About Morgenthaler Ventures
Morgenthaler Ventures has worked with outstanding entrepreneurs to build valuable companies for over 39 years. We have $2.5 billion under management, including $450 million in our current fund (capitalized in October of 2005). Today, our venture capital team focuses its investments in two areas: Life sciences and information technology. We are headquartered in Menlo Park, CA, with offices in Boulder, CO; Boston, MA; Cleveland, OH and Princeton, NJ. Our passion for company building has earned us the respect of our partners and exceptional results for our investors.
Our Approach
Our goal is simple: To partner with industry-leading entrepreneurs and provide them with the highest level of support possible as they build their companies. We have a team of 11 investment professionals who sit on an average of five to seven boards or less. This allows us to provide the active, value-added services required to help our portfolio companies grow rapidly. We have followed this winning philosophy with more than 250 companies.
We expect to invest between $5 and $15 million total in each company over several rounds. Initial investments can be as small as $500 thousand. Of our recent investments, 80% have been in Series A.
We focus our energies in two investment areas: Information technology and life sciences.
Information Technology
Our interest in information technology can be broken down into five areas: Materials and Devices, Semiconductors and Components, Systems, Software, and Services.
Life Sciences
We invest in a broad spectrum of life sciences companies, particularly those in the fields of: Therapeutic Biopharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, and Health-care Services.
History
David Morgenthaler founded the firm in 1968 after a successful career as an operating executive. After his venture-backed business was sold to an international company, Dave decided that there was a tremendous opportunity for private venture capital investing. He then built a small Cleveland-based venture capital firm with a goal of investing in a variety of private technology companies nationally. He also took a leadership role in establishing the legitimacy and potential of the nascent venture capital industry.
Among his many contributions to the emerging industry, Dave was president of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) when the capital gains tax reduction was enacted in 1978, and played a leading role in testifying before Congress for the new legislation. He was also instrumental in helping pass the ERISA legislation of 1979, allowing for pension funds to invest in private equity for the first time. Dave was given the first National Venture Capital Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998 in recognition for his contributions.
Morgenthaler began raising institutional funds in the 1980s, and has since grown to become a uniquely national firm. Today, our venture capital practice is based in Menlo Park, CA, with offices in Boston, MA; Boulder, CO; and Princeton, NJ. Our Cleveland office serves as the headquarters for our middle-market management buyout group.
We have worked with entrepreneurs in approximately 300 companies since the firm's founding. We strive to be the entrepreneur's most trusted partner.
©2008 Morgenthaler
