Our History
The HarbourVest team has been investing in the private markets for over 30 years, gaining invaluable expertise and developing long-term relationships with sought-after partners. Our approach is characterized by consistency and continuity while also adapting to meet client needs. Over the years, we have continually identified opportunities to provide early access to the evolving private equity landscape – secondary investing (since 1986), Europe market (since 1984), Asia market (since 1984) – and expanded our local teams around the globe.
HarbourVest Partners would like to thank our Senior Advisors for their significant contributions to building our firm.
- George Anson
- Kathleen M. Bacon
- John M. Begg
- Philip Bilden
- Kevin S. Delbridge
- William A. Johnson
- Edward W. Kane
- Frederick C. Maynard III
- Ofer Nemirovsky
- Michael W. Taylor
- Martha DiMatteo Vorlicek
- Robert M. Wadsworth
- D. Brooks Zug
2019
- Office established in Dublin
- Management of AIFs transferred to HarbourVest Partners (Ireland) Limited
2018
- Launched credit opportunities
- Established private client group
2017
- HarbourVest celebrates 35 years as a Firm
2016
- HarbourVest acquires BAML Capital Access Funds and renames as HarbourVest Horizon
- Team celebrates 30 years of secondary investments
- 20 years of local presence in Asia Pacific
Financial News 20th Anniversary Awards
- Top investor over last 20 years
2015
- Offices established in Seoul, Tel Aviv, and Toronto
- 25 years of local presence in Europe
Financial News Private Equity Awards 2015
- Fund of Funds of the Year
2014
- HarbourVest (Europe) establishes as an AIF manager under the AIFMD*
Private Equity International Awards 2014
- Fund of Funds Manager of the Year – North America
- Fund of Funds Manager of the Year – Asia
2013
EVCA 2013-2014
- George Anson serves as Chairman of EVCA (2013-2014)
The Private Equity International Awards 2013
- North American Fund of Funds of the Year
- Asia Secondaries Firm of the Year
Financial News Awards for Excellence in Institutional Private Equity Europe 2013
- Fund of Funds of the Year
2012
- Beijing presence established
HarbourVest Anniversary
- Team celebrates 30th year of fund management
The Private Equity International Awards 2012
- North American Fund of Funds of the Year
Australian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association Limited Awards 2012
- Best Management Buyout >$500 million in Australia with Archer Capital for co-investment in MYOB
2011
- Bogotá presence established
The Private Equity International Awards 2011
- European Fund of Funds Firm of the Year
- Secondary Deal of the Year
2010
- Tokyo subsidiary established
The Private Equity International Awards 2010
- North American Fund of Funds of the Year
The Private Equity News Awards 2010
- European Fund of Funds Firm of the Year
2009
The Private Equity International Awards 2009
- North American Fund of Funds of the Year
- European Venture Capital Deal of the Year
The European Venture Capital Journal Awards 2009
- Secondary House of the Year
The BVCA Real Deals Private Equity Awards 2009
- Secondaries House of the Year
2008
The Private Equity International Awards 2008
- North American Fund of Funds of the Year
2007
The Private Equity International Awards 2007
- Editors’ Choice for Fund of Funds Firm of the Year
- North American Fund of Funds of the Year
- Asian Fund of Funds of the Year
2006
- A decade of local presence in Asia
The Global Private Equity Awards 2006
- North American Fund of Funds of the Year
Awards for Investment Excellence 2006
- Private Equity Category Winner
2005
The Global Private Equity Awards 2005
- Global Fund of Funds of the Year
2004
The Global Private Equity Awards 2004
- North America Fund of Funds of the Year
- North America Secondaries Firm of the Year
2003
- HarbourVest commits $1.0 billion to secondary purchases
The Global Private Equity Awards 2003
- North America Fund of Funds of the Year
2001
Dow Jones Private Equity Analyst
- Private Equity Hall of Fame
1996
- Hong Kong office established to focus on Asian deals and clients
1994
- First Latin American partnership investment
1990
- London office established to focus on European deals and clients
- First international Fund of Funds program formed
1986
- First secondary investment
1984
- First international partnership investments in Europe and Asia
1983
- First direct investment
1982
- Formed Fund I, one of the first US private equity Fund of Funds
1978
- Investment team made first US partnership investment
*Following the transfer of the management of the HarbourVest Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) to HarbourVest Partners (Ireland) Limited on 29th March 2019, HarbourVest Partners (Europe) Limited applied to cancel its Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) authorisation as an AIFM, and as of 5th May 2020 ceased to be authorised and regulated by the FCA.
These awards do not necessarily represent investor experience with HarbourVest or the HarbourVest Funds, nor do they constitute a recommendation of HarbourVest or its services. These awards are based on surveys that are not limited to investors in HarbourVest Funds and may not have included all of the investors in HarbourVest Funds. These awards are not indicative of HarbourVest’s future performance.