Conversations and Lessons on Investing in Enterprise Software

Throughout 2022, I have been fortunate to share many conversations with people around the world about the promise and power of enterprise software. Two discussions stand out that I wanted to highlight.

The Promise and Power of Enterprise Software

When I sat down with Yahoo Finance ’s Julie Hyman during Yahoo’s All Markets Summit, fears of an impending recession were on everyone’s minds. We spoke about how the evolving macroeconomic landscape would impact investors in the tech and enterprise software spaces.

There is clear evidence that enterprise software has become intertwined with nearly every industry and increases productivity: from education and health care to banking and agriculture and beyond. No sector is untouched by software. What makes me proud is how software has also become an important tool in the fight for racial and social justice, offering opportunities to lift individuals and entire communities.

Since early 2020, spending on enterprise software has increased, particularly around cybersecurity and productivity-focused tools. Fluency in how to code and operate these systems continues to be essential to running a business and is imperative for scaling operations. That is why we at Vista Equity Partners continue to believe in the capabilities and promise of enterprise software to change how we work for the better and deliver returns for our investors.

Working With and Supporting Founders

During the Inc. Magazine 5000 Conference in Arizona, I had the chance to speak with Stephanie Mehta on Vista’s model for supporting and working with company founders. Vista has been recognized three times by Inc. Magazine as a Founder-Friendly Investor, and we credit that to the simple idea that doing right by founders is an effective way to engage and scale an investment. That’s why out of all the deals Vista has been involved in since 2019, over 90% of the founders are still involved in their company in some capacity.

With over 100 best practices, Vista's tested methods have increased the productivity, efficiency, and value of our portfolio companies, all while helping founders realize their dreams and scale their businesses. Oftentimes, the implementation of our best practices has a secondary effect that emanates out into the broader community by helping to generate good-paying jobs and more resilient businesses.

Both conversations captured why software and the founders who tap the power of #enterprisesoftware to solve problems, continue to inspire me.

The 2022 Inc. Top Founder-Friendly Investors list is an annual list that was presented 10/2022, which included a participation fee for consideration.