Managing Partner
Gavin Turner co-founded Mainsail Partners to partner with founders of bootstrapped software companies to help them realize their potential.
Over the past 20 years, the firm has grown into an experienced team of over forty software investors and operators that specialize in helping founders and executives navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with rapidly scaling software companies. Gavin has extensive experience investing in vertical SaaS, financial technology, infrastructure software and information services technology companies. He has been an active board member on numerous software companies including Nexus Systems, ResMan, SentryOne, nCourt, PayLease, GTreasury, and eSecuritel. Currently, Gavin serves as a Director on the boards of Centerbase, Flight Schedule Pro, and SourceScrub. With offices in Austin and San Francisco, the firm has raised over $2.2 billion in committed capital and invested in more than seventy companies.
Prior to founding Mainsail Partners, Gavin was a Vice President responsible for west coast media and communications investments at Summit Partners, a leading global private equity and venture firm. During his seven years at Summit Partners, Gavin completed 14 investments totaling over $200 million in capital. Gavin previously held a senior management position at Sirenza Microdevices, Inc. (an investment he sourced and completed while at Summit that was ultimately acquired by RF Micro Devices for $900 million).
Gavin received an A.B. in Economics, with Honors, from Stanford University and an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Outside of Mainsail…
Gavin enjoys skiing in the winter months and finding new places to sail during the warm weather seasons. In 2010, Gavin teamed with Jason Payne and John Griscavage to start the Madrone Foundation, a private foundation with the goal of assisting the financially challenged to pay for healthcare and education expenses.
CURRENT BOARDS
Flight Schedule Pro
Centerbase
SourceScrub
Brilliant Earth
FORMER BOARDS
Nexus Systems (acquired by Bottomline Technologies)
ResMan (acquired by Inhabit IQ)
SentryOne (acquired by SolarWinds)
GTreasury
nCourt (acquired by Providence Strategic Growth (PSG))
PayLease (acquired by Vista Equity Partners)
Steelwedge (acquired by E2open)
Novus Biologicals (acquired by Bio-Techne)
eSecuritel (acquired by BrightStar Corporation)
Cash Management Solutions (acquired by River Associates)
From: Cleveland, OH
Lives in: Austin, TX
Supports: Cleveland Cavaliers & Stanford Cardinal