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Co-Founder and Managing Partner of ODIN + Co., a private equity firm that specializes in…
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John Gabbert shared thisGreat job on this project Mimi!John Gabbert shared thisI recently had the chance to work with Yung Nay, owner of Iza Whiskey and Eats and La Montaña, as he transitions La Montaña into his newest concept: Sora Eats. This project came to life through Carri Reisdorf’s Marketing Strategy course, where our team partnered with Yung to support the rebrand. We focused on establishing the new brand to meet market desires and refined the positioning based on customer insights and surveys. Our objective was to give Sora Eats a distinct identity while still honoring the story and spirit behind the legacy location. One of my favorite contributions was developing The Sora Series: a curated experience concept whereby Sora’s signature events and experiential offerings are unified into one recognizable, elevated collection. I'm excited to share a few photos from the process and to cheer on Sora Eats as the brand gains momentum and takes shape!
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John Gabbert shared thisIt’s surreal to be writing this. However, the time has come, and I have made the decision to step away from PitchBook. PitchBook has gifted me a lifetime of memories and experiences, lifelong friendships, and the opportunity to make a dream come true. Starting this company in my early 30s, I came with a modest amount of experience, and I’ve appreciated the opportunity to grow, fail, and learn along the way. Creating great career opportunities, great customer-centric products that are wicked fast with world-class customer service (NPS of 55!), creating beautiful systems, workflows, and operations – that’s what has fueled me. Most importantly, it's been creating a culture where our people feel welcomed, safe, respected, trusted, and challenged. Where we can grow and Make It Fun together. Maybe we didn’t always get it right, but I am happy that we got it mostly right, most of the time. To my team ― thank you for your commitment to our customers, and to each other, especially those who took a leap of faith on me and the business in the early days. This includes our team in Ukraine who I started the company with in 2007. You are resilient, and strong. To our partners, leaders, and team in Kolkata, you have been a bedrock of PitchBook. To the OGs at PitchBook, thank you for your trust in me, for the incredible job you've done in making PitchBook a world-class company and for making it so damn fun. I love you and am so proud of what we have accomplished. We’ve experienced a lot of life together. We’ve created a globally successful company, served 100,000s of customers, created nearly 4,000 jobs, thousands of friendships, a good number of marriages and a resulting bunch of kids. Overall, a beautiful thing and I couldn’t be prouder. PitchBook would also not have been possible without the support of my family. I am eternally grateful to my wife Susan and our four kids for their love, patience, and support. Thank you from the very core of my heart. I'll try to make up for a little bit of traded time. Thank you to our early investors who trusted me to be a good steward of your hard-earned money. The business plan called for $3.8m in total to build, we did it for $3.7m. I hope you feel the bet paid off. And to our customers, the reason we show up every day, thank you for the challenge and opportunity to serve you. It’s now time to let others lead. When you have surrounded yourself with people you trust, it's not hard to turn things over to them. Over the next several weeks, I’ll be working closely with our leadership team to ensure a smooth transition to the next chapter. PitchBook's commitment to customers, strategy and operational mindset are deeply embedded into the culture. The business is well positioned for continued growth and I’m confident in its long-term success. Keep finding a better way, every day. Thank you for one hell of a run. Godspeed, JG
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John Gabbert shared thisAs AI continues to influence industries, the venture capital landscape is also learning how to benefit and evolve. I recently had the opportunity to speak alongside Matt McIlwain at University of Washington’s Creative Destruction Lab 2023/24 Celebration Dinner. We chatted about the state of the market and how the macro environment is still weighing on VC. We discussed challenges of building companies through different cycles and that in general, the pullback in the market has caused investors to re-focus on the basics of running a good business, which means strong operating fundamentals - a clear pivot from the run-up in the cycle, which was characterized by easy-money and growth at any cost. We also shared our thoughts on the very of-the-moment topic, AI, and how the realities of AI and ML are changing the way companies do business. For PitchBook, we’ve been leveraging machine learning models for many years to innovate our data collections processes. Our core priority remains focused on expanding our datasets, tools and research in ways that help deliver real value to our customers. It’ll be interesting to see how AI continues to shift business models and we’ll closely watch the key impacts to our industry like Generative AI search, AI-assisted data gathering and workflow automation to evaluate and inform our strategic roadmap. Thanks to UW for including me in this event – it was fascinating to spend time with some incredibly smart people from ventures applying AI in Health and Manufacturing. Wishing everyone success as they continue building for the future!
