280 Capital Partners

What 280 Capital Partners does

280 Capital Partners is a U.S.-based private equity firm headquartered in Saratoga, California, that invests in lower mid-market technology companies. The firm pursues control-oriented buyouts, late-stage growth, recapitalizations, and consolidation transactions, targeting companies with $25 million to $250 million in revenue and enterprise value, deploying $15 million to $50 million of equity per transaction (with larger deals done in partnership with other investors).

The firm focuses exclusively on information technology and technology-enabled sectors, including application software (SaaS and licensed), infoware/data and media software, BPO and systems solutions, storage software and rich IP systems, and technology-enabled services. Its stated value proposition is operational and strategic value creation — Managing Directors serve as active board directors, coaches, and mentors, rather than engaging in day-to-day operations. The team explicitly differentiates itself through tight integration of private equity professionals with CEO-level operating executives.

The firm is led by two Managing Directors, David N. Martin and David C. Peterschmidt, who collectively bring over 125 years of technology industry experience, including 13 CEO tenures, nearly 40 board seats, and more than 60 M&A and spinout transactions. Past portfolio outcomes cited include scaling Sybase from $60M to ~$1B in revenue and Inktomi reaching a $17B market capitalization. The firm's revenue model is investment-driven — returns are generated through fundamental value creation in portfolio companies via operational improvements, transformation initiatives, and targeted growth strategies, rather than through product or service sales.

Name

280 Capital Partners

Legal name

280 Capital Partners

Website

https://280capitalpartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

280 Capital Partners is a Saratoga, California-based private equity firm investing $15M–$50M in lower mid-market technology companies ($25M–$250M in revenue/enterprise value) across software, BPO, storage, and tech-enabled services sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mid-Market Private Equity

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Business Services (B2B) Growth Equity (FSANACAD)

Keywords

• Mid-market private equity
• Technology buyout investments
• Growth equity capital
• Recapitalization transactions
• Portfolio operational improvement

Headquarters

HQ city

Saratoga

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Private Equity Returns / Investment Profits: 280 Capital Partners generates returns through fundamental value creation in portfolio companies via operational improvement tactics, transformation initiatives, and targeted growth strategies. The firm invests in mid-market technology companies and works in partnership with company management to drive shareholder value creation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

280 Capital Partners is a mid-market private equity firm that invests $15 million to $50 million per transaction in information technology-related companies with $25 million to $250 million in revenue and enterprise value. The firm pursues control-oriented buyouts, late stage growth, recapitalizations, and consolidation transactions, combining investment capital with CEO-level operational expertise delivered through active board involvement, coaching, and mentorship of existing management teams.

Product overview

280 Capital Partners operates as a single private equity fund focused on lower mid-market technology companies. The firm does not offer a platform with modules; rather, it provides investment capital and operational expertise to portfolio companies. Their core offering is growth equity and buyout investments targeting information technology and technology-enabled sectors including application software (SaaS and licensed), infoware (data/media and software), BPO and systems solutions, storage software and rich IP systems, and technology-enabled services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 280 Capital Partners Private Equity Fund Mid-market private equity fund that deploys $15 million to $50 million of investment capital into information technology and technology-enabled companies with $25 million to $250 million in revenue and enterprise value, pursuing control-oriented buyouts, late stage growth, recapitalizations, and consolidation transactions combined with active board-level operational support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Inktomi achieved market cap of $17 billion by 2000 under Peterschmidt's leadership
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves1 record

Broad incumbents

• Vista Equity Partners: Vista Equity Partners is a leading software-focused private equity firm investing in enterprise software, data, and technology-enabled companies. As a much larger incumbent, it competes for the same mid-market and lower mid-market software assets that 280 Capital targets.
• Thoma Bravo: Thoma Bravo is one of the largest technology-focused private equity firms, investing in application, infrastructure, and security software. It serves the same end market as 280 Capital but operates at a much larger scale and with bigger equity checks.
• TA Associates: TA Associates is a global growth private equity firm investing in technology, healthcare, financial services, and consumer companies. Its mid-market technology focus overlaps with 280 Capital's target segment.
• Summit Partners: Summit Partners is a growth equity and private equity firm investing in technology, healthcare, and other growth sectors. It competes with 280 Capital for mid-market technology investments and offers growth-stage and control investments.
• Insight Partners: Insight Partners is a global software and technology investment firm making both growth and control investments in technology companies. While larger in scale, it overlaps with 280 Capital's software and tech-enabled services investment universe.
• Battery Ventures: Battery Ventures is a global, technology-focused investment firm spanning venture, growth, and buyout stages. Like 280 Capital, it targets technology and software companies across stages, with a comparable mid-market orientation.

Emerging players

• HIG Capital: HIG Capital is a global private equity firm with a dedicated technology practice targeting mid-market technology and software companies. Its lower mid-market technology focus is comparable to 280 Capital's investment criteria.
• Clearlake Capital Group: Clearlake Capital is a private investment firm focused on technology and technology-enabled businesses, with investments in software, data, and services. It targets mid-market control transactions, overlapping with 280 Capital's focus area.

Direct peers

• Vector Capital: Vector Capital is a San Francisco-based technology-focused private equity firm that invests in mid-market software, internet, and tech-enabled services companies. Like 280 Capital, it targets control-oriented buyouts in the lower mid-market technology segment.
• Francisco Partners: Francisco Partners is a private equity firm exclusively focused on technology and technology-enabled services businesses, with a particular focus on mid-market enterprise software and IT services companies. It is one of the most direct comparables to 280 Capital in scope and target segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/280-capital-partners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about 280 Capital Partners