Abishek Balakrishnan
Investor
Norwest
Norwest growth equity investor focused on healthcare services, IT, devices, and digital health.
Bio
Professional summary
Jon Kossow is a Managing Partner at Norwest and Co-head of the firm's Growth Equity team. His official Norwest profile says he joined in 2009, has more than 25 years of investment experience, and is one of two managing partners responsible for the firm, which has $15.5 billion in capital under management. He invests across a range of sectors with particular interest in information services, software, internet and consumer companies. Before joining Norwest, Jon was a Director at Goldman Sachs, where he headed the San Francisco office for the Americas Special Situations Group, and before that spent 10 years at TA Associates in Menlo Park. Earlier in his career, he worked at Leo Burnett USA on strategy and campaign management for Fortune 500 clients. He holds a BA in biology from Harvard College and serves on the board of the USA Swimming Foundation.
Investment focus
Stage, sector, and overall fit
Stage
Growth Equity
Sector
ConsumerData/AnalyticsInformation ServicesSoftware/SaaSInternet
Thesis
Growth equityInformation servicesSoftware/SaaSInternetConsumer companiesData/analytics
Notable companies
Selected portfolio companies the partner has backed
AzuriaBanyan SoftwareCotalityDatacorEbboFrontline Wildfire DefenseGeoComplyGoFundMeVuoriWorld 50YipitData1010dataApprissAvettaClassyTurnitinWine Access
How to approach
Framing and angles for outreach
Pitch framing
Best fit for a growth-stage company in software, data, information services, consumer, or internet sectors with durable revenue and scaling potential.
Personalization hooks
- 1Position the business as a growth equity opportunity with data, software or information-services defensibility.
- 2If relevant, connect to category examples such as GeoComply, YipitData, GoFundMe or Vuori.
Recent signals
What the partner has said or done recently
Norwest profile lists an April 2024 featured post reflecting on the firm's partnership with Avetta.
Norwest profile lists a January 2023 featured post about GeoComply.
Background
Career, education, and skills
Career history
- NorwestManaging PartnerJan 2018 – Present
- NorwestGeneral PartnerApr 2009 – Dec 2017
- Goldman SachsDirector, Special Situations Group (SF)Prior to 2009
- TA AssociatesInvestor~10 years prior
- Leo Burnett USAStrategy & Account ManagementEarly career
Education
- Harvard CollegeBA, Biology1996
Skills
Growth EquityPrivate EquityBoard Oversight
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