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John Gabbert shared thisThe first quarter of 2024 exhibited many of the same trends we saw in 2023 across private markets. Venture dealmaking continued to be lackluster as investors paid close attention to the Reddit and Astera Labs IPOs in hopes that the exit window may reopen soon. While dealmaking and exit trends in PE are more of the same, one big difference has been in PE’s resilient fundraising, which signals LP’s confidence in the asset class’s ability to generate returns in variable macroeconomic environments. Meanwhile, the volume of leveraged loans has ballooned to levels we haven’t seen since Q1 2021. Although, this has largely been driven by repricing activity, not net new loan origination - according to PitchBook | LCD. To monitor trends in private market as they develop, private market investors can leverage several of our resources: - Indexes: https://lnkd.in/gBUCRHtN - Dealmaking indicators: https://lnkd.in/gzuvqB5w - Returns barometers: https://lnkd.in/g9wv6kf4
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John Gabbert shared thisMarch 1st marks 17 years of PitchBook. The genesis behind founding the company was to meet the market demand for high quality intelligence and insights on the private equity industry. From the start, the foundation of this business has been to provide the best data and customer service possible to help our customers win. We started with a laser focus on solving customer problems, and we’ve still got the same customer first mindset today that drives us to innovate solutions across the global capital markets. Since our early days in a 200-square-foot, windowless office, we’ve expanded our coverage areas to include the entirety of VC, PE, credit, and public equity markets globally. We’ve added hundreds of datasets and millions of individual insights to the platform, and we’ve pioneered new features and tools that enable our customers to easily get the information they need. Now, more than 100,000 professionals rely on us to identify opportunities within venture capital, private equity, credit, M&A and public equities. I am so proud of how our team continuously innovates and builds on behalf of our customers, always striving to find a better way. Our people really are the core of our success, and I am endlessly thankful for the incredible employees who show up every day, dedicated to what we do. We’ve scaled to nearly 4,000 employees across our global offices from our headquarters in Seattle to offices in Ukraine, India, New York, London, San Francisco, Chicago, and Singapore. Thank you to our customers and my teammates for making the last 17 years so much fun. Happy birthday, PitchBook!
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John Gabbert shared thisPeople are the core of everything we do at PitchBook. Our people enable our customers’ success, and we believe that building a culture where people can thrive starts with our values. Our values: Customers are King, Excellence as a State of Mind, Embrace and Drive Change, Focus on Focus, and Make it Fun are integrated into everything we do. From pre- to post-hire, how we serve customers, to how we interact with team members, our values guide our actions every day. Yesterday was our annual PitchBook Panther Awards ceremony that recognizes the employees who are the best of the best at living out our values. It’s an opportunity for us to gather as a company to celebrate each other's wins, take pride in the achievements of the past year, and have some fun. The Panther Awards have become one of my favorite ways that we highlight how we operate in alignment with our core values to execute on behalf of our business. We get to share real-life examples of how we foster a collaborative culture, and how we deliver, inspire, and recognize best-in-class work. Congratulations to all our Panther Award winners! I’m so proud of the employees we recognized yesterday as well as each of our employees whose contributions continue to drive PitchBook’s success. I’m consistently motivated by our people in new ways and am proud that we as a company make celebrating people a priority.
