Thoma Bravo's Behind the Deal

Thoma Bravo’s Behind the Deal podcast takes you behind the scenes of one of the largest software investors in the world. You'll hear the strategies and stories behind building Thoma Bravo’s portfolio of innovative, industry-leading software and technology companies. Presented by Orlando Bravo, “Wall Street’s best dealmaker” (Forbes), each episode offers a first-person account from the deal leads and CEOs that forged some of the largest software acquisitions at Thoma Bravo to date, and how they partnered together to innovate and grow those companies.

Go ‘behind the deal’ to learn how these deals came together, gaining insight on how Thoma Bravo helps great companies do even greater things.

Head to www.thomabravo.com/behindthedeal for information on the podcast, show notes, and more.

Business
Technology
Management
1
From Infantry to Intelligence: Grit, Discipline...
Intel 471 CEO and Co-Founder Jason Passwaters joins Thoma Bravo Partner Adam Solomon for a candid conversation about the experiences that shaped him as a leader.
11 min
2
Intel 471: From Bootstrapped Cyber Intel to Ent...
In this episode, Thoma Bravo Partner Adam Solomon and SVP Chandler Gay break down the firm’s investment in Intel 471, a bootstrapped, founder-led cyber threat intelligence company trusted by many of the world’s largest enterprises. Adam then sits down with CEO and Co-Founder Jason Passwaters, a former Marine and FBI cybercrime investigator, to discuss building Intel 471 without outside capital, partnering with Thoma Bravo to strengthen and expand the company, executing its first acquisitions, and how AI is reshaping the cyber threat landscape.
34 min
3
Scaling Enterprise Software with AI: Holden Spa...
Managing Partner Holden Spaht sits down with Charles Gottdiener, CEO of Anaplan, and Leagh Turner, CEO of Coupa, to discuss how enterprise software leaders are turning AI innovation into real business impact.
34 min
4
Orlando Bravo and IBM CEO Arvind Krishna on AI,...
Recorded live at Thoma Bravo’s 2025 AI Summit, this episode features a fireside chat between Thoma Bravo Founder and Managing Partner Orlando Bravo and IBM CEO Arvind Krishna. Krishna explains why AI is driving more software development—not less—boosting productivity, expanding entry-level hiring, and unlocking billions in operational savings reinvested into growth. He also breaks down IBM’s $34B acquisition of Red Hat and shares what’s next for enterprise AI, from agents layered on systems of record to smaller, purpose-built models.
57 min
5
Building Belief at Scale: Proofpoint CEO Sumit ...
9 min
6
Proofpoint: The $12B Deal Behind an AI-Driven C...
Season 4 of Behind the Deal kicks off with a deep dive into Proofpoint, a key investment within Thoma Bravo’s cybersecurity portfolio.
41 min
7
Thoma Bravo’s Behind the Deal is back for Season 4
Thoma Bravo returns with Season 4 of Behind the Deal—the chart-topping, award-winning podcast that goes inside the strategy, leadership, and conviction behind the world’s largest software-focused investment firm.
1 min
8
View From The Top: Orlando Bravo on His Journey...
Lessons on resilience, mentorship, and building software businesses for the long term.
49 min
9
Beyond Constraints: From Starting Lean to Scali...
21 min
10
How HubSync Became the Tax Automation Platform ...
34 min
11
Beyond Building NextGen Healthcare’s Successful...
19 min
12
How NextGen Healthcare Aims to Achieve Better H...
55 min
13
Beyond the Classroom: Shaping the Future of Lea...
14 min
14
How Instructure Grew into a Leading EdTech for ...
52 min
15
Beyond Performance: Building a “10-10” Company ...
13 min
16
How Ping Identity Mastered Identity Security fo...
56 min
17
How Applitools is Using AI to Improve Speed, Sc...
20 min
18
How Applitools Uses AI to Revolutionize Test Au...
41 min
19
Beyond the Friend Zone: Building Mailgun into a...
22 min
20
How Mailgun Quickly Evolved into a Leading Emai...
52 min
21
How Innovation is Driving the Future of Cyberse...
37 min
22
Beyond Leadership: Career Lessons from Chess wi...
13 min
23
How SMA Technologies Uses Automation to Acceler...
29 min
24
How Bluesight and Thoma Bravo Turned Vision Int...
50 min
25
Beyond Trust: Building the Cultural Fabric at E...
20 min