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Key people at Globespan Capital Partners.
Globespan Capital Partners is a venture capital firm based in Boston, Massachusetts, with an additional presence in New York, that invests in startups across the IT infrastructure, software-as-a-service, mobile, and internet sectors. The firm provides strategic guidance and operational support to companies navigating seed, Series A, Series B, and Series C funding rounds. Leveraging a team with more than 60 years of collective technology experience and involvement in eight prior startups, the firm has helped expand technology businesses across 35 countries globally. Globespan Capital Partners has backed several notable portfolio companies that achieved successful public offerings or acquisitions, including BladeLogic, Brocade Communications Systems, Zipcar, and Zynga. The firm was founded in 2003 as a spin-out from the Japanese investment enterprise Jafco Company Ltd. by a team that included executive managing director and co-founder Andy Goldfarb.
Globespan Capital Partners is a global venture capital firm founded in 2003, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with an additional office in Palo Alto, California.[1][2][4] It focuses on investments in information technology companies, particularly in sectors like software (86 investments), enterprise software (50), information technology (29), mobile (27), analytics (19), energy, communications, financial services, Internet, and wireless.[1][3][4][6] The firm has made 208 total investments, including 31 leads, with 69 exits, and typically participates in 7-12 rounds annually, targeting startups valued at $100-500 million in deals of $10-50 million, often aged 4-5 years.[1] Notable portfolio companies include Palo Alto Networks, Roku, Inc., and Upwork, demonstrating its impact on the startup ecosystem through higher-than-average exit rates (5 percentage points above peers) and a strong track record in IT-driven growth.[1]
Globespan Capital Partners was established in 2003 by Andrew Goldfarb and Barry Schiffman, with its main office in Boston.[1][3] Key figures include Co-Founder and Executive Managing Director Andy Goldfarb, Managing Director Stephen Hill, Chief Financial Officer Steve Wood, and CIO Advisory Board member Bill Brown, all based in Boston.[3] The firm evolved from early high activity in 2006 to sustained investments through 2019, managing six closed funds while shifting focus to go-to-market rounds in information technology, Internet, mobile communications, energy, and communications sectors.[1][3][4][6] This progression reflects adaptation to tech market cycles, with peak exits in 2010 and consistent U.S.-centric investments matching its North American roots.[1]
Globespan Capital Partners rides trends in information technology expansion, particularly software, mobile, Internet, and communications, fueling scalable startups amid rising demand for enterprise solutions and cybersecurity (e.g., Palo Alto Networks).[1][4][6] Its timing leverages post-2000s tech booms, with peak exits in 2010 aligning with mobile and cloud adoption, while ongoing activity through 2019 taps analytics and wireless growth.[1] Market forces like U.S. tech dominance and venture funding for mid-stage firms (100-500M valuations) favor its model, influencing the ecosystem by accelerating exits and validating IT sectors for follow-on investors.[1][2]
Globespan Capital Partners is poised to capitalize on enduring IT megatrends like AI-driven enterprise software, cybersecurity, and mobile innovations, building on its 69 exits and sector depth.[1] Upcoming shifts may include deeper AI and energy tech bets, with its global network enabling more cross-coast deals amid maturing startup valuations.[2][4] Influence could grow through advisory expansions, sustaining above-average exits as tech ecosystems demand proven VC partners for go-to-market scaling—reinforcing its role as a Boston-rooted powerhouse in global tech funding.[1][3]
Key people at Globespan Capital Partners.
Globespan Capital Partners has more than 26 tracked investments across 14 companies. The latest tracked deal is $160.0M Debt / Series F in Betterment in September 2021.
