About Vista Equity Partners
Vista Equity Partners (Vista) is a leading global investment firm founded by Robert F. Smith. The firm invests exclusively in enterprise software, data and technology-enabled businesses and leverages private equity, permanent capital, credit and public equity investment strategies.
Insights and Business Philosophies
Smith founded Vista in 2000 with the belief that enterprise software would transform the global economy through advancements in connectivity and productivity. As that conviction has become reality, Vista has emerged as the most active investor in the enterprise software market, widely recognized for its leadership and expertise in the sector. Over time, and with each new vintage and additional strategy, the firm has adapted its ability to invest in next-generation companies and systemically build out the Vista ecosystem. From founder-direct credit offerings and late-stage growth capital to scale, to a more traditional private equity model, Vista offers compelling capital solutions and expertise to help the founders of today’s leading enterprise software businesses innovate, grow and thrive in their markets. Within its private equity strategy, Vista pioneered a systematic approach to value creation that strengthens core operating principles to fuel product innovation and accelerate growth in each portfolio company. Dynamic and designed to evolve with shifts in markets and technology, this approach helps founders and executives create better businesses with enduring market value.
The Transformative Power of Technology
Vista remains focused on what’s next, continuing to put capital to work across investment strategies. With this mindset, Vista has kept ahead of the technology timeline. Vista believes the transformative power of technology is the key to an even better future — a smarter economy, a healthier planet and greater opportunities for underserved communities. The firm continues to invest in the companies and leaders at the forefront of the digital revolution — a strategy Vista sees as the best use of capital anywhere in the financial markets.
ESG Commitment
Enterprise software has the capacity to make an outsized impact on the world, transforming business efficiency, productivity and connectivity. Through investment and portfolio operations, Vista’s global technology ecosystem can influence, sustain and advance environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives. Vista has integrated ESG procedures into the firm’s operations and strategies, leading efforts to drive meaningful results and cultivate a lasting impact. The firm’s ESG policy reflects this commitment.
Vista became one of the first North American private equity firms to join the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative in 2021, pledging to reduce emissions by 50% across its private equity and permanent capital portfolio by 2030 and emit net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In pursuit of that commitment, Vista announced the Vista Climate Pledge in 2022 – a portfolio-wide emissions measurement and reduction strategy. As signatories of the pledge, Vista’s majority-owned portfolio companies agreed to measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, set a GHG reduction target and offset GHG emissions on an annual basis.
Read more about the firm’s commitment to ESG and its programs in Vista’s ESG and DE&I Report and Climate Action Report.
Vista’s DE&I Partnerships, Programs and Community Engagement
Vista’s diversity, equity and inclusion vision is to transform the worlds of technology and investing by providing access and opportunity to traditionally underserved communities. Vista engages through a holistic approach that encompasses the firm, its portfolio, the broader investment and technology industries, and the local communities where Vista employees live and work. Through each of these efforts, Vista seeks to realize its DE&I vision at scale.
Building the Next
Generation of Coders
Both Vista and its companies are committed to expanding educational opportunities and building onramps to success. Vista has partnered with Code.org and their Hour of Code program to help expand student access, participation and diversity in computer science. In 2022, Smith and 27 CEOs from across Vista’s portfolio signed Code.org’s letter calling on the Board of Governors and U.S. education policymakers to update K-12 curriculum and ensure all students have the opportunity to study computer science.
Investing
in Internships
Through internship programs, Vista, like Smith, is expanding opportunities for individuals from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in finance. Vista was a founding partner in Girls Who Invest to help increase the number of women in portfolio management and executive leadership in the asset management industry. The firm’s Frontier Fellows program focuses on recruiting rising seniors from backgrounds that have been underrepresented in the private equity industry with full-time, paid internships to prepare them for a career in finance. In 2022, Vista partnered with KIPP Public Schools and the Posse Foundation to expand their internship program to rising sophomores.
Board Diversity
Stewardship
To encourage and advance diverse representation from the top down within its portfolio, Vista launched the External Board Program in 2017 with the goal of achieving greater board diversity and ensuring unique perspectives are represented across the ecosystem. To further align efforts across the industry, Vista partners with organizations such as Diligent’s Modern Leadership Initiative, The Board Challenge, The Board Diversity Action Alliance and Thirty Percent Coalition. Vista also partners with the National Association of Corporate Directors and the Society for Human Resource Management on a number of pipeline programs for Audit, Compensation, Nomination and Governance Committees of private and public company boards.
Connect With Vista
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