M33 Growth launches to back bootstrapped businesses

M33 Growth has launched as a Boston-based growth equity firm focused on bootstrapped businesses with at least $5 million in revenue. It also has raised $180 million for its debut fund.

Big name: Brian Shortsleeve, a longtime investor with VC firm General Catalyst, who left a couple years back to run the troubled state transit authority for Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

• Target sectors: Software, healthcare and services.
• Team: Brian Shortsleeve; Gabriel Ling (ex-General Catalyst) and Michael Anello (ex-VP of Valor Equity's operations group).
• Per Shortsleeve: "One of the areas I really focused on at the [MBTA] was leveraging technology and industry. For example, we launched a big partnership with Uber and Lyft... And while public service was a great thing to do, my real passion is helping to build companies and I always expected to return to the business world."