Jeff Richards

My focus is on working with CEOs and entrepreneurs to help build great companies. Having founded two venture-backed startups myself – one a success (R4, acquired by VeriSign in 2005) and one a failure (QuantumShift) – I have deep personal experience with the challenges entrepreneurs and CEOs face. As an entrepreneur and CEO, I raised six rounds of financing across two companies and had the opportunity to work with some of the world’s best venture capitalists. I also worked with a few who weren’t as helpful, and experienced firsthand the adage that “not all money is equal.” I try to bring the best of these experiences to bear in every relationship I create with an entrepreneur or CEO – whether it is as an informal advisor, an investor and/or a board member. I also have a family with four kids and understand the personal toll that building a great company can take. In short, I’ve “been there,” and I believe choosing the right investors, board members, etc. can make a real difference in the outcome for a company. We tend to invest $5 million-25 million into our portfolio companies, and our investment typically goes toward expanding the organization, sales, marketing, and/or acquisitions. I specifically focus on investing in companies in the software sector, with a focus on vertical and SMB technologies. Follow on Twitter @jrichlive