partner · Five Elms Capital
Fast-growing B2B software businesses; more than a decade executing and supporting Five Elms investments.
Steve LeSieur
Managing Director · Spectrum Equity
Co-leads healthcare investing in high-growth software and data services businesses.
Adam Seabrook
Partner · B Capital
Leads healthcare and digital-health investments.
Aliya Khaydarova
Partner · Inverness Graham Investments
Lower middle-market buyouts of founder-led businesses transformed by technology.
Anika Agarwal
Managing Director · Insight Partners
Buyouts and majority recaps of application and infrastructure software companies.
Annaliesa Routh
Principal · Spectrum Equity
Growth-stage software, AI, and data businesses.
Art Heidrich
Partner · TPG
Co-leads software and enterprise technology investing from San Francisco.
Bill Skarinka
Managing Director · PSG
Growth-stage enterprise software and technology investments.
Brian Hersman
Partner · JMI Equity
Enterprise software investing since 2008; multiple active board seats.
Caitlin Vorlicek
Partner · Sageview Capital
Helps lead growth-equity investing in software and tech-enabled businesses.
Chris Cavanagh
Partner · Guidepost Growth Equity
Application software and data-services investments; active board director.
Clara Jackson
Managing Director · TA Associates
Financial services and fintech investments across North America.
David Klein
Co-Founder & Managing Partner · One Peak
Backs exceptional B2B software companies; 20+ years of experience.
Emila Damjanovic
Partner & Head of Investor Relations · Lead Edge Capital
Leads a global network of 700+ executives central to the firm's strategy.
Emily Calkins
Principal · Spectrum Equity
Product-led, fast-growth businesses; joined Spectrum from Stanford GSB.
Eric Byunn
Partner & Co-Founder · Centana Growth Partners
Co-founded Centana in 2015; 20+ years in growth equity and technology.
Eugene Nogi
General Partner · Guidepost Growth Equity
Infrastructure software and tech-enabled services with FinTech, EdTech, and GovTech focus.
Garheng Kong
Managing Partner & Founder · HealthQuest Capital
Growth capital for companies improving value across the healthcare system.
Hilary Fleischer
Partner · Strattam Capital
Founder-led, independent B2B software and technology companies.
Humbert de Liedekerke Beaufort
Co-Founder & Managing Partner · One Peak
Backs high-growth B2B software companies; 20+ years of experience.
Joe Onofrio
Partner · Five Elms Capital
Co-investment chair; B2B software investing since 2010.
Jon Kossow
Managing Partner · Norwest
Co-heads growth equity; 25+ years of investment experience.
Kapil Desai
Partner · Catalyst Investors
Leads the healthcare practice; software and tech-enabled services in care delivery.
Karly Wentz
Partner · B Capital
Growth-stage energy and resilience technologies.
Len Ferrington
Managing Director · Summit Partners
Nearly 20 years investing in high-growth technology companies.
Mac Williams
Partner · JMI Equity
Minority and majority investments in growth-stage software and AI companies.
Marco Ferrari
Managing Director & Co-Head of North America · PSG
Two decades identifying and scaling growth-stage software companies.
Martin Felsenthal
Partner · Health Velocity Capital
28+ years investing exclusively in healthcare software and services.
Matt Amico
Partner · Turn/River
B2B software investments globally; led several of the firm's most significant transactions.
Matt Carroll
Managing Partner · WestView Capital Partners
Built WestView's healthcare technology and outsourced-services strategy.
Matthew Alfieri
Partner · Centana Growth Partners
Financial services and enterprise software; ~15 years of investing experience.
Megan Preiner
Managing Director · THL Partners
Healthcare services, pharma services, bioprocessing, and home-based care.
Melanie Nabar
Principal · Volition Capital
Software team member deploying significant firm capital across investments.
Michael Medici
Managing Director · Summit Partners
Two decades investing in high-growth technology companies.
Mike Libert
Managing Director · TA Associates
Cross-border software investing in North America; 19+ platform software deals.
Ran Ding
Partner · Norwest
Co-heads growth equity across technology, business services, and consumer.
Robb Vorhoff
Managing Director · General Atlantic
Global head of healthcare; leads GA's healthcare investing strategy.
Robert Mittendorff
General Partner · B Capital
Global head of healthcare; venture and growth investing in category-defining healthcare companies.
Ross Hiatt
Managing Director · H.I.G. Capital
Heads H.I.G. Growth Partners, the firm's growth-stage technology group.
Ryan Mandl
Partner · Five Elms Capital
High-growth B2B software businesses globally; with Five Elms since 2010.
Sean Cantwell
Co-Founder & Managing Partner · Volition Capital
Leads the software investment team with numerous board directorships.
Tom Reardon
Managing Director & Co-Head of North America · PSG
Partners with founders on growth-stage software investments; with PSG since 2015.
Adam Feinstein
Founder & Managing Partner · Vesey Street Capital Partners
30+ years in healthcare services private equity.
