Associate | Mainsail Partners
Location: Austin, Texas (Hybrid)
About Mainsail Partners
Mainsail Partners is a growth equity firm that invests in bootstrapped, founder-led B2B software companies. Founded in 2003, the firm has raised nearly $4 billion in committed capital and has partnered with 100+ software companies across vertical SaaS, fintech, healthcare IT, and infrastructure software. Mainsail’s team includes experienced investors alongside former CTOs, Heads of Product, VPs of Sales, and CFOs who work directly with portfolio company founders to help them scale.
With offices in Austin and San Francisco, Mainsail takes a hands-on, collaborative approach, respecting what bootstrapped founders have built while bringing the operational experience and resources needed to help companies grow into market leaders.
The Role
Mainsail is hiring an Associate to join the investment team in Austin. This is a high-impact role where you will be involved across the full investment lifecycle, from sourcing new opportunities and conducting due diligence to building financial models and supporting portfolio companies post-close.
This is not a siloed, heads-down modeling seat. Associates at Mainsail operate as entrepreneurial self-starters who take ownership of workstreams, engage directly with founders and management teams, and contribute to firm-level strategy. You will work closely with senior team members on a concentrated portfolio of investments, giving you meaningful exposure to how growth-stage software companies operate and scale.
What you’ll do:
- Source, evaluate, and conduct due diligence on new investment opportunities in B2B software
- Build and maintain detailed financial models, including operating models, LBO analyses, and scenario planning
- Perform industry research and competitive landscape analysis across software verticals
- Prepare investment committee memoranda and presentation materials
- Engage directly with founders, CEOs, and management teams throughout the deal process
- Support portfolio companies post-investment on strategic and operational initiatives
- Contribute to firm operations and help build processes in a growing, entrepreneurial environment
Who You Are
- 1 to 5 years of professional experience, ideally in investment banking, private equity, growth equity, or a related investing role
- Strong financial modeling and analytical skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication. You can distill complex information clearly and concisely.
- A self-starter who takes initiative, works independently, and thrives in a lean, fast-paced team
- Genuine curiosity about software businesses, SaaS metrics, and how founders build and scale companies
- High attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- An entrepreneurial mindset. You are energized by building, not just executing.
Experience in software or technology investing is preferred but not required. What matters most is the quality of your experience, your intellectual curiosity, and your drive to grow.
Why Mainsail
- Concentrated portfolio, real responsibility. You won’t be one of dozens of associates across hundreds of deals. You will have meaningful exposure to a focused set of high-quality software investments.
- Operator-backed platform. Mainsail’s Growth Team includes experienced operators who work side-by-side with portfolio companies, giving you a front-row seat to how software companies actually scale.
- Founder-first culture. The firm was built around respect for bootstrapped founders. That collaborative, low-ego ethos extends to how the internal team works together.
- Growth trajectory. With nearly $4 billion in committed capital and a growing team, Mainsail offers a platform where high performers can develop and advance.
To apply, please submit your resume and a brief note on why this role interests you.