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John Gabbert shared this2023 posed challenges across the private capital market landscape, so I’m sharing an overview of the trends grabbing my attention. While inflation growth began to taper in 2023, the impact of higher rates to stabilize inflation forced allocators and asset managers to re-price risk and entry valuations and dried up liquidity options across most exit paths. As a result, fundraising has slowed, and our research indicates that trend will likely continue through 2024. Capital deployment slowed too, as annual PE and VC deal value both fell by about 30% year-over-year. That said, the leveraged loan markets had their best year in terms of total return since 2009, with yields climbing north of 10% due to their floating rate nature—according to PitchBook | LCD. While the market operated more conservatively last year, our customers are continuing to find creative paths to maximize value for their limited partners. Our team also released a series of flagship annual reports. Take a look at our US venture capital (https://lnkd.in/g5rX5Gg2), private equity (https://lnkd.in/grb_8mTv), and credit research (https://lnkd.in/gxz9WBrx) for more insights. To review our analyst’s forward-looking outlooks, read through their reports: · US VC Outlook: https://lnkd.in/gyA5wECW · US PE Outlook: https://lnkd.in/gyvfwdV4 · 2024 US Leveraged Loan Outlook: https://lnkd.in/gjBd7Nvz
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John Gabbert posted this9.3 seconds: that was the average customer chat response time from our Customer Support team in 2023. It’s an incredible, best-in-class precedent, and I’m so proud to know we’re able to support our clients with speed and accuracy. Today is Customer Service Day, and I want to share my gratitude for our team and for the care they provide our clients every day. This past year, our team handled 141,000 requests, launched six on-demand eLearning courses and conducted over 30 webinar style group trainings. We also added or updated over 1,000 client facing knowledge articles to help improve our self-service offerings for customers. Since I started PitchBook in 2007, treating every customer like a king has been a core value of the company and central to how we do business. I often reflect on how the service we provide lays the foundation for the trust we build with our customers. Our average new hire undergoes around 175 hours of training to get up to speed on our products, clients, and services. To us, the details matter, we take serving our customers seriously. PitchBook is built on our customer relationships: we’re the stewards of the data they rely on to fuel their success. Our customer service team helps make that vision a reality. So, thank you to our Customer Support team members for the transparency and service you provide, and to our customers for trusting us to help you win.
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John Gabbert shared thisHappy new year! Still on a high from celebrating the Husky win on Monday night - congratulations University of Washington! I've been cheering on the team all season and excited to be 14-0. On to the National Championship next week - what a great a way to kick off the year, thinking 2024 is going to be a good one!
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John Gabbert liked thisJohn Gabbert liked thisWhen I joined the LSU Sales Team as a freshman, I had very little idea of what competitive sales even looked like. Little did I know how much it would shape my college experience. I want to personally thank Greg Accardo for leading this program with confidence and for being such a consistent mentor to me and so many others in the Sales Institute. I also want to thank Ricky Schober, MBA . Ricky was my first -and only- coach freshman year(see photos!) and somehow stuck with me all the way until now. Having someone who believed in me from the beginning and pushed me to improve means more than I can say. This team and organization has given me more than I ever could expected. It pushed me outside my comfort zone more times than I can count and introduced me to some of the most driven and supportive people I’ve met in college. Incredibly grateful to have been apart of the LSU Professional Sales Institute and all that it has given me. Hard to believe it’s over! As always, Geaux Tigers & Geaux Sales!
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John Gabbert liked thisWhat a day. A week later, I’m still trying to absorb the weight of it all — the faces, the conversations, the memories that surfaced, and the quiet reminders of how many people have shaped my life. It’s impossible to capture the full meaning of the experience without acknowledging the truth I’ve learned over and over again: life isn’t defined by trophies or accomplishments. It’s defined by the journey, and by the people who walk beside you through every chapter. The day began with brunch at the crew house — a place that once felt like a second home. Back in college, it was where you could always count on a good meal and even better company. Returning there wasn’t just nostalgic; it was grounding. It reminded me of where I came from, and of the community that helped me grow long before any spotlight ever found me. With 150 people gathered, our AD Pat Chun opened the event with a generous introduction. As he spoke to my family, my former Husky and Sonic teammates, Husky alumni, foundation staff, friends, and Coldstreamers, I felt emotion rise in a way I didn’t expect. Looking out at so many people who have left fingerprints on my life — people who showed up, supported me, challenged me, believed in me — it was overwhelming in the most meaningful way. And yet, there was an ache too. I couldn’t help but think of the coaches and mentors who are no longer here. I wish Coach Ron Brown, Don Mason, Dick and Norma Crews, and Coach Marv Harshman could have witnessed this moment. They poured so much into me, and this honor would have meant as much to them as it did to me. My love and gratitude go to their families, who continue to carry their legacies forward. Seeing your jersey hanging in the rafters is surreal — a symbol that captures years of work, sacrifice, and support. But the truth is, that symbol means nothing unless the person behind the number uses their platform to lift others. Legacy isn’t about being remembered; it’s about making sure others have a chance to rise. I don’t have many goals left in the traditional sense. What I do have is a daily mission: to leave everything I touch — every person, every space, every opportunity — in a better state than I found it. I fall short plenty of times, but the intent matters. The effort matters. The heart behind it matters. Thank you, University of Washington, for giving me a day that reminded me not just of where I’ve been, but of who I’m still striving to become.John Gabbert liked thisAn unforgettable night celebrating one of our own. 