Jim Breyer
Encyclopedia
James W. Breyer is a partner of Accel Partners
, President of Accel Management Company, and founder/CEO of Breyer Capital (a global diversified investment firm). He has been a lead or co-lead investor in over thirty consumer internet, media, and technology companies that have completed public offerings or successful mergers. In April 2011, the Forbes
Midas List of investors ranked Jim Breyer #1, and in August, 2010, Fortune Magazine named Breyer one of the 10 smartest people in technology, and the smartest investor in technology.
in 1983, receiving a BS
degree with a double-major in computer science and economics. He spent his junior year abroad in Florence, Italy. The winter after his junior year at Stanford and during his senior year, he worked in product management at Apple Inc. After Stanford, Breyer worked as a management consultant for McKinsey & Co., in New York. Later, he earned an MBA from Harvard University
, where he was named a Baker Scholar.
, Agile Software, BBN Technologies
(aka Raytheon
), Centillion (acquired by Bay Networks
), Collabra/America On-line, Foundry Networks
, Hyperion Solutions
/Oracle
, Macromedia
, Maven Networks/Yahoo!, Real Networks, RedBack Networks, and Walmart.com.
Breyer is on the Board of Directors of Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc, where he is the Lead/Presiding Independent Director, and Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee. He also served on the Board of Marvel Entertainment
up until their acquisition by Disney, where he was the founding Chairman of the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee. He also serves on the board of Dell Inc., where he is Chair of Leadership Development and Compensation Committee. In October 2011, he was elected to News Corporation
's board with over 98% of the shareholder vote.
Breyer is an investor/board member of privately held companies Brightcove
, Etsy
(since 2007), Facebook
(since April 2005), Global Grind, Legendary Pictures
and Vostu
. In each of these cases, he was either the first or among the first venture capital investors in the company. Breyer is also on the Strategic Investment Committee/Board of Accel-KKR
, IDG-Accel China Fund, and Facebook
Seed Fund. In the case of Facebook, Breyer led Accel’s $12.7 million investment in April 2005, and also invested his own money in the company. At that time, Facebook had "a near $100 million valuation." In early 2011, the imputed valuation of Facebook moved up to $50 billion in a transaction with Goldman Sachs
.
Accel is also a backer of Groupon
, which in late 2010 turned down a purchase offer from Google
for $6 billion. In early 2011 Groupon
was talking about an initial public offering
which would value the company at $15 billion.
Breyer is the former chairman of the National Venture Capital Association
(NVCA), a former president of the Western Association of Venture Capitalists, and on the Board of the Associates of the Harvard Business School
, Pacific Community Ventures, Stanford Technology Ventures Program, Technet, and a trustee of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
(SFMOMA), and of The Menlo School. He is a minority owner of the Boston Celtics
. Breyer is chairman of the Stanford Engineering Venture Fund, former chairman of the Harvard Business School California Research Center, and is the former chairman of the Silicon Valley region committee for Stanford University's Campaign for Undergraduate Education. He is also a member of various World Economic Forum
committees, and a member of the Lead Director Network. In December 2005, Breyer was appointed an honorary professor at the 1,000 year-old Yuelu Academy, Hunan University
, China. Breyer is also the chief executive officer of Breyer Capital, a venture capital
and investment firm.
On September 2, 2011, it was announced that Breyer had been nominated to serve on the board of News Corporation
.
Accel Partners
Accel Partners is a global venture and growth equity firm funding companies from inception through the growth stage.The firm is based in Palo Alto, California with major offices in Bangalore, Beijing, London, and Shanghai....
, President of Accel Management Company, and founder/CEO of Breyer Capital (a global diversified investment firm). He has been a lead or co-lead investor in over thirty consumer internet, media, and technology companies that have completed public offerings or successful mergers. In April 2011, the Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
Midas List of investors ranked Jim Breyer #1, and in August, 2010, Fortune Magazine named Breyer one of the 10 smartest people in technology, and the smartest investor in technology.
Early life
Breyer graduated with highest distinction from Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1983, receiving a BS
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree with a double-major in computer science and economics. He spent his junior year abroad in Florence, Italy. The winter after his junior year at Stanford and during his senior year, he worked in product management at Apple Inc. After Stanford, Breyer worked as a management consultant for McKinsey & Co., in New York. Later, he earned an MBA from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where he was named a Baker Scholar.
Career
Breyer has been an investor in over thirty consumer Internet, media, and technology companies that have completed public offerings or successful mergers, including ActuateActuate
Actuate Corporation is a San Mateo, California based Public Computer software company. Actuate is the founder and co-leader of the Eclipse BIRT open source project, a development environment for "presenting compelling data visualizations"...
, Agile Software, BBN Technologies
BBN Technologies
BBN Technologies is a high-technology company which provides research and development services. BBN is based next to Fresh Pond in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA...
(aka Raytheon
Raytheon
Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
), Centillion (acquired by Bay Networks
Bay Networks
Bay Networks was a network hardware vendor formed through the merger of Santa Clara, California based SynOptics Communications and Billerica, Massachusetts based Wellfleet Communications on July 6, 1994...
), Collabra/America On-line, Foundry Networks
Foundry Networks
Foundry Networks, Inc. was a networking hardware vendor selling high-end Ethernet switches and routers. The company was founded in 1996 by Bobby R. Johnson, Jr. and was headquartered in Santa Clara, California, USA...
, Hyperion Solutions
Hyperion Solