Topics & People

The act of trading in an asset, or conducting a financial transaction, that has a significant risk of losing most or all of the initial outlay, in expectation of a substantial gain. Sorkin argues it is the 'twin of innovation'.

The movement to give ordinary retail investors access to financial markets and private assets previously restricted to institutions.

A US Senator who was a vocal critic of the speculation and financial practices of the 1920s, which he termed 'mitchellism'. He was a key figure behind the Glass-Steagall Act.

The head of National City bank (which became Citigroup) during the 1920s. He was a major proponent of democratizing finance and lending money to the public to buy stocks on margin.

A book by Andrew Ross Sorkin that provides a character-driven narrative of the events and people involved in the Stock Market Crash of 1929.

Day Force
Organization

A software company for which Thoma Bravo recently announced a $12 billion acquisition. This deal is an example of the firm's long-term tracking of targets, having followed the company since 2008.

Dinatrace
Organization

A software company acquired by Thoma Bravo in a $2.5 billion deal. The successful growth and subsequent sale of this company to NASDAQ was a key milestone in Thoma Bravo's scaling journey.

Motorola
Organization

A telecommunications company where Marcel Bernard spent 35 years. Bravo refers to it as an 'exceptional school of management' that produced top-tier operators.

A former Motorola executive whom Orlando Bravo considers a mentor and 'the greatest operator' he ever met. Bernard's philosophy on cost management heavily influenced Thoma Bravo's operational strategy.

Acquisitions of 'Software as a Service' companies, which became a core focus for Thoma Bravo around 2010. This marked a strategic shift from buying undervalued companies to acquiring market-leading, high-growth businesses.

A powerful and destructive hurricane that struck Puerto Rico in 2017. The event prompted a significant humanitarian response from Orlando Bravo, who personally flew in supplies from San Francisco the day after.

The process of raising capital for investment funds. Thoma Bravo has demonstrated exceptional capability in this area, highlighted by a recent $34.4 billion raise for a set of fund vehicles.