Highland Capital Partners

History

The company was co-founded by Paul Maeder and Bob Higgins in 1987.

Investments and investment funds

Highland is typically the first institutional investor in the companies they back.

Since its founding in 1988, the firm has raised eleven venture capital funds:

• 1988 — Highland Capital Partners
• 1992 — Highland Capital Partners II
• 1996 — Highland Capital Partners III
• 1998 — Highland Capital Partners IV
• 2000 — Highland Capital Partners V
• 2001 — Highland Capital Partners VI
• 2006 — Highland Capital Partners VII
• 2009 — Highland Capital Partners VIII
• 2013 — Highland Capital Partners 9
• 2018 — Highland Capital Partners 10
• 2020 — Highland Capital Leaders Fund

Notable investments

The company has invested some $4 billion in more than 280 companies since its founding, including 2U, Auris Health, Bromium, Clearbanc, Everlywell, Gigamon, Imprivata LevelUp, Lululemon Athletica, Malwarebytes, Qihoo 360, Quattro Wireless, Rent the Runway, Scopely, ThredUp, Turbonomic and VistaPrint.

Current and former employees

Notable members of the team include Bob Davis, the founder of Lycos; Gaurav Tewari, the founder of Omega Venture Partners, and formerly of Highland Capital Partners; and Wyc Grousbeck, owner of the Boston Celtics. In February 2005, Thomas G. Stemberg, the founder and former CEO of Staples, joined Highland.

Other

Highland Capital Partners is not affiliated with Highland Capital Management, the distressed investment firm, hedge fund sponsor, and mutual fund manager based in Dallas, Texas.

In November 2020, several of the senior GPs partnered with Ian Friedman, former co-head of Goldman Sachs Investment Partners (Venture Capital and Growth Equity Team) and formed Highland Transcend Partners I, a SPAC that targets disruptive commerce, digital media, and enterprise software. The founding team consists of Friedman (CEO), Bob Davis (executive chairman), Dan Nova (chief investment officer) and Paul Maeder (CFO).

References

• The Rebirth of Venture Capitalism. New York Times, September 24, 2006
• COMPANY NEWS; STAPLES NAMES ITS CHIEF AS CHAIRMAN. New York Times, March 12, 2005

References

1. Primack, Dan. "Exclusive: Highland Capital co-founders to step back".
2. (2018-09-27). "About".
3. Garland, Russ. (2016-07-26). "Paul Maeder Returns to Lead Highland Capital Partners". Wall Street Journal.
4. [http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/gen/company.html?gcode=C121EAD1C1B44F3F8CC8FC243A93A84F About Highland Capital Partners, Inc.]
5. (8 April 2019). "Online university degree provider 2U acquires Trilogy for $750M to expand into tech bootcamps and training".
6. (2019-02-18). "Auris acquisition could prompt more mega VC rounds".
7. Schubarth, Cromwell. (September 20, 2019). "HP buys Cupertino startup behind its Sure Click security".
8. Warren, Rachel. (2020-06-03). "Health and Wellness Startup Everlywell Selling At-Home Coronavirus Test Kits for $109".
9. vArmour. (2020-02-20). "vArmour and Gigamon Partner to Provide Enterprise Networks With Elevated Application Visibility and Control".
10. "Imprivata moves toward being the next Boston tech IPO".
11. (7 June 2012). "LevelUp Grabs $12M From Highland, Google Ventures To Take Its Mobile Payment Solution National".
12. MacFadyen, Ken. (2012-12-30). "Advent, Highland take stake in yoga outfitter".
13. (19 October 2016). "Security startup Malwarebytes acquires AdwCleaner to nip adware in the bud".
14. Chapman, Lizette. (2014-07-10). "Qihoo 360 Joins Asian Companies Launching VC Groups in Silicon Valley". Wall Street Journal.
15. (2007-09-05). "Quattro Wireless Raises $12.3 Million in Series B Funding".
16. Runway, Rent the. "Rent the Runway Receives $20 Million Investment Led by Advance/Conde Nast".
17. Spangler, Todd. (2014-11-13). "Mobile-Games Startup Scopely Raises $35 Million Led by Evolution Media, Highland Capital".
18. Sormani, Angela. (2012-10-03). "thredUP.com Secures Series C Led by Highland".
19. Dorbian, Iris. (2019-11-04). "VC-backed Turbonomic buys SevOne".
20. [https://biz.yahoo.com/ic/99/99739.html Yahoo! Highland Capital Partners, Inc. company profile]
21. Schawbel, Dan. "Bob Davis's Advice to Young Entrepreneurs".
22. (2020-09-17). "Gaurav Tewari {{!}} Omega Venture Partners".
23. "Wyc Grousbeck formerly of Highland Capital Partners".
24. [http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/4299665-1.html Founder and Former CEO of Staples Joins Highland Capital Partners]
25. "Highland Capital Partners' SPAC Highland Transcend Partners I files for a $250 million IPO".