💜 Last week, the University of Washington Department of Athletics honored the legacy of basketball great Detlef Schrempf with a special jersey retirement ceremony.🏀 A former standout for the Seattle SuperSonics and now a valued member of the Coldstream team, Detlef’s impact on and off the court continues to inspire. We were proud to have several Coldstream team members in attendance to celebrate alongside him and to recognize the lasting influence of Detlef Schrempf on UW men’s basketball. 📰https://ow.ly/jeEk50YoQn8
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John Gabbert liked thisJohn Gabbert liked thisWe’re celebrating 19 years of PitchBook this week. In 2007, the company was founded by John Gabbert with a simple but ambitious goal: bring clarity and transparency to private capital markets. From a small team in Seattle to more than 3,000 employees around the world, the growth has been remarkable. Through every phase, from startup to global scale, the foundation has remained strong and our focus on serving our customers has never wavered. This year also marks 10 years for me at PitchBook. Having seen the company evolve over the past decade, I am just as excited about where we are headed as I was when I first joined. Thank you to the people who have made PitchBook what it is, and to all those who will take it into the future. Cheers to 19 years and many more!
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John Gabbert liked thisThe Panther Awards are one of my favorite annual reminders of how PitchBook’s values show up in the work our people do every day. Whether it’s putting customers first, embracing change, staying focused, or raising the bar on excellence, these awards spotlight teammates who truly make a difference. I am excited to celebrate our values and the incredible people who bring them to life!John Gabbert liked thisThis is a special week at PitchBook as we get ready to host our annual Panther Awards, one of our longest-standing traditions. It’s a moment to recognize those on our team who go above and beyond to live our values every day. Panther Award nominations come directly from colleagues, with different awards representing each of our values: Customers Are King, Excellence Is a State of Mind, Focus on Focus, Embrace and Drive Change, and Make It Fun. We also recognize outstanding leadership, community impact and our ‘Ultimate Panther’ who embodies all the core values that make PitchBook special. We’ll be celebrating live across all of our offices, and I’m excited to be in Mumbai this year for the festivities. Looking forward to recognizing this year’s award winners and celebrating the incredible work happening across PitchBook.
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John Gabbert liked thisJohn Gabbert liked this𝗜 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗮𝗦. Investors are rotating hard toward AI infrastructure, pricing application software for obsolescence. Credit markets reflect the panic — software-sector loans have declined 4.17% since year-end 2025, according to our Morningstar Global Software Loan (TR) Index. But the broader market is mispricing application software just as these vendors position to serve the largest TAM in history. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 — 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗴𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁. Point-solution wrappers face real risk, but incumbents with massive install bases are embedding agentic AI directly into their platforms. Many incumbents are shifting from copilots to governed, autonomous actions. The companies that own the workflow can deliver the agent — not only the other way around. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗮𝘁. Systems of records and sources of proprietary data in financial, regulatory, and compliance-intensive domains hold positions AI-native challengers can't easily replicate. Without secure and differentiated data access, agents are less effective. Precision demands more than a general-purpose model. 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀. When coding costs trend toward zero, global sales channels, enterprise trust, and large install bases will be differentiators. Incumbents leveraging outcome-based pricing, matched with AI-native customer interfaces, can capture a share of the much larger labor-market TAM. The Benjamin Graham adage of the market is a voting machine in the short run, but a weighing machine in the long run resonates today. Right now, the votes are driven by fear – but I think the weight will favor incumbent adapters over time, not just AI-native upstarts. Check out some of our new research on this topic: SaaS is Dead, Long Live SaaS: http://spr.ly/6045hbWNH Is AI’s threat to Software overblown? PitchBook analysis: ps://https://lnkd.in/gznwrjJa AI-driven risk sets up software sector for divergence: http://spr.ly/6046hbWNy
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ODIN + Co.
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Honors & Awards
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Edward V. Fritzky Endowed Chair in Leadership
University of Washington Foster School of Business
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