Afaf Ibraheem Warren
Managing Director · Haveli Investments
Leads the data and infrastructure software team.
Andrew Collins
Managing Director · Summit Partners
17+ years partnering with category-defining technology companies.
Anthony Hayes
Partner · Mainsail Partners
Sources and executes investments in founder-owned SaaS companies.
Arsani William
Managing Partner & Chief Investment Officer · Logos Capital
Biotechnology-focused investing in transformative medicines.
Ashu Agrawal
Managing Director · TA Associates
Enterprise software and technology-enabled companies from Menlo Park.
Braden Snyder
General Partner · Updata Partners
Leads new software investments and sourcing at an operator-led firm.
Brian Neider
Managing Partner · Lead Edge Capital
Helps lead firm operations across investment and management committees.
Colin Mistele
Managing Director · Summit Partners
Category-defining software across vertical SaaS and fintech.
Dina Berdichevsky
Vice President · JMI Equity
Sources and evaluates software investments; board seat at Unanet.
Ethan Liebermann
Managing Director · TA Associates
Heads the North America healthcare group; building TA's healthcare platform since 2007.
Farouk Hussein
Partner · Hg
Leads the Mercury fund in North America at a transatlantic software investor.
Jeff Lieberman
Managing Director · Insight Partners
25+ years partnering with disruptive software companies.
Jim Carlisle
Managing Director · THL Partners
Heads the Technology & Business Solutions group and sits on the management committee.
Jon Nuger
Managing Director · Berkshire Partners
Key leader of the technology and communications team; at Berkshire since 2012.
Matt Melymuka
Co-Founder & Managing Partner · PeakSpan Capital
Thematic B2B software growth equity at a firm with $2.5B+ in AUM.
Melanie Fan
Partner · Ampersand Capital Partners
Value creation across healthcare and life-sciences investments.
Ned Kingsley
Principal · Silversmith Capital Partners
Growth-stage software, data, and information-services businesses.
Nick Leppla
Director · TA Associates
Technology investments; over a decade of sector experience.
Nimay Mehta
Managing Partner · Lead Edge Capital
Helps lead firm operations across investment and management committees.
Philine Huizing
Managing Director · Insight Partners
Infrastructure software and cybersecurity investing.
Rob Heimann
Managing Partner · RC Capital
Leads the healthcare services practice, partnering with mission-driven founders.
Roger Hurwitz
Founding Partner · Volition Capital
Software and technology-enabled business services; active board member.
Sam Kentor
Partner · Brighton Park Capital
Investment committee member leading software and services investments.
Sarah Sommer
Co-Founder & Partner · Level Equity
Growth-stage software investing at a lower middle-market firm with $6.5B+ AUM.
Steve Bailey
Partner & Managing Director · Carlyle
Growth, middle-market, and large-cap technology investing; with Carlyle since 2005.
Teddie Wardi
Managing Director · Insight Partners
Early-growth software investments; portfolio includes Wiz and Armis Security.
Tim Drager
Partner · Brighton Park Capital
Infrastructure software, AI, and developer tools investments.
Tollie Brown
Principal · Mainsail Partners
Sources and supports investments in founder-owned SaaS companies.
Tyler Newton
Partner · Catalyst Investors
Vertical SaaS, HR tech, and sustainability investments; partner since 2006.
Showing 89 of 89 recognized investors.
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Nominate a professionalFrequently asked questions
How does Coyote Wealth choose the top growth equity investors?
We compile the leaderboard from public evidence — deal leadership, board roles, fund tenure, and peer signal — reviewed together by our editorial team across research cycles. Placement can't be purchased, and tiers reflect editorial judgment rather than reported returns.
What is the difference between the AAA, AA, and A tiers?
AAA is our highest editorial recognition for investors with sustained, multi-cycle standing. AA marks repeat standouts with a strong documented track of leadership. A recognizes investors building a clear and growing presence in their segment. Tiers describe editorial recognition, not a ranking of investment performance.
What counts as growth equity investing?
Growth equity backs companies that already have proven products and revenue but need capital to scale — typically minority or control investments in profitable or near-profitable software, healthcare, and fintech businesses. It sits between venture capital (earlier, higher risk) and traditional buyouts (mature, often leveraged).
Can an investor pay to be listed or move up a tier?
No. The leaderboard is editorial and pay-to-rank is not available. Firms and individuals can submit nominations, but inclusion and tier are decided independently by our editorial team.
How often is the leaderboard updated?
We review the cohort each research cycle and refresh profiles and tiers as public information changes. This edition was last reviewed in June 2026.
Coyote Wealth is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, or financial planner. Rankings are editorially determined based on publicly available information and our team's professional judgment. Some firms may pay for sponsored placements, which are clearly labeled "Sponsored." Nothing on this site constitutes investment advice. We may receive compensation when you connect with a provider. See our Advertiser Disclosure.