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legit firm, I hear good things - extremely solid returns - software-focused (basically exclusively software) PE in SF, just opened an Austin office relatively recently. Pride themselves on generating returns / value through other means in addition to (or maybe instead of?) financial engineering - see their website for more on that.
Thanks for the info, DaCarez. do you have any suggestion on how to prepare for interviews?
Is the interview with the firm? or is it with the search firm they hired?
I interviewed through the headhunter they hired like 6 months ago. I can't believe they are still looking for 1 analyst, lol.
Hi Cries,
I've already talked to the HH they hired and was told that I will be expecting a call early this coming week. I guess they are still looking for analysts. Do you have time suggestions as how to prepare? I have done some IB interviews with BBs but not private equity. Thank you!
have heard good things too. buddy of mine is an associate and enjoys the work and people a lot.
which office is this for?
This is for San Francisco office, I'm very excited about this opportunity and would like to learn more if you have any more insights. Thanks!
VEP also has an office in chicago. they don't compete with Silver Lake or any of the other major west coast megafunds for deals -- they're entirely middle market oriented. from a MM tech PE perspective, i'd put them a notch below Francisco Partners (although both have been struggling). as mentioned, they have a pretty specific niche, although software is a pretty big vertical. the junior people seem great. interview is standard, expect a diagnostics / modeling exam even if you're coming out of undergrad.
Thanks Alpha. I assume the diagnostics you talked about is the psychometric test? I've already passed that one if that is the case. For me I just want to find a platform where I can learn as much as I can about modeling and investment analysis so I can carry my skill sets elsewhere after two years. Do you have any suggestions on how to prepare for the modeling exams?
They have a SaaS focused inside the software vertical, looking at recurring revenue model.
You need to demonstrate your knowledge in that specific vertical during the interview
Thanks Ricqles, any suggestions on how to prepare?
Pretty soon you will learn that instead of asking questions on how to prepare, the better thing is going on Google and start digging about the industry then ask specific questions
But anyways, Google, equity research report, talk to your friends in tech IB, look around for ibank's software equity report as there are a few of them out there that covers exclusively on the software sector. They don't expect you to be an expert but you need to know the rationale of evolution in the software industry and who the big players are and what they have been up to.
breaking into wall street or macabus
thanks！
Bump -- what are thoughts on hours and compensation at Vista for a pre-MBA associate?
Anyone know how VEP's online assessments are structured? Advice for practice material?
Pretty difficult... number and letter sequences, vocab, reason... be prepared for the personality test which is mind boggling at times and its way longer than 2 hours
Spot on. Tricky at times, but overall pretty fun if you enjoy those kind of problems.
Anyone looking for a warm-up should look at the Standford Binet or MENSA workout tests. That being said, it is basically an IQ test, so prepping in a crunch won't be much help.
Vista Equity Partners - Reputation? (Originally Posted: 05/08/2008)
Anyone heard of them? What's their rep? They are a middle market PE firm mostly specializing in software companies.
I have a friend who work there for two years now, and he found the culture generally very intensive but he did learn a lot!
Bump
Vista Equity Partners - Any inside info? (Originally Posted: 12/07/2009)
Anyone have any information on Vista Equity? It's a tech-services/software based-PE fund with offices in SF and Chicago, and they have been pretty active over the past year-plus. But what about culture, comp, hours, W/L balance, etc.? Any inside info? Thanks in advance.
A former analyst from my group joined Vista pretty recently. It seems like a respectable MM shop, very tech-focused. There are a number of well-pedigreed associates and analysts (GS TMT, MS Tech, ML M&A, Wharton/Stanford undergrad).
started by former GS TMT guy circa 2000 (?) or so
Thanks ews and tothedeath.
Does anyone have any more info on the group? I'm looking for some more internal detail, like hours and comp.
Vista Equity Partners interview (Originally Posted: 10/22/2010)
Hi guys,
I have an interview with vista equity partners. If anyone has interviewed with the firm, could you please share your experience?
What was the interview like?
Vista Equity (Originally Posted: 06/11/2013)
Anyone know anything about the culture and pay at Vista? I'm talking hours, team (how big), compensation for a Senior Associate. I know it's a great mid-market software-focused PE shop (moving upstream).
Why do you ask ? Vista Equity Partners closed on their fourth $3.5 Bn fund last month.
They have a portfolio company support operational team that resembles Andreessen Horowitz's.
When asking about compensation people need to realize two things:
I just assumed they had standard compensation for Associates-Senior Associates since they have a pretty solid group. Any idea on the work-life balance?
Vista Equity Partners Interview (Originally Posted: 08/20/2013)
Hey guys,
I've done an assessment test and 1 phone interview with Vista Equity Partners, a technology PE firm based in San Fran. I have another phone interview coming up this week, and I was curious what anyone knows about this firm?
More generally, I've never had a PE interview (I'm a senior who interned BB S&T this summer). What should I expect; I assume the questions will start getting more technical, they've mostly been fit questions so far.
Thanks
Hey, how didthis go for you?
Vista Equity Partners - Compensation package (Originally Posted: 09/09/2013)
Does anyone know what the compensation package (salary + bonus) is for an Analyst at Vista Equity Partners? Glassdoor has it listed as ~$69k ($60k + $9k); however, I am not sure how accurate that one sample size is.
I don't have exact numbers but know it is similar to what you would get at a BB.
Glassdoor also has only 1 salary posted.
http://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Vista-Equity-Partners-Salaries-E30454.h…
Vista Equity Interview guidance? (Originally Posted: 09/26/2013)
Can anyone provide any guidance on the interviews at this place?
I know its multiple rounds + in-person and mostly fit questions, but would love to know what they emphasize and what kind of technicals can I expect.
Would like to hear more too. I'm green to PE and would like to prep as much as possible to this type of interview.
Assuming you mean the tech firm in Chicago / SF. The interview will actually have a decent amount of technicals. Took an interview there myself and know someone working there full time. Make sure you understand software companies economics (aka the SaaS model vs. licensing and service model, and the recurring revenue nature that each provides). Why software / tech is also a very big question for them, they will hammer you home on this one. It is a little more industry heavy than most PE interviews, so be prepared for that as mentioned, but other than that will be mostly fit based.
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