Silver Lake

Founded in 1999 during the technology boom, Silver Lake was established to focus on private equity investments in mature technology companies rather than the early-stage startups typically targeted by venture capitalists. The firm was started by a group of professionals with backgrounds in investment banking, operations, and policy, including Jim Davidson, Glenn Hutchins, Roger McNamee, and David Roux.

The firm has grown into one of the largest private equity firms globally, managing over $100 billion in assets. It is known for executing some of the largest and most complex deals in the technology industry, including the historic leveraged buyouts of Dell and EMC. Silver Lake operates through several distinct strategies including its flagship large-cap fund, structured equity and debt through Silver Lake Alpine, and growth capital via Silver Lake Waterman.

In recent years, the firm has expanded its reach into diverse tech-enabled sectors such as sports, entertainment, and e-commerce. Notable recent activities include the acquisition of Electronic Arts for over $50 billion and taking the entertainment giant Endeavor private. The firm continues to raise massive flagship funds, with its seventh fund closing at over $20 billion in 2024.