Vector Capital

Private Equity - Technologyvectorcapital.com

Vector Capital is a San Francisco-based private equity firm founded in 1997 that manages over $4 billion in assets, focusing exclusively on transformational investments in established technology companies across cybersecurity, data infrastructure, and enterprise software.

Company typePrivate
Founded1997
HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
Headcount11–50
GTM typeB2B
OfferingServices

What Vector Capital does

Vector Capital Management, L.P. is a private equity firm founded in 1997 after spinning out of Ziff Brothers Investments, headquartered in San Francisco, California. The firm is one of the first private equity firms to focus exclusively on technology investments and manages over $4 billion in assets under management from a diverse investor base of university endowments, foundations, financial institutions, wealthy families, and technology industry luminaries. Vector operates a multi-strategy platform spanning traditional public and private company buyouts, corporate carve-outs, recapitalizations, growth equity investments, private investments in public companies, and a direct credit strategy (Vector Velocity Fund) providing senior secured loans.

The firm's portfolio consists of 50+ technology investments across cybersecurity (WatchGuard, Malwarebytes, Kela), data and AI infrastructure (SingleStore, MarkLogic), networking and observability (Riverbed), sales and revenue enablement (Showpad/Bigtincan), creativity and productivity software (Corel), communications automation (IntelePeer), and other enterprise software verticals. Vector differentiates through a dedicated Value Creation Team that provides operational support in product strategy, pricing, supply chain, finance, IT infrastructure, and human resources, alongside active board participation by its Managing Directors. Recent strategic activity in 2025-2026 has been heavily concentrated on AI-adjacent and AI-native platforms, including the Bigtincan/Showpad merger, the SingleStore growth buyout, and the Corel reacquisition.

Vector generates revenue through management fees on committed capital (subscription/recurring), carried interest on successful exits (subscription/recurring), and investment returns from portfolio transactions. Notable realized exits include SafeNet to Gemalto ($890M in 2015) and RAE Systems to Honeywell ($340M in 2013). The firm invests equity tickets from $5 million to $150 million and originated $4 billion in cumulative invested capital since inception.

Vector Capital firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Vector Capital
Legal name: Vector Capital Management, L.P.
Website: https://vectorcapital.com
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1997
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 11–50 employees
Short description: Vector Capital is a San Francisco-based private equity firm founded in 1997 that manages over $4 billion in assets, focusing exclusively on transformational investments in established technology companies across cybersecurity, data infrastructure, and enterprise software.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Vector Capital industry classification

Industry

Product category: Private Equity - Technology
NAICS: Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Financial Vehicles (52599)
SIC: Investors, Nec (6799), Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Investment Advice (6282)
akta.pro primary industry: Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)
akta.pro secondary industries: Private Credit / Direct Lending (FSAAAHAG), Large-Cap / Sponsor Finance Direct Lending (FSANADAJ)

Keywords

Technology private equity
Buyout investments
Growth equity
Credit securities
Corporate carve-outs

Where Vector Capital is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: San Francisco
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

Vector Capital business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

Management Fees: Management fees collected from managed funds, typically a percentage of assets under management
Carried Interest / Performance Fees: Carried interest from successful portfolio company exits and investments
Investment Returns: Returns from equity investments in portfolio companies through buyouts, growth equity, and other transaction types

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Vector Capital product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Vector Capital is a private equity firm that invests in established technology businesses through a multi-strategy platform spanning traditional public and private company buyouts, corporate carve-outs, recapitalizations, growth equity investments, and private investments in public companies. The firm also operates direct credit strategies including the Vector Velocity Fund and Vector Capital Credit Opportunity Fund, providing senior secured loans to middle-market technology and tech-enabled companies.

