Cross Creek

Cross Creek is a venture capital firm based in Salt Lake City, Utah, with a distinctive focus on late-stage growth companies that are poised to transition from private to public markets. Founded by Karey Barker in 2006, originally within Wasatch Advisors, the firm became an independent entity in 2012. Cross Creek's strategy revolves around investing in companies with proven business models and established market potential, capturing value as they scale towards IPOs or strategic acquisitions. Their portfolio includes notable names like GitLab, Dataminr, and Pindrop, reflecting their investment in sectors such as enterprise software, healthcare, and consumer tech. With over 100 investments, 27 IPOs, and 36 M&A exits, Cross Creek's approach combines public market insights with venture capital expertise, enabling them to bridge the gap between late-stage funding and public exits. The firm is headquartered outside the typical venture hubs, giving it a unique perspective. According to Barker, being based in Utah allows Cross Creek to avoid groupthink and strategically identify underappreciated opportunities, leveraging the burgeoning "Silicon Slopes" tech ecosystem. They believe that Utah's growing innovation culture, combined with their focus on diversity in hiring and thought leadership, sets them apart. Cross Creek’s ability to invest alongside top-tier venture funds while also making direct investments has allowed them to manage over $1.3 billion in assets, making a substantial impact on the venture ecosystem​.