Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers

Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers is a major Sand Hill Road venture capital firm in Silicon Valley.

Related Topics:
Sand Hill Road - Venture capital - Silicon Valley

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The name comes from the four senior partners: Eugene Kleiner (emeritus), Tom Perkins (emeritus), Frank Caufield (emeritus), and Brook Byers.

Related Topics:
Eugene Kleiner - Tom Perkins - Frank Caufield - Brook Byers

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The firm was founded in 1972 as Kleiner Perkins. At that point, the founders of most VC firms had financial backgrounds. Kleiner Perkins's founders were distinguished by their industry experience -- Kleiner as a founder of Fairchild Semiconductor and Perkins as one of the leaders of HP's early computer division.

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One peculiarity (amongst western companies) is that it encourages transactions among companies in which it holds a stake. This is similar to the Japanese keiretsu style of company structure.

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General Partners include:

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• Vinod Khosla
• John Doerr

In January 2005, Bill Joy was named a partner.

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In July 2005, former Secretary of State Colin Powell joined the company as strategic limited partner, a newly created position.

Related Topics:
Secretary of State - Colin Powell

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