Elevation Partners

Elevation Partners raised a single $1.9 billion fund and deployed it across exactly eight investments between 2005 and the fund's wind-down in 2015. The firm's website states the portfolio count explicitly, describing it as a focused strategy at the intersection of technology and media. No subsequent institutional fund was raised under the Elevation Partners name.

The firm's publicly disclosed investments include BioWare / Pandemic Studios, Facebook, Yelp, Forbes Media, Palm, and MarketShare. BioWare / Pandemic was acquired by Electronic Arts; Palm was acquired by Hewlett-Packard; MarketShare was acquired by Neustar. Facebook and Yelp went public following Elevation's pre-IPO investments.

The original fund completed its investment activity and sold its last portfolio company in 2015. Co-founders and managing directors dispersed to separate ventures. Fred Anderson, Avie Tevanian, Adam Hopkins, and Rami Reyes formed NextEquity Partners to continue the growth-stage technology and media strategy. Bono joined TPG Growth and co-founded The Rise Fund. Roger McNamee retained the Elevation Partners name for personal investments.

The firm was led by five co-founders: Roger McNamee, Fred Anderson, Bret Pearlman, and Bono served as Co-Founders and Managing Directors, per the firm's own website. Avie Tevanian joined as a Managing Director, and Adam Hopkins also held the Managing Director title. Rami Reyes served as Principal. The group has since splintered, with Anderson and Tevanian leading NextEquity Partners.

Yes, but not through the original institutional fund. Between 2012 and 2015, while managing exits from Elevation Partners, team members deployed capital through a separate multi-stage vehicle called Elevation Investors II. That vehicle invested in Airbnb, Uber, Sonos, Bit Stew Systems (acquired by GE), and Everlane, distinct from the original eight-deal portfolio.