Harbert Growth Partners (“HGP”) seeks to generate attractive returns for our investors by identifying and investing in promising emerging growth stage technology companies.
We seek to invest in what we believe are attractive technology ecosystems outside of Silicon Valley and the Northeast, areas with a vibrant entrepreneurial community, leading research universities and significant startup and early-stage investment activity. The HGP team combines substantial investment, advisory, and operating experience with capital and an extensive network to support great entrepreneurial teams in successfully executing their growth plans.
Wayne L. Hunter is the Managing Partner of HGP and co-founder and head of HMC’s Growth Equity investment strategy. Mr. Hunter joined HMC in 2002 and previously led the HGP Funds’ investments in and was a board member of exited portfolio investments MapAnything (sold to Salesforce), Unitrends (sold to Insight Venture Partners), and Yap (sold to Amazon).
Mr. Hunter also serves on the board of the Florida Venture Forum and previously served on the boards of North Carolina’s Council for Entrepreneurial Development, Venture Atlanta, and Virginia’s Center for Innovative Technology. Prior to joining HMC, Mr. Hunter was founding Managing Director and Head of Wachovia’s (and predecessor firms First Union Securities’ and Wheat First Butcher Singer’s) Technology Investment Banking Group. In addition, Mr. Hunter was a member of Wachovia’s Private Equity/Venture Capital Fund Investment Committee and served on Wachovia’s Investment Banking Management Committee. Mr. Hunter has more than thirty years of experience working with leading entrepreneurs and venture capitalists in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Mr. Hunter holds a degree in law (J.D.) from the University of Alabama School of Law and a Bachelor of Science (Economics) degree from Auburn University.
whunter@harbert.netBrian C. Carney is a Partner with HGP and joined HMC in 2007. Mr. Carney serves on the board of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development in Durham, NC and is a former board member of the Richmond Venture Forum. Mr. Carney is currently a member of the St. Catherine’s School Board of Governors and is past President of the St. Catherine’s School Foundation Board. Prior to joining HMC, Mr. Carney was an associate with Morgan Stanley Venture Partners where he executed growth equity investments. Prior to that, Mr. Carney was a financial analyst in Morgan Stanley’s Healthcare Investment Banking Group.
Mr. Carney holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with honors from Washington & Lee University.
bcarney@harbert.netThomas D. Roberts III is a Partner with HGP and joined HMC in 2002 as a founding member of its Growth Equity investment strategy. Mr. Roberts previously led the HGP Funds’ investments in and was a board member of exited portfolio investments Agility Healthcare (sold to GE Healthcare), JackBe (sold to Software AG), Invincea (sold to Sophos), Mobile Posse (sold to Digital Turbine), Stella Connect (sold to Medallia), and Voci Technologies (sold to Medallia).
Mr. Roberts is a former member of the Executive Committee of the board of the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association. Before joining HMC, Mr. Roberts was a senior investment banker for Wachovia (and predecessor firms First Union Securities and Wheat First Butcher Singer), where he originated and executed public and private equity and M&A advisory transactions as a founding member of First Union’s Technology Investment Banking Group. Prior to investment banking, Mr. Roberts was with Markowitz & McNaughton, a strategy consulting firm, specializing in competitive analysis, market opportunity assessment, benchmarking, and acquisition buy-side search and due diligence services for Fortune 500 clients.
Mr. Roberts holds a Master of Business Administration degree and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Virginia.
troberts@harbert.netDavid C. Gerstenmaier, Jr. (also known as Chip) is a Senior Associate with HGP. Mr. Gerstenmaier joined HMC in July 2016 to assist in the areas of financial analysis, deal sourcing, portfolio company monitoring, and new investment due diligence. Mr. Gerstenmaier currently serves as a member of the Selection Committee for the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association and is a Mentor with Startup Virginia, a Richmond-based startup incubator program. Prior to joining HMC, Mr. Gerstenmaier worked in the Investment Banking Group at BB&T Capital Markets where he participated in a variety of sell-side M&A, leveraged buyout, and capital markets transactions across a broad range of industries including transportation and logistics, financial services, and industrial manufacturing.
Mr. Gerstenmaier holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with honors from the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University.
cgerstenmaier@harbert.netWilliam T. Holly (Tyler) is an Associate with HGP. Mr. Holly joined HMC in July 2019 to assist with financial analysis, investment due diligence, deal sourcing, and portfolio company monitoring. Prior to joining HMC, Mr. Holly was a Chief of Staff for Capital One’s B2B payments sales leadership team, and also spent time working with the U.S. Government and in management consulting and investment banking roles with Accenture and Deloitte Corporate Finance (McColl Partners). Mr. Holly currently serves as a member of the Selection Committee for the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association.
Mr. Holly holds a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership and Public Policy with high distinction from the Frank Batten School at the University of Virginia.
tholly@harbert.netHGP seeks to identify and invest in emerging companies with high growth potential. We seek to invest with experienced entrepreneurs building emerging growth stage companies with defensible positions in large and growing markets. HGP typically invests $5.0 million to $8.0 million initially and continues to invest and build value through the growth of our portfolio companies. We typically seek board representation in our investments and provide constructive, strategic, operating and networking support to our portfolio companies.
We concentrate our investment focus on opportunities that, in our view, demonstrate the following characteristics:
Information Technology:
5702 Grove Avenue, Suite 200
Richmond, VA 23226
Contact:
Brenda Mustian
bmustian@harbert.net
804.782.3800