Silver Lake

Founded in 1999 during the technology boom, Silver Lake was established to make 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 diverse backgrounds in investment banking, operations, and policy, including Jim Davidson, Glenn Hutchins, Roger McNamee, and David Roux. Over the decades, it has grown into one of the largest private equity firms globally, consistently raising multi-billion dollar funds such as the $20.5 billion Silver Lake Partners VII in 2024.

The firm is known for executing some of the largest and most complex transactions in the technology sector. Notable historical deals include the $24.4 billion leveraged buyout of Dell in 2013 and the subsequent acquisition of EMC, which led to a historic gain following the sale of VMware. Silver Lake's portfolio spans various sub-sectors including semiconductors, software, e-commerce, and digital infrastructure. Beyond pure tech, the firm has expanded into tech-enabled areas such as sports, entertainment, and credit, managing a diverse array of investment vehicles.