A team of experienced growth equity investors today announced the rebranding of their ten-year old firm as Guidepost Growth Equity. Having previously operated as North Bridge Growth Equity, Guidepost Growth Equity currently manages two funds and partners with owner-entrepreneurs to provide the flexible capital, operational support and strategic guidance necessary to support the continued growth of their companies.
Co-founded in 2007 by Advent International veterans Doug Kingsley and Mike Pehl as an affiliate of North Bridge Venture Partners, the Guidepost Growth Equity senior team today includes Kingsley and Pehl as well Managing Partners Roshen Menon and Russ Pyle, both of whom have been with the firm since its original founding. Guidepost Growth Equity invests in technology companies with innovative solutions in large, dynamic markets including business services, software, healthcare IT, communications and infrastructure. The firm typically invests in North American companies located outside of the conventional entrepreneurial hubs on the coasts, in places such as Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, Louisiana, and Minnesota.
“We have a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by growth-stage companies and the owner-entrepreneurs that have built them,” said Kingsley. “We selected the name ‘guidepost’ because it symbolizes how we meet companies already on the growth path and help them to navigate the challenges and choices they face on the next leg of their journey.”
Guidepost Growth Equity invests in bootstrapped, capital efficient companies. Achieving additional growth often requires refinements to organizational structure, governance, and key business functions. As a trusted partner to its companies, Guidepost Growth Equity works closely with owner-entrepreneurs to build strong Boards of Directors, strengthen management teams with key hires, evaluate strategic options, and provide critical operating support across finance, product development, sales and marketing.
“Our expertise lies in partnering closely with our companies, which have surpassed key milestones and reached a crossroads,” said Pyle. “The entrepreneurs with whom we work have already built meaningful businesses and are eager for the additional operational support and counsel we can provide as they continue to expand and solidify their market leadership.”
Investments in the funds managed by Guidepost Growth Equity include Dyn, a cloud-based internet performance and DNS provider (acquired by Oracle); IngeniousMed, a mobile/cloud-based patient encounter platform; OutSystems, an enterprise platform for low-code application development; Proto Labs, an internet-enabled rapid manufacturing services provider; RuffaloCODY, a provider of technology-enabled fundraising, membership and enrollment management solutions for institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations (acquired by a financial sponsor); SmartPak, a developer of innovative technology for the delivery of equine supplementation (acquired by Henry Schein Animal Health); and WPEngine, a managed cloud services provider for the WordPress environment. Please see www.guidepostgrowth.com/companies for a list of all investments of the funds managed by Guidepost Growth Equity.
About Guidepost Growth Equity
Guidepost Growth Equity is a leading growth equity firm that partners with technology companies offering innovative solutions in large, dynamic markets including business services, software, healthcare IT, communications and infrastructure. Guidepost Growth Equity provides the flexible capital, operational support and strategic guidance necessary to support the continued success of growth-stage businesses located in North America. Guidepost Growth Equity has over $1 billion of capital under management. Please visit our website at www.guidepostgrowth.com.
