August 9, 2023

Robert F. Smith’s Investment Firm Vista Equity Surpasses $100 Billion In Market Value

Robert Smith

Today, Robert F. Smith announced that Vista Equity Partners, his market investment firm, has surpassed $100 billion in assets under management (AUM)—the total market value of all its investments.

Vista Equity Partners

Smith is the wealthiest Black man in the United States, surpassing Oprah Winfrey in 2018 as the richest Black American.

He founded Vista Equity Partners in 2000 to invest in businesses that use tech to promote economic equity, ecological responsibility, and diversity and inclusion.

He recently announced plans to sell Apptio – a company that helps connect technology investments to business outcomes – to IBM for $4.6 billion.

His latest achievement is surpassing $100 billion in assets under management for Vista Equity Partners.

“Since Vista was founded over two decades ago, we’ve expanded to 650+ team members operating around the world, built a comprehensive library of enterprise software best practices and much more,” he wrote on LinkedIn.

He stated they have also been committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, as they create opportunities for traditionally underrepresented individuals. 

“As we look to the future, the values Vista has honed over the years will remain its North Star: a commitment to continuous improvement, a culture of inclusion and an unwavering belief that every role is critical for our collective success.”

Last year, Smith also announced the launch of the Student Freedom Initiative, a program designed to provide paid internships to students at HBCUs.


Feature Image Credit: The Washington Post 2016

Sara Keenan

Tech Reporter at POCIT. Following her master's degree in journalism, Sara cultivated a deep passion for writing and driving positive change for Black and Brown individuals across all areas of life. This passion expanded to include the experiences of Black and Brown people in tech thanks to her internship experience as an editorial assistant at a tech startup.