Vector Capital
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
Where Vector Capital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- 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 offeringCore 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 profileNamed customers9 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Vector Capital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology 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 signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Vector Capital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad 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 social profiles
Digital presenceVector Capital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vector Capital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Vector Capital subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
Vector Capital funding detail
Funding detailFunding 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 investmentM&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?
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.
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.