Not many entrepreneurs have both professional football and private equity on their résumés. But Steve Young has always been something of an overperformer. During his 15-year career in the NFL, the Hall of Fame quarterback earned himself three Super Bowl victories, two Most Valuable Player awards, and, somehow, a law degree. Playing for the San Francisco 49ers during the 1990s gave Young a front-row seat to the Silicon Valley tech boom, so when he retired from the NFL in 2000, launching a second act as an investor seemed like a smart play.
In 2007, Young co-founded the private equity firm HGGC with veteran investors Greg Benson, Bob Gay, and Rich Lawson. The Palo Alto, California-based firm has completed more than 600 investments in companies with a combined enterprise value of more than $70 billion. While PE may be nothing like the NFL, investing in fast-growing companies does remind Young of his playing days.
"It's very competitive, the stakes are high, and being good at it is really hard," Young says. Having worked in private equity for longer than he played pro football, Young now draws on his experience as an investor to help mentor other business owners.
Tessa Barton is one such entrepreneur. A former photographer, Barton launched the photo-editing app Tezza in 2018. The Los Angeles-based company offers both amateur and professional photographers editing tools for photos and videos, and generated over $26 million in revenue in 2023. Barton runs the business with her husband and co-CEO, a former software engineer, and the pair have yet to raise outside capital.
"We've been keeping things really tight and small because that's what we know how to do," Barton says. "Now we feel we need to get it to the next level."
We brought Barton and Young together at HGGC's headquarters to talk about leadership, building a company culture, and when to look for outside investors.
Esta historia es de la edición April 2024 de Inc..
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición April 2024 de Inc..
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
A Bankable Pet Project - How Moonshots Capital helped eTailPet scale up and attract a buyer in just three years.
Berenice Giannini's startup, eTailPet, wasn't a natural fit for Moonshots Capital. The Austin-based venture firm, launched in 2014 by Kelly Perdew and Craig Cummings, both of whom had previously served in the U.S. Army, frequently backs companies founded by military veterans.
Backers Should Have Your Back - The best capital provider for your business will offer a helping hand, not just deep pockets.
Three years ago, U.S. entrepreneurs were enjoying one of the best funding environments in decades. Venture capital and private equity hit all-time highs as banks loaned at historically low interest rates. All you needed to get a term sheet, it seemed, was a smile and a pitch deck.
Lift Off - Would you pay $50,000 to touch the edge of space?
Would you pay $50,000 to touch the edge of space? Meet the entrepreneurs providing a rarified clientele with a luxurious, once-in-a-lifetime journey.So you want to go to space. To take in the expansive curvature of the Earth glowing miles above the atmosphere, surrounded by pure darkness. To experience the mind-altering overview effect described by astronauts as a transcendent state of awe, staring back at the planet on which you've inhaled your every living breath.
There Will Always be Those Who Doubt You and Your Vision. Here's How to Tune Them Out. - Recently, I invited an experienced luxury hotelier to visit the new campus we were building near Santa Fe for Modern Elder Academy,
Recently, I invited an experienced luxury hotelier to visit the new campus we were building near Santa Fe for Modern Elder Academy, the midlife wisdom school I co-founded in 2018.
A Scientific Discovery that Unlocks Your Body's Healing Power
The founder of Stemregen, a company that creates powerful supplements that stimulate the body's natural repair system, explains how a \"fringe idea\" opened up a new world of stem cell therapy.
Transformative Growth: Agency Masters the Art of Evolution
As a destination marketer, Awestruck has mapped out a journey to success by constantly developing its services and its staff.
For the Love of the Restaurant Experience
The founder and CEO of DJB Hospitality shares his passion for the challenging and uniquely rewarding hospitality industry.
Custom PEO Solutions for Blue-Collar Industries
COMPEO is an HR management solutions provider with a jaw-dropping five-figure growth rate.
Homebuying Was BrokenMeet the Founders Here to Fix It
Cecilian Partners is a fast-growing technology firm providing end-to-end solutions for production homebuilders and land developers.
A Focus on Complete Solutions for Regulatory Environments
The Northcross Group develops sustainable processes for clients with compliance needs.
