Jeff Haywood

Joined Spectrum: 2007
Sector Focus: Healthcare IT - Software - Data
Education: Duke University, BA
Prior Firms: Goldman Sachs - Thoma Cressey

Jeff is a Managing Director at Spectrum, where he helps to lead healthcare technology investing.

ABOUT JEFF

Jeff Haywood has spent nearly two decades at Spectrum Equity, where he invests in a range of healthcare technology businesses. Jeff co-leads the firm’s healthcare practice alongside Steve LeSieur, addressing some of healthcare’s most persistent problems including the cost of care, access gaps, and the administrative complexity that strains the entire system. Jeff joined Spectrum in 2007 and was promoted to Managing Director in 2019.

A consistent theme in his investment approach is patience. Spectrum typically tracks companies for two to three years before investing, a discipline that shapes both the quality of the relationship and the quality of the their impact together. Jeff is proud to partner with founders who have built ambitiously with limited resources, often discovering companies where product adoption has outpaced the business’s infrastructure. Once invested, Spectrum often partners with companies from four to seven years (or more), building alongside management rather than running a standardized playbook.

PORTFOLIO

Jeff’s healthcare exits include public offerings (Definitive Healthcare and GoodRx), strategic exits (Payer Compass, PWNHealth), as well as financial sponsor liquidity (Datassential, Net Health, Membersy).

He currently sits on the boards of RxVantage and VBA.

Portfolio Highlights

• Definitive Healthcare, a SaaS-based healthcare commercial intelligence platform, became part of the Spectrum portfolio in 2015. Over the partnership, Spectrum helped scale the company from $10M in revenue and 45 employees — investing in their management team, professionalizing the sales organization, and completing five acquisitions. The company went public in September 2021 (NASDAQ: DH), having grown to more than $150M in revenue and 600 employees.

• RxVantage, a software and data platform connecting healthcare professionals (HCPs) and life science companies, became part of the Spectrum portfolio in January 2021. The company operates as the leading platform for practice-pharma engagement with more than 22,000 medical practices and 18 of the top 20 life sciences companies as Enterprise customers on its two-sided network.

• Payer Compass, a provider of healthcare price transparency and data analytics solutions, became part of the Spectrum portfolio in December 2018. Spectrum partnered with CEO Greg Everett to scale the business through targeted executive hires and product investment, while the company achieved Rule of 40 status through a disciplined balance of growth and profitability. The business sold to Zelis in 2022.

• Datassential, the leading global food and beverage intelligence platform, became part of the Spectrum portfolio in 2019 following a multi-year relationship with the founding team. Over the partnership, Datassential more than tripled its customer count, launched several new products, and completed the acquisition of CHD Expert Group to become the world leader in foodservice data. The company was sold to a private equity consortium in 2024.

• PWNHealth, a national clinician network and diagnostic testing enablement platform serving health plans, employers, and consumers, became part of the Spectrum portfolio in 2020. PWNHealth was acquired by Everlywell to form Everly Health, combining PWNHealth’s enterprise diagnostic infrastructure with Everlywell’s direct-to-consumer testing business.

• Net Health, an EHR (Electronic Health Record) provider for outpatient specialty care, became part of the Spectrum portfolio in 2012. Over the course of the partnership, the business expanded from one to five end-markets, significantly expanding its TAM, and grew revenue by nearly 5x.

INVESTMENT FOCUS

Jeff invests in healthcare technology businesses, operating across the entire healthcare ecosystem including providers, payers, life sciences, and consumers. He views healthcare as a sector that has historically lagged other vertical markets in technology adoption, and looks for opportunities to partner with founders and management teams to build distinctive business in healthcare as well as other verticals.

BACKGROUND

Before joining Spectrum in 2007, Jeff was an Associate at Thoma Cressey Equity Partners and an Analyst at Goldman Sachs. He received his BA from Duke University, where he played varsity soccer. He serves as a Trustee at Derby Academy and is active in youth athletics in the Greater Boston area. Outside of work, he coaches and attends his three sons’ sports activities, and skis and plays golf with his family.

“The question we care about most is: Does this company sustainably benefit the healthcare system?” - Jeff Haywood, Spectrum Equity

The specific companies identified above may not represent all of Spectrum Equity’s investments, and no assumptions should be made that any investments identified were or will be profitable.