Starwood Capital Group is a private investment firm founded in 1991 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, with additional offices in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. The firm specializes in direct investments across various asset classes, including private equity, real estate, and infrastructure, with a strong emphasis on opportunistic investing. Starwood Capital has invested approximately $11.8 billion in equity, focusing on sectors such as energy, hospitality, homebuilding, and luxury retail. The firm targets investments ranging from $5 million to $100 million in companies with sales up to $5 billion. Its real estate portfolio includes multi-family, office, retail, and industrial properties, as well as hotels and distressed assets. Starwood Capital employs a flexible investment approach, structuring its investments through equity, preferred equity, mezzanine debt, and senior debt to adapt to changing risk-return dynamics in the market.

Invesco is an independent investment management firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with a significant presence in New York and additional offices in several major cities worldwide. Established in 1981, it specializes in managing a diverse range of asset classes, including equity, fixed income, and alternative investments, totaling over $926 billion in assets under management. Invesco Private Capital, a subsidiary of Invesco, focuses on venture capital and private equity, engaging in both fund of funds and direct investments across various sectors and geographical regions, including the United States, Europe, and Asia. The firm is recognized for its disciplined investment approach and has built a reputation for excellence through its strategic partnerships and direct investments in early-stage ventures and established companies.

FJ Labs is a U.S.-based investment firm established in 2015 by Fabrice Grinda. The firm operates with a stage-agnostic approach, primarily targeting marketplaces and consumer-facing startups. FJ Labs focuses its investments on seed and Series A rounds, with a financial commitment ranging from $50,000 to $5,000,000. The firm has invested in a variety of notable companies, including Alibaba Group, beepi, BrightRoll, Betterment, and ADORE ME.

Techstars Central LLC, founded in 2006 and based in Boulder, Colorado, operates as a startup accelerator and venture capital firm focused on supporting early-stage technology-oriented companies. It specializes in a mentorship-driven accelerator program, selecting ten startups each summer to participate in a three-month incubation period, offering funding of $120,000 in exchange for equity. Techstars invests primarily in sectors such as fintech, artificial intelligence, blockchain, augmented reality, and IoT, while avoiding investments in medical devices, healthcare technology, and local service-oriented businesses. In addition to its primary accelerator, Techstars has various specialized programs, including those focused on music, retail, mobility, and social impact, with global reach extending to regions such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The firm prefers taking minority stakes, typically between six and ten percent, without seeking board representation or investor rights. Techstars has built a robust network of entrepreneurs, mentors, and corporate partners to foster innovation and growth within its portfolio, which includes over 1,000 companies with a significant collective market capitalization.

Y Combinator is a startup accelerator based in Mountain View, California, founded in 2005. It has pioneered a new funding model for early-stage startups by investing a modest amount of capital, typically around $150,000, in a large number of companies twice a year. Over a three-month program, Y Combinator collaborates closely with these startups to prepare them for investor pitches and enhance their business strategies. Each funding cycle concludes with Demo Day, where startups present to an exclusive audience of investors. Y Combinator focuses on various sectors, including business software, education, healthcare, and financial technology, among others. In addition to initial funding, it offers ongoing support through its extensive alumni network. Since its inception, Y Combinator has funded over 630 startups, contributing significantly to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Silicon Valley and beyond.

KKR is a global investment firm that specializes in managing a diverse range of alternative asset classes, including private equity, credit, energy, infrastructure, and real estate. Established in 1976 and headquartered in New York, KKR has expanded its operations internationally, with offices in major cities across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm aims to achieve attractive investment returns by employing a disciplined investment strategy and leveraging the expertise of its team. KKR manages a variety of funds, including hedge funds and specialized investment funds, designed to meet the needs of various clients, such as insurance companies, pension plans, and government entities. Additionally, KKR engages in direct lending and mezzanine financing, utilizing a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to inform its investment decisions. The firm is dedicated to promoting growth within its portfolio companies and actively contributing to the communities in which it operates.

leading global alternative asset manager

Oaktree Capital Group, LLC is a global investment management firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California, specializing in alternative investments across various asset classes. The firm primarily focuses on distressed debt, corporate debt, real estate, private equity, listed equities, and control investing. Oaktree seeks to make control investments in undervalued companies across diverse industries, often targeting special situations and middle-market firms. The firm emphasizes risk management and aims for consistent performance by leveraging its expertise in less efficient markets. In addition to its corporate private equity activities, Oaktree invests significantly in credit strategies, including high-yield bonds and leveraged loans, while also exploring opportunities in the electric power and utility sectors. The firm manages a range of investment vehicles, including closed-end, open-end, and evergreen funds, and operates as a subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management Inc. Oaktree Capital Group was incorporated in May 2007, building upon a foundation established by its founders in 1995.

Khosla Ventures is a venture capital firm established in 2004 by Vinod Khosla, a co-founder of Sun Microsystems. Based in Menlo Park, California, the firm manages over $5 billion and primarily invests in early-stage technology companies throughout the United States. Khosla Ventures provides capital, strategic advice, and venture assistance to entrepreneurs focused on breakthrough innovations across various sectors, including consumer technology, enterprise solutions, health, education, agriculture, and sustainable energy. The firm has a particular interest in high-risk, high-reward opportunities, often acting as a sole investor in "science or innovation experiments." Investment sizes typically range from $100,000 to over $20 million, allowing Khosla Ventures to support both traditional ventures and unconventional projects.

Brand Capital, established in 2005 and based in Mumbai, India, is a private equity investment firm that has played a significant role in building over 850 indigenous brands over the past decade. The firm has introduced innovative print advertising concepts, such as jackets and panorama adverts, that have been widely adopted in the industry. With a focus on creating brand value rather than merely financial returns, Brand Capital contributes intellectual capital to aid in brand strategy development and media planning. Its investments span a diverse range of sectors, including education technology, financial technology, health technology, retail, fast-moving consumer goods, consumer durables, real estate, and health and wellness. The firm's current invested value is approximately USD 2.5 billion, reflecting its commitment to disruptive innovation and leveraging the media properties of The Times Group.