At a Glance
Altimeter Capital stands out in the venture capital ecosystem as one of the few firms successfully straddling public markets and private growth-stage investing. Led by founder and CEO Brad Gerstner, the Menlo Park-based firm has built its reputation on a concentrated investment approach focused on technology companies with significant scale potential. Since its 2008 founding, Altimeter has evolved from a public equity hedge fund into a hybrid investment platform managing approximately $18 billion in assets across both public and private strategies. The firm's investment portfolio includes notable positions in companies like Snowflake, where Altimeter was an early growth investor before the company's successful public offering, and MongoDB, another data infrastructure play that exemplifies the firm's thesis around enterprise technology transformation. Gerstner's background as a former Deutsche Bank technology analyst and his early recognition of cloud computing trends positioned Altimeter to capitalize on the enterprise software boom of the 2010s. The firm's dual mandate allows it to maintain positions in companies through their entire lifecycle, from late-stage private rounds through public market ownership. This continuity of investment thesis has proven particularly valuable in the current market environment where public-private valuation gaps have created opportunities for firms with patient capital. Altimeter's concentrated approach typically sees the firm make larger bets on fewer companies, often leading growth rounds in the $50-200 million range. The firm has been particularly active in artificial intelligence infrastructure plays, recognizing early the capital requirements and winner-take-all dynamics in foundational AI technologies. Recent years have seen Altimeter expand its consumer technology investments while maintaining its core enterprise focus, with positions spanning fintech infrastructure to direct-to-consumer brands. The firm's public market expertise provides unique due diligence capabilities, allowing Altimeter to evaluate private companies through the lens of public market comparables and eventual exit scenarios.
“Invests at the intersection of public and private technology markets, targeting category-defining companies with strong network effects and platform dynamics.”
Brad Gerstner leads Altimeter Capital as founder and CEO, bringing over two decades of technology investing experience including his previous role as a technology analyst at Deutsche Bank and founding National Holdings. Gerstner's public market background provides distinctive insights for evaluating private growth companies against public comparables. The firm's investment team includes partners with operating experience at major technology companies and investment backgrounds across both public and private markets. Altimeter's relatively lean team structure allows for concentrated decision-making and deeper involvement with portfolio companies. The leadership maintains strong relationships across Silicon Valley's technology ecosystem, leveraging these networks for deal sourcing and portfolio company support.
Altimeter Capital has raised multiple funds since 2008, evolving from an initial focus on public technology investments to include dedicated growth equity vehicles for private companies. The firm's fund strategy has expanded to encompass both traditional growth equity funds and hybrid vehicles that can invest across public and private markets. While specific fund performance metrics remain private, Altimeter's ability to raise successive funds and increase assets under management to $18 billion indicates strong investor confidence in the firm's dual-mandate approach.
Altimeter Capital primarily invests at the Series B+ stage. This means they focus on companies that are at various stages of growth.
Altimeter Capital is headquartered in Menlo Park, CA. Many of their portfolio companies are also based in this region, though they invest across geographies.
Altimeter Capital focuses on investments in AI, Enterprise, Consumer, Fintech. Their portfolio reflects deep expertise and networks within these sectors.
Altimeter Capital's typical investment check size ranges from $25M to $500M. Actual amounts may vary based on the stage, sector, and specific opportunity.
Altimeter Capital manages approximately $18B in assets under management (AUM) across their funds.
