Pass the Torch.

Trust in Izzi.

Izzi is an all-inclusive technology innovator, supporting the legendary systems that power the modern world by bringing together proven companies to create a portfolio of mission-critical software applications. 

We’re creating a forward-thinking family of products that builds upon the momentum of the innovators who built them.

Our Story

Mainframes and midrange systems are the secret foundation of today’s digital world, and a thriving ecosystem of specialized companies supports this market. Izzi cultivates a roster of powerhouse solutions by acquiring successful, proven companies that empower users of these platforms to extend the value of their infrastructure investments and drive successful outcomes.

Our mission is to bring together high-performing companies so our customers continue benefiting from the tools and services they’ve trusted for years, backed by our powerful development and support experts.

Izzi is interested in companies with a history of providing both innovative solutions and excellent service. We’re seeking founder-led or founder-owned organizations with less than $10M annual recurring revenue who have great products and loyal customers we can invest in to grow.

Our Mission.

Every Great Performance Deserves an Encore.

Izzi acquires founder-led companies that build leading products for the systems that make our modern world function. We are looking for entrepreneurs and business leaders who are ready to reap the benefits of their hard work and innovation.

At Izzi, our mission is to buy companies to grow long-term into pillars of mainframe and midrange solutions. By integrating these tools into a broader set of solutions, we give each product a better chance of reaching their customers.

Who We Are

The team organizations trust for leading mainframe and midrange innovation.

Izzi is the next solutions leader for the indispensable platforms that run the world’s technology, a major player, and a revolutionary software vendor. We offer the innovators and entrepreneurs who built the foundations of modern computing a chance to get their innovations into the hands of their ideal customers.

World-class customer support makes us the leading partner for smaller companies that feel overlooked in a big industry like mainframe. We get our companies’ solutions to customers and find the solutions customers need.

Jennifer Nelson

CEO

Jennifer is a visionary leader with over 25 years of experience in the IBM mainframe and Power space. She has a proven track record of driving strategic transformation, successfully leading global engineering teams to modernize legacy applications and shape the technical roadmap. Jennifer’s expertise spans managing P&L units ranging from $10 million to $600 million, where she consistently introduced new technologies to the market, fueling organic growth. Currently, at Izzi, Jennifer collaborates with technical founders to strategically plan and execute their next phase of growth, ensuring their continued success and innovation. 

Steve Nelson

Senior Vice President

An accomplished software engineering executive with a proven track record of delivering successful solutions in database, networking, and cloud storage markets, Steve’s extensive business experience spans product growth, mentoring, budgeting, and mergers & acquisitions, with leadership roles at companies such as VMS Software, Rocket Software, Computer Corporation of America, General Dynamics, and IndraSoft. He has also shared his expertise as a visiting lecturer at Framingham State University. Currently serving as SVP at Izzi, Steve brings a blend of visionary leadership, creative problem-solving, and deep industry knowledge to the executive leadership team.

Mark Basarich

Account Executive

Mark joined Izzi Software after serving as Regional Sales Manager at Evolven Software following more than 18 years in senior sales roles at OpenTech Systems and Rocket Software (which acquired OpenTech in 2012). He has a proven track record of driving revenue growth and new logo acquisition across startups and established software companies, and is consistently ranked as a top sales performer with a deep track record of success in leveraging innovative technology to solve complex business challenges and drive organizational growth. A Minnesota native who has lived in the Dallas area for more than 25 years, Mark has primary responsibility for directing the business development campaigns for Izzi’s acquired brands in the IBM i and IBM Z ecosystems.

Jim Milbery

Board Member

Jim has spent his entire career in technology, working with customers, founders and management teams. Prior to founding ParkerGale, he worked at Chicago Growth Partners and William Blair Capital Partners, where he managed portfolio company operations and technology initiatives. Before starting in private equity, Jim held various technical, sales and strategy roles at Oracle, Compuware/Uniface, CA/Ingres, and Digital Equipment Corporation. He studied Accounting and Applied Statistics at Babson College and holds a Master’s degree in Information Technology from IIT in Chicago. Jim spends his free time mixing it up in the black belt division on the Sport Martial Arts circuit.

Bob Potter

Board Member

Bob Potter is an accomplished business leader with deep expertise in managing and growing enterprise software companies on a global scale. He has served as Chairman and Lead Director for several public and private technology companies. As GM of Database Performance Management at SolarWinds, he led a growing $100M business within a $700M public company. As CEO of SentryOne, Bob doubled the sales, customer base, and number of employees in less than three years; SentryOne was sold to SolarWinds for $143M during the peak of the pandemic. He previously created and led an aggregator software business for Alpine Investors.  Bob was twice a startup CEO and led a $115M business unit for Rocket Software, and has managed business operations – including sales, marketing, and business development – for several high-growth pre-and post-IPO software companies.

Jason Heath

Board Member

Jason is the co-founder and COO of Big Band Software. He has a passion for growing companies by finding the real sources of value, bringing in what’s missing, and ramping up the operation as a whole. Jason is an experienced tech executive with a demonstrated history of scaling startups and working in the SaaS industry. He has extensive experience as a COO at Big Band Software, WebPT, Leadpages, Drip, and Media Temple, and was the Vice President, Business Intelligence and Analytics at GoDaddy.

Here at Izzi, we think about software a lot.

We invite you to explore what’s on our minds …. and what industry experts are saying.

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