We employ insights drawn from the research of the late Co-Founder Clay Christensen to invest with the aim of driving great outcomes for our investors and entrepreneurs.
Our Story
In 1995, Harvard Business (HBS) School professor Clay Christensen published the Harvard Business Review article, Disruptive Technologies: Catching The Wave. Two years later, he followed that article with his influential book, The Innovator’s Dilemma When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail.” In this and in succeeding works, Clay Christensen proposed the theory of Disruptive Innovation, which set out to answer the question of why well-managed companies fail, and when and why new entrants to markets were most likely to succeed. Over the years, and based on this research, he and his collaborators developed frameworks that they believed allowed for a more accurate understanding of the successes and failures of products, markets, and companies.
Our Approach
In the twentieth century, physics remade the world. Many of the technologies that characterize modern society - such as radar, nuclear power, and computers - were built using theories that physicists developed to explain the empirical regularities around them. These theories allowed them to understand and predict the behavior of natural systems, and even to create artificial ones that performed in predictable ways.
We believe that just as the natural world has empirical physical regularities that are predicted and explained by theories, so does the business world. We view ourselves as business physicists. We draw on insights from our academically derived, empirically established frameworks to comprehend and aim to predict how, why, and under which circumstances businesses are more likely to succeed or to fail. Just as Newton’s laws help us to understand the future of the solar system, for example, we believe the frameworks of Disruptive Innovation, when used correctly, can provide us with insights on the potential movements and outcomes of businesses and markets.
“Rose Park was the lead investor in BioLite's first equity financing in 2011 and has been our closest thought and capital partner since. Matt's shared belief in the commercial viability of fundamentally unserved energy markets in Africa has helped us find revolutionary business and operating models that have profitably served more than 5 million previously un-electrified families across the continent.”
Jonathan Cedar
Co-Founder & CEO
BioLite, following a new market disruptive strategy, serves non-consumers for whom either no options exist or where existing products are unaffordable or inaccessible.
Learn More“Building an enduring business requires the partnership of unwavering shareholders who are willing to take the journey with you for the long term. Rose Park Advisors was with us from the beginning and exemplifies the kind of investor that founders and builders should seek to realize their vision.”
“The humility and character of the team, combined with an always unique level of insight into the drivers of my business, make Rose Park Advisors the first referral for anyone I know who is looking for a capital partner. Rose Park will have a spot in every company I ever build or am part of.”
Mark Newman
Founder & CEO
HireVue employs the Jobs To Be Done framework to help their customers - both businesses and job candidates - to make progress in their respective circumstances. Mark Newman is also the Founder & CEO Nomi Health, which is a current portfolio company.
Learn More“Rose Park's distinct expertise in the discipline of competitive strategy makes them truly unique in identifying, analyzing, and accessing the highest potential companies in the world. While most VC firms try to evaluate companies, the team at Rose Park works to understand them. This understanding is the greatest compliment you can pay an entrepreneur and also sets the foundation of what makes Rose Park such an effective and supportive partner for the long haul.”
Cameron Andrews
Founder & President
Sirona Medical leverages Modularity Theory to create a more efficient experience for radiologists while also enabling the widespread adoption of AI in diagnostic imaging.
Learn MorePortfolio Companies
As authors of Disruption Theory, we believe our skill at understanding and applying the frameworks is our advantage. We believe the differentiated value that investors and entrepreneurs receive from our partnership lies in our commitment to investing and partnering only when the frameworks guide us to do so.
Our Team
We are a team with years of collective experience applying Clay Christensen’s Disruptive Innovation frameworks to uncover, invest in, and advise businesses that are reshaping entire markets and industries.
Allie Baker
Jonathan Bowen
Caroline Brennan
Courtney Brennan
Chris Calder
Matt Christensen
Spencer Christensen
Joey Martinez
Cliff Maxwell
Tara Meehan
Parker Moffat
AJ Pepper
Contact Us
If you’re interested in partnering with us in some capacity or in learning more about our investing philosophy, we’d love to hear from you.
Rose Park Advisors, LLC
200 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
