Why Accel-KKR: Interviews, Careers, & Portfolio

Accel-KKR Overview

Accel-KKR (AKKR) is an investment firm which focuses on supporting companies in the technology sector.

The firm invests in software and tech-enabled businesses that are well-positioned for bottom-line and topline growth. At the core of AKKR’s strategy is a commitment to build strong partnerships with the leadership and management teams of its portfolio companies and use their resources to drive growth.

Accel-KKR focuses on middle-market companies and offers a wide range of capital solutions such as going-private transactions, divisional carve-outs, recapitalizations, minority-growth investments, and buyouts.

Tom Barnds, Rob Palumbo, Paul Hazen, Jim Breyer, and George Roberts established Accel-KKR in 2000. The firm has offices in Mexico City, London, Atlanta, and Menlo Park.

Accel-KKR AUM

According to Accel-KKR public data on their website, they have $19 billion cumulative capital commitments across its growth capital, buyout, and credit funds.

Accel-KKR Interview Process & Questions

Firms have the flexibility to modify their interview process with each candidate. However, there are a few things that you can expect to happen when you interview at Accel-KKR or similar firms:

• The interview process will have 4-6 rounds
• Junior investment professionals are going to handle the initial rounds while the more senior staff conduct the later rounds
• Entire process can take several weeks – unless it’s “on-cycle” or “on-campus” recruiting

You can also expect to get a combination of fit questions, behavioral questions, and technical / investing questions from interviewers at Accel-KKR.

If you need help getting ready for interviews, you may want to check my Growth Equity Interview Guide.

Why Accel-KKR

Interviewers want to know why you choose to apply ‘specifically’ at their firm. That’s why the question “Why this firm” almost always comes up during interviews.

If you’ve met former or current employees of their firm, this is the perfect opportunity to mention them and how they’ve made a really positive impression on you. Briefly tell the good things they told you about the firm – which gave you insights why their firm is a good fit for you.

Another way to come up with an impressive answer to the “Why this firm” question is to learn more about the firm. To do this, you can listen to interviews with the firm’s founders, investors, and management team.

This interview with Rachel Spasser, Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer at Accel-KKR, is a great start:

More interview

• Interview with Steve Siwinski, senior finance leader at Accel-KKR

Accel-KKR Case Study

Technical knowledge and the ability to communicate are two crucial skills required to perform well at firms like Accel-KKR.

To evaluate these skills, firms use case studies which focus on financial modeling and investment recommendations. However, cold calling case study may also be required for junior roles.

In case you need help with preparing for case studies, check out my Growth Equity Interview Guide.

Accel-KKR Salary & Compensation

According to Glassdoor, the median pay for Analysts at Accel-KKR is $78,069 per year. Meanwhile, Associates receive a median pay of $96,319 per year. Keep in mind that these figures may vary depending on your level of experience and qualifications.

Analyst

Associate

Accel-KKR Careers, Jobs, & Internships

To view active job vacancies at Accel-KKR, head over to our job board where we also feature other open roles at similar firms.

Accel-KKR Portfolio & Investments

Based on the publicly available data of Crunchbase, Accel-KKR has 111 investments and 11 funds. Some of their notable deals include Masabi, Birdeye, and Yes Energy.

Notable Transaction: Ocuco

Due to innovations, omnichannel customer experiences and new online approaches are revolutionizing eyecare. But this also results in more complexity for eyecare practitioners to integrate and manage in-store and online retail and clinical systems.

Ocuco addresses this concern with its Acuitas 3 OmniChannel Edition – which utilizes innovative technology to bring these elements together and provide a seamless customer and user experience.

Ocuco is a provider of omnichannel software solutions to the eyecare industry. Its products include e-commerce solutions, laboratory management systems, and practice management software.

The Company has more than 30 years of experience in providing high-quality software solutions to 6,700+ eyecare locations and labs across various countries.

In August 2023, Ocuco raised a €60 million growth equity investment from a funding round led by Accel-KKR.

The investment will allow Ocuco to meet the increasing omnichannel demand in the eyecare industry. With AKKR’s backing, Ocuco will also keep on capitalizing on strategic M&A opportunities.

Next Steps

Accel-KKR can be a perfect fit for anyone who is interested in technology and innovation. Just like any firm, Accel-KKR requires candidates to go through a series of interviews.

If you need help preparing for such interviews and increase your chances of landing a role at the firm, make sure to check out my Growth Equity Interview Guide. Inside this self-paced online course, you’ll see step-by-step lessons on case studies, valuation, and everything else you need to know to come up with impressive answers during interviews.

Get the course and start learning today!