Top Technology Trends Q&A with Griff Norville

December 20, 2023 | 4 Min Read
  • SHARE

The private markets have grown tremendously over the last 50 years in terms of size and complexity. Having access to comprehensive, high-quality and timely data – and then knowing what to do with it – gives private market investors a competitive advantage. Investors know that intuition is no longer going to cut it, which has ultimately created demand for cutting-edge tools and solutions.

We caught up with Head of Technology Solutions Griff Norville to discuss the latest wave of digital transformation spanning the private markets and how we deliver value to our clients through tech-enabled solutions.

Q: We are experiencing an era of unprecedented technological advancement. Why are private market investors still grappling with modernizing their tools and technology? 

A: It’s an exciting time to be a private markets investor, now with access to more industry data and purpose-built technology than ever before. Yet, there are plenty of investors stuck in the “Excel Age,” a time when fragmented, complex and cumbersome processes were the norm for this asset class. Isn't it about time we catch up with our public market peers? This isn’t a novel revelation. Innovation is an integral part of how Hamilton Lane has approached the private sector for more than 30 years. I’ve said it before, and it’s worth saying again, we believe that investors that utilize best-in-class technology, combined with the most timely and in-depth private markets data, will be best positioned to win.  

Q: What are some general pointers you may have for investors looking to leave the ‘Excel Age’ and update their investment toolkit? 

A: Think holistically about your investment goals and technology ecosystem. We dedicate a significant amount of our time ensuring that we're strategically leveraging technology to be the best investors and partners to our clients. On the investment side, we're using technology to digitize our diligence process, specifically how we interact with and collect data from general partners (GPs). Increasingly, we’ve been focused on giving our clients access to the same information that our global investment team leverages when reviewing opportunities across the asset class. For instance, our Fund Investment Team evaluated over 1,100 new funds globally in 2022 (as of December 31, 2022). That data was then funneled into Cobalt LPTM, our proprietary analytics, forecasting and diligence platform for institutional investors in order for clients to incorporate the “Hamilton Lane point of view” within the framework of their portfolio and investment strategy. 

Q: Can you expand on other ways that investors can leverage technology to navigate some of the challenges associated with portfolio management in this asset class?  

A: Sure, I’ll stick with Hamilton Lane as the example. It’s common knowledge that complexities around information management and reporting in this asset class make it difficult to capture an accurate snapshot of one’s portfolio. We use technology that integrates machine learning to extract unstructured data from GP documentation as part of our data management service for LPs. That’s just step one. Next, we use databases and portfolio monitoring solutions to organize that data and track portfolio performance. Now that our clients have all of this great data at their fingertips, how do they decide what to do next? Well, they can leverage our proprietary cash flow projection model, scenario/what-if analysis and commitment plan solver in Cobalt LP. 

Q: Why has the industry historically been slow to adopt technology and how do you see this relationship evolving? 

A: This is partially due to an older style of investing – think Excel, email and word-of-mouth interactions. However, the world of data that we live in now cannot be processed and applied effectively within this framework. I wish it was as easy as there's just one solution to do it all, but we have instead favored a best-of-breed approach tying systems together. We've invested a lot in our internal teams, linking processes and data flows to gain consistency across systems and ensuring consistency across applications. For example, Cobalt LP was initially designed to be a pre-commitment and diligence tool, but it has continued to evolve into a comprehensive, end-to-end portfolio reporting platform as well.  

Q: It would be remiss not to mention artificial intelligence. Can you shed some light on how Hamilton Lane is thinking about this area?

A: We have an exciting initiative called Hamilton Lane Innovations. Essentially, we invest in relatively early-stage private markets technology companies in an effort to make a meaningful impact on this industry. Our north star, if you will, is to create a best-in-class technology ecosystem for not only ourselves, but our clients. For example, we’ve been working to develop software aimed at private wealth investors. In partnering with Helix BY HL, we have the opportunity to explore a generative AI chatbot interface. It's early days, but we are excited to see where it goes.

