Vista Equity Partners

Vista Equity Partners, managing approximately $100 billion in assets, is 23% smaller in AUM than #9 Thoma Bravo but excels through its standardized operating playbooks. Founded in 2000 by Robert F. Smith, the Austin-based firm focuses purely on enterprise software buyouts. Smith made international headlines in 2019 by donating $34 million to pay off the entire Morehouse College Class of 2019's student debt. Vista’s unique Vista Consulting Group applies rigorous, data-driven playbooks across portfolio companies, driving measurable improvements in sales, customer success, and product development—yielding consistent margin gains 15% faster than the industry average.