Vik Thapar

Managing Director

2021 - Current

Cypress Growth Capital is the largest and most experienced royalty-based growth capital investor in the United States. Since our formation in 2010, we have completed dozens of multimillion-dollar royalty investments in software and technology-enabled services companies. With more than $150,000,000 of capital under management, Cypress has an established track record of funding emerging companies and helping entrepreneurs achieve their goals. For an entrepreneur considering growth funding, Cypress Growth Capital provides a meaningful alternative to equity and traditional debt. Our firm invests up to $5,000,000 in emerging companies using a flexible, customized royalty loan that preserves an entrepreneur’s equity and control. Cypress brings more than just capital to the companies in which we invest. Our team has extensive operating and entrepreneurial experience in software and services companies. We partner with the CEOs of our portfolio companies to provide helpful and impartial guidance as needed. Based in Dallas, Cypress Growth Capital is investing out of its Fourth Fund throughout the United States.

Partner

2017 - 2021

Principal

2014 - 2017

Venture Partner

2012 - 2014

Co-Founder & Board Member

2019

Director, Venture Capital

2009 - 2012

• Manage and administer the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (ETF) Commercialization Program (a $200 Million venture fund). • Meet with over 50 companies a quarter to perform initial deal vetting to determine validity of potential venture funding. • Perform detailed analysis and due diligence of potential companies for venture investment by the state of Texas. • Mentor companies that go through the emerging technology funding process. Mentoring includes updating/refining business plans, business presentations, investor/elevator pitch, financials, connecting with other investors, vendors and potential customers, etc. • Establish, maintain and manage the 100+ volunteer evaluators and mentors that consist of entrepreneurs, angels, corporate executives and venture capitalist from North Texas. Industries include IT, energy, life science, manufacturing, etc. • Portfolio management and monitoring of the 40+ currently ETF venture funded organizations (over $60 Million in investment).

Business Development Consultant (Volunteer), Non-Profit

2009 - 2009

• Co-developed a five year strategic growth plan that identified the critical operational and financial requirements to support fundraising and growth for the organization. • Presented strategic plan to the EFNT Board of Directors and obtained approval to begin implementation of the plan. • Advisor / consultant to executive management team on a variety of business development initiatives.

MBA Associate (Internship), Private Equity

2009 - 2009

• Conducted due diligence and presented a private equity investment deal (Alsay International) to the SMU Cox MBA Venture Fund Investment Committee which subsequently invested $100k through the SMU COX MBA Venture Fund. • Performed financial analyses on data provided by the 13 portfolio company’s executive management teams which allowed us to better understand and manage the companies by providing them with clear direction and decisions (led to cost savings by LSNM). • Conducted analyses to consolidate overhead related activities / costs spread across the 13 portfolio companies to achieve economies of scale which resulted in over $500k in savings.

MBA Student

2007 - 2009

Business Application Delivery Manager, Information Technology Consulting

2006 - 2009

• Managed multiple software-based application implementations concurrently for external clients which resulted in a 95% success rate for being within budget and completing the project by the scheduled delivery date. • Provided account management related activities for multiple key customers who accounted for 50% of annual division revenue; received a 98% customer satisfaction rating through a third party provider, and grew accounts year after year. • As the division operations manager conducted analyses on all department costs which resulted in 15% cost savings, negotiated contracts with vendors and customers, created and managed the recruitment process and the budget of the division. • Member of a 2 person team responsible for creating a Quality Management System (QMS) based on ISO 9001 methodologies. Tasks included establishing quality procedures, training professionals, auditing all projects in the Plano and India offices.

Project Manager, Information Technology Consulting

2000 - 2005

• Managed over 25 successful on and off-shore software-based application implementations with teams over 100 members. • Managed a 100+ member team, spread across 5 locations, tasked with the creation of a custom Point of Sale (POS) system for 20k businesses across North America. This software implementation was recognized with the “Best in Show” award by Microsoft. • Managed the merger and acquisition process from BEST Systems (50 person organization) to CROSSMARK (20,000 person organization) and migrated all resources, systems and hardware according to scheduled timeline.

Corporate Network Manager, Information Technology

1999 - 2000

• Network manager for the corporate headquarters and the 30 owned apartment complexes across the nation. • Responsible for reviewing proposals, negotiating contracts and final vendor selection for companywide transition to a new computer hardware platform. Managed the transition which resulted in operational efficiencies and increased productivity of leasing staff.

Summer Associate, Information Technology

1999 - 1999

• Member of a team of developers and testers to ensure the Y2K compliance of Zales’ proprietary systems. • Developed and tested multiple modules within Zales’ system in order to resolve all Y2K issues. • Reported status of all testing results to Information Technology executive team on a periodic basis to ensure that all tests were completed on time and on schedule.

Summer Associate, Information Technology

1998 - 1998

• Developer and tester for the software development team at Lockheed Martin. • Responsible for prioritizing and assigning work, tracking and reporting progress, and coordinating system interfaces. • Presented results and findings of summer long internship to Lockheed Martin executives.