Orlando Bravo

Orlando Bravo
Born	1970 Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, private equity investor
Years active	1997–present
Known for	Co-founder and managing partner of Thoma Bravo
Notable work	Co-founding Thoma Bravo, philanthropy in Puerto Rico

Orlando Bravo (born 1970) is a billionaire entrepreneur from Puerto Rico and a co-founder as well as managing partner of Thoma Bravo, a private equity firm that focuses on enterprise software and technology-driven services. He was recognized in the 2019 Forbes 400 list as the first billionaire born in Puerto Rico, debuting at position No. 287. As of September 2024, his net worth is estimated to be approximately US$9.8 billion.

Early life and education

Originating from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, Bravo relocated to Florida during his early teenage years to train in tennis at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. He later returned to Puerto Rico to complete high school at the Academia de la Inmaculada Concepción. After finishing secondary education, he enrolled at Brown University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and political science in 1992. Subsequently, he obtained a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School and an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Career

Bravo launched his professional journey in the field of mergers and acquisitions at Morgan Stanley. In 1997, he became part of Thoma Bravo’s predecessor firm, Thoma Cressey Equity Partners, Inc. (TCEP). According to Crain's Chicago Business, Carl Thoma’s decision to recruit Bravo was considered "the smartest investment....Thoma ever made."

During the early 2000s, Bravo spearheaded TCEP’s purchase of Prophet 21, a provider of product distribution software. This acquisition marked the firm’s initial foray into software and was among the pioneering take-private deals in that industry. The transaction fit TCEP’s strategy of targeting robust franchises within large, fragmented markets. Due to lender conservatism at that time, the deal was structured with limited leverage. Bravo also introduced the company’s inaugural operating partner role aimed at enhancing profitability in software firms, which typically featured high margins but lacked profitability. Prophet 21 generated a 4.7x return upon exit after three years.

These achievements resulted in Bravo becoming a partner at TCEP by age 30, where he managed the software investment group. In 2007, the firm was renamed Thoma Cressey Bravo to acknowledge his impact.

In 2008, Bravo played a key role in establishing Thoma Bravo, LLC as the firm rebranded and concentrated its investment efforts on software and technology sectors.

Following Hurricane Maria's devastation in September 2017, Bravo personally organized shipments of aid to Puerto Rico utilizing private jets, cargo aircraft, and container vessels. In 2019, he pledged $100 million through the Bravo Family Foundation’s Rising Entrepreneurs Program to foster entrepreneurship on the island.

Board Memberships

Bravo held a trustee position on the Brown University Corporation from 2019 until 2023. In 2019, Brown University created the Orlando Bravo Center for Economics Research funded by a $25 million donation from him to advance innovative economic research and education. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Trustees at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Personal life

Bravo is married to Katy Bravo; they have four children and reside in Miami.

See also

• List of Puerto Ricans