Product overview

Vector Capital is a private equity firm that has invested in over 50 technology companies across various sectors. The portfolio consists primarily of established software companies with proprietary platforms. Key products include: Showpad (AI-native revenue enablement platform formed from merger with Bigtincan), WatchGuard (network security for MSPs), Corel (creativity/productivity software suite), Riverbed (IT observability), Malwarebytes (endpoint security), SingleStore (hybrid database), IntelePeer (AI communications automation), CloudSense (commerce on Salesforce), Kela (cyber intelligence), and Marigold (B2C marketing). The combined Showpad platform organizes around four pillars: Readiness (training/coaching), Content (content management), Engagement (buyer-facing tools), and GenieAI (AI layer). The firm's portfolio serves enterprise customers across cybersecurity, sales enablement, data management, marketing technology, and infrastructure sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

Vector Capital Credit Opportunity Fund: Diversified portfolio of generally liquid credit securities targeting lower-volatility investments with consistent returns through current income and capital appreciation.
Vector Velocity Fund

Products and services

Technology Buyout Investments Traditional public and private company buyouts in established technology businesses, executed in partnership with management teams.
Growth Equity Investments Minority equity investments in technology companies to fund expansion, product development, and strategic growth initiatives.
Corporate Carve-outs and Recapitalizations

Companies that use Vector Capital

Customer profile

Named customers9 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Vector Capital technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Vector Capital partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Vector Capital competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

KKR: KKR is a global alternative asset manager with significant technology investing activity. Vector and KKR have transacted multiple times (KKR acquired Corel from Vector in 2019; Vector re-acquired Corel portfolio from KKR in 2026), making them a frequent counterparty in the technology PE ecosystem.
Permira: Permira is a global private equity firm with significant technology sector investing activity, particularly in enterprise software and tech-enabled services. Comparable as a multi-strategy PE firm with overlapping portfolio themes in software and technology.
TPG Capital: TPG is a global alternative asset manager with a dedicated technology investing practice. Comparable as a broad-based PE firm with significant technology sector overlap, though at much larger scale and broader sector mandate than Vector Capital.
Apollo Management: Apollo Global Management is a major alternative asset manager with technology private equity and credit operations. Vector acquired Riverbed Technology from an investor group led by Apollo in 2023, demonstrating their activity in the same technology leveraged buyout ecosystem.
Silver Lake: Silver Lake is one of the largest technology-focused private equity firms with over $100B AUM, focused on large-cap technology investments. While significantly larger than Vector Capital, Silver Lake operates in the same technology PE space with overlapping investment themes (software, internet, data, cybersecurity).

Emerging players

Insight Partners: Insight Partners is a global private equity and venture capital firm focused on high-growth technology and software investments. Comparable in technology sector specialization but with greater focus on growth-stage and venture-style investments rather than Vector's mid-market buyout orientation.

Direct peers

Francisco Partners: Francisco Partners is a technology-focused private equity firm that invests in mid-market technology companies. Directly comparable to Vector Capital as both are sector-specialist PE firms focused exclusively on technology buyouts, growth equity, and credit. Francisco Partners and Vector have even co-invested (e.g., WatchGuard Technologies).
Thoma Bravo: Thoma Bravo is the largest software-focused private equity firm with over $100B AUM, specializing in take-privates and buyouts of enterprise software companies. Directly comparable to Vector Capital's core thesis but at significantly greater scale; both target established technology businesses for operational transformation.
Clearlake Capital: Clearlake Capital is a technology-focused private equity firm investing in software, data, and technology-enabled businesses. Vector and Clearlake partnered to take Cornerstone OnDemand private in October 2021, demonstrating they often collaborate on transactions — making them a strong peer with overlapping deal flow.
Vista Equity Partners: Vista Equity Partners is a leading technology-focused private equity firm with over $90B AUM, focused exclusively on enterprise software, data, and technology-enabled businesses. Comparable to Vector Capital in sector specialization, investment approach (operational improvement), and target company profile (established tech businesses).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Vector Capital financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Vector Capital leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Vector Capital subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries9 records

Vector Capital funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Vector Capital M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A22 records

Investments31 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vector Capital

What does Vector Capital do?

Is Vector Capital a public or private company?

Vector Capital is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.

When was Vector Capital founded?

Vector Capital was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is Vector Capital based?

Vector Capital is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.

How does Vector Capital make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are carried Interest / Performance Fees and investment Returns.

Who are Vector Capital's main competitors?

Broad incumbents on record are KKR, Permira, TPG Capital, Apollo Management and Silver Lake. Insight Partners is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Francisco Partners, Thoma Bravo, Clearlake Capital and Vista Equity Partners.

Does Vector Capital have an API?

No public API is recorded for Vector Capital.

What industry is Vector Capital in?

Vector Capital's product category is Private Equity - Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAD, Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists), with a secondary code of FSAAAHAG, Private Credit / Direct Lending. Its NAICS code is 525 and its SIC code is 6799.