David Berkal

David was passionate about the idea of building the best permanent home for great software businesses but had a hard time finding investors who were aligned with his extremely long-term time horizon. He knew there were entrepreneurs out there who cared deeply about their companies but didn't want to sell to a strategic or traditional investment firm. Finding investors that shared this passion for his mission and time horizon was critical in setting up Banyan for success from the start.

We first met David in 2013 when he was in his first year at Stanford GSB and immediately saw in him ambition, intellectual horsepower, and a deep belief in a thesis around which he could build a big business. David started Banyan right from our Boston office in partnership with other like-minded investors and we knew from the jump he was going to do something special. We were fortunate to build a partnership with David very early in his journey, and have sought opportunities to deepen that relationship overtime. In 2020, after proving his thesis and reaching key milestones, David sought a partner to help fund the next chapter of Banyan's growth. Pacific Lake's Long-Term Hold strategy led the transaction and continued to lean in to supporting the business.