Interested in seeing Hamilton Lane’s data and technology in action? Learn more about our Technology Solutions or contact us to schedule a demo of Cobalt LP, our proprietary analytics, forecasting and diligence platform.

This presentation has been prepared solely for informational purposes and contains confidential and proprietary information, the disclosure of which could be harmful to Hamilton Lane. Accordingly, the recipients of this presentation are requested to maintain the confidentiality of the information contained herein. This presentation may not be copied or distributed, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Hamilton Lane.

The information contained in this presentation may include forward-looking statements regarding returns, performance, opinions, the fund presented or its portfolio companies, or other events contained herein. Forward-looking statements include a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors beyond our control, or the control of the fund or the portfolio companies, which may result in material differences in actual results, performance or other expectations. The opinions, estimates and analyses reflect our current judgment, which may change in the future. 

All opinions, estimates and forecasts of future performance or other events contained herein are based on information available to Hamilton Lane as of the date of this presentation and are subject to change. Past performance of the investments described herein is not indicative of future results. In addition, nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a prediction of future performance. The information included in this presentation has not been reviewed or audited by independent public accountants. Certain information included herein has been obtained from sources that Hamilton Lane believes to be reliable, but the accuracy of such information cannot be guaranteed. 

This presentation is not an offer to sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy, any security or to enter into any agreement with Hamilton Lane or any of its affiliates. Any such offering will be made only at your request. We do not intend that any public offering will be made by us at any time with respect to any potential transaction discussed in this presentation. Any offering or potential transaction will be made pursuant to separate documentation negotiated between us, which will supersede entirely the information contained herein. 

Hamilton Lane (Germany) GmbH is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hamilton Lane Advisors, L.L.C. Hamilton Lane (Germany) GmbH is authorised and regulated by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). In the European Economic Area this communication is directed solely at persons who would be classified as professional investors within the meaning of Directive 2011/61/EU (AIFMD). Its contents are not directed at, may not be suitable for and should not be relied upon by retail clients. 

Hamilton Lane (UK) Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hamilton Lane Advisors, L.L.C. Hamilton Lane (UK) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). In the United Kingdom this communication is directed solely at persons who would be classified as a professional client or eligible counterparty under the FCA Handbook of Rules and Guidance. Its contents are not directed at, may not be suitable for and should not be relied upon by retail clients. 

Hamilton Lane Advisors, L.L.C. is exempt from the requirement to hold an Australian financial services licence under the Corporations Act 2001 in respect of the financial services by operation of ASIC Class Order 03/1100: U.S. SEC regulated financial service providers. Hamilton Lane Advisors, L.L.C. is regulated by the SEC under U.S. laws, which differ from Australian laws. 

Any tables, graphs or charts relating to past performance included in this presentation are intended only to illustrate the performance of the indices, composites, specific accounts or funds referred to for the historical periods shown. Such tables, graphs and charts are not intended to predict future performance and should not be used as the basis for an investment decision. 

The information herein is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal or tax advice, or investment recommendations. You should consult your accounting, legal, tax or other advisors about the matters discussed herein. 

The calculations contained in this document are made by Hamilton Lane based on information provided by the general partner (e.g. cash flows and valuations), and have not been prepared, reviewed or approved by the general partners. 

As of December 15, 2023

Recent Content

Insights | 2 Min Read

Digitize Your Diligence Process: How private market investors can leverage technology to find their next investment opportunity

Selecting the top performing managers for an organization’s portfolio requires significant data and resources. Learn how to digitize the diligence process with access to in-depth quantitative and qualitative insights.

Read the Blog Post
Insights | 4 Min Read

Top Technology Trends in the Private Markets Part II

A mid-year update on some of the exciting top technology trends in the private markets. Delve into the world of AI, data collection and more.

Read the Blog Post
News | 3 Min Read

Daphne Technologies Partnership

Hamilton Lane announced a partnership between our proprietary technology Cobalt LP and Daphne Technologies to further digitize the private markets fundraising process.

Read the Press Release

We use cookies to improve user experience, and analyze web traffic. For those reasons, we may share your site usage with our analytics partners.

Learn More