Early Life and Education
Holden Spaht was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He attended Dartmouth College, where he earned a B.A. in economics. He furthered his education by studying international politics at the University of Cologne on a Fulbright Scholarship, and later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Rise to Success
Spaht began his career as an analyst at Morgan Stanley in New York. He then held analyst and associate roles at Thomas H. Lee Partners in Boston, and Morgan Stanley in London and San Francisco. In 2005, he joined Thoma Bravo, where he has become a key figure in the firm's focus on software private equity. He leads the firm's application software strategy and is responsible for finding and executing new deals. Spaht has been involved in numerous successful deals, including the sale of Ellie Mae, which realized a 217% gross IRR.
Key Business Strategies
As a Managing Partner at Thoma Bravo, Spaht focuses on the acquisition and growth of software and technology companies. His strategies involve identifying market leaders, driving operational improvements, and supporting the expansion of portfolio companies through acquisitions and organic initiatives. He also serves on the investment committees for all Thoma Bravo funds.
Philanthropy
Spaht is deeply committed to philanthropy. He is the president and chair of the Spaht Family Foundation, which he founded with his wife, Claire, in 2019. The foundation supports mental health initiatives, the arts, environmental conservation, and humanitarian assistance. He is also involved with Schools of the Sacred Heart San Francisco.