Michael Moritz

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Michael Moritz
Born Cardiff, Wales
Occupation Partner at Sequoia Capital[1]

Michael Moritz (born Cardiff, Wales, 1954) is a British venture capitalist with Sequoia Capital in Menlo Park, California in the Silicon Valley, and a former member of the board of directors of Google inc.[2][3]

He was educated at Howardian High School in Cardiff before moving on to Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated as a Master of Arts in history. In 1978, he received a Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.[2]

Moritz joined Sequoia in 1986 after working as a reporter for Time, writing the 1984 book The Little Kingdom: the Private Story of Apple Computer, and co-authoring "Going for Broke: The Chrysler Story" (with Barrett Seaman, TIME's Detroit bureau chief). After leaving Time, Moritz co-founded Technologic Partners, a technology newsletter and conference company.[2]

His internet company investments include Google, Yahoo!, PayPal, Apple Computer, Cisco, Webvan, YouTube, and eToys.[4] He also sits as one of the Board of Directors of 24/7 Customer, a Business Process Outsourcing company based in Los Gatos, California. Google was a rare co-investment with John Doerr of rival venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers,[5] and the initial public offering of the company in 2004 made him one of Wales' richest men.[6] His investment in Google helped him achieve the number one listing in Forbes' "Midas List" of the top dealmakers in the technology industry in 2006 and 2007,[7] and a place on the 2007 "TIME 100".[8] He ranked number 2 on the Midas List for 2008[9] and 2009.[10] He is listed by The Sunday Times as having a fortune of UK£558 million (circa US$1.1 billion).[11]

On 18 June 2008, Michael Moritz and his wife, American novelist Harriet Heyman, announced a donation of US$50m to Christ Church, Oxford, his former college, the largest single donation in the college’s history.

He lives in San Francisco with his wife and two children.[2][6] He was a prominent supporter of President Barack Obama's candidacy.

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Michael Moritz Bio". http://www.sequoiacap.com/people/michael-moritz/. Retrieved 2007-11-14. 
  2. ^ a b c d Michael Moritz's profile, LinkedIn.com
  3. ^ "Michael Moritz Will Not Seek Re-Election to Google's Board of Directors", Google press release, March 22, 2007
  4. ^ "Gags-to-riches tale of the Welsh wizard who bet on YouTube", Heather Connon, The Observer, October 15, 2006
  5. ^ "Google Receives $25 Million in Equity Funding", Google press release, June 7, 1999
  6. ^ a b "Google investor to earn £1.3bn", BBC News, May 1, 2004
  7. ^ "#1 Michael Moritz", Forbes.com Midas List 2007, January 25, 2007
  8. ^ "Builders & Titans: Michael Moritz", Eric Schmidt, TIME, May 2007
  9. ^ "#2 Michael Moritz", Forbes.com Midas List 2008, January 24, 2008]
  10. ^ "#2 Michael Moritz", Forbes.com Midas List 2009, January 29, 2009]
  11. ^ "Sir Terry still 'Wales richest'", BBC News, April 29, 2007

[edit] External links