Insight Partners Raises $12.5B: A New York VC Powerhouse

Insight Partners Solidifies New York Venture Capital Leadership

Jeff Horing’s Insight Partners occupies a position in New York venture capital analogous to that held by Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia in Silicon Valley. This standing has been further reinforced by the firm’s most recent fund closure.

New Capital and Fund Details

As anticipated, Insight Partners revealed on Thursday the successful closing of its latest flagship fund, designated Fund XIII, in conjunction with its second Opportunity fund. Together, these funds represent a substantial $12.5 billion in newly secured capital.

Opportunity funds are typically allocated for reinvestment into existing portfolio companies during subsequent funding rounds.

Reports in September indicated Insight was targeting a fund exceeding $10 billion. The firm not only met but surpassed this goal, now managing a total of $90 billion in assets.

Investment Strategy and Focus

While an Insight spokesperson refrained from specifying the allocation between the new funds, they confirmed a portion is dedicated to a “dedicated buyout co-invest fund.”

This capital will be strategically deployed for buyout investments within the software sector, a well-established area of expertise for the 30-year-old firm.

Competition and Market Position

This fundraising round underscores Insight’s determination to maintain its leading position, particularly in the face of emerging New York-based venture capital firms like Thrive.

In 2024, Thrive, led by Josh Kushner, actively participated in several significant deals, including OpenAI’s $6.6 billion round and Anysphere’s $100 million Series B funding.

Continued Dealmaking and Portfolio Performance

Insight is demonstrably maintaining its competitive edge. The firm secured a co-lead role in Databricks’ $10 billion fundraising in December, collaborating with Thrive.

This was facilitated through its Partners Public Equities fund, established for investments in publicly traded stocks. The influx of fresh capital will empower Insight to pursue, and potentially spearhead, further investment opportunities.

Successful Exits in 2024

Despite a challenging year for IPOs and subsequent returns for many venture capital firms, Insight reported strong performance from its portfolio companies.

These companies achieved over $8 billion in exits during 2024, primarily through acquisitions. Notable transactions included Recorded Future’s acquisition by Mastercard for $2.65 billion, Own’s sale to Salesforce for $1.9 billion, WalkMe’s acquisition by SAP for $1.5 billion, and Jama Software’s sale to private equity for $1.2 billion.