Elevation Partners

Elevation Partners was founded in 2004 by a group of high-profile investment and industry professionals, including Roger McNamee, Fred Anderson, and the musician Bono. The firm specialized in the intersection of media, entertainment, and technology, seeking to capitalize on shifting consumer habits and digital intellectual property. Headquartered in Menlo Park and New York City, it managed approximately $1.9 billion in assets during its operational peak.

The firm is notable for its early investments in major technology platforms and media outlets, including a significant stake in Facebook and a minority interest in Forbes Media. It also played a prominent role in the video game industry by forming VG Holding Corp to house BioWare and Pandemic Studios, which were later sold to Electronic Arts. Despite its high-profile leadership and successes with companies like Yelp and Palm, the firm faced public scrutiny and varying performance across its portfolio.

Elevation Partners effectively ceased operations as an active entity around 2015. Following the liquidation of its portfolio, several team members went on to form NextEquity Partners, while Bono transition to co-founding The Rise Fund, a global impact investment platform. The firm remains a prominent example of 'celebrity' private equity and the early 2000s convergence of Silicon Valley and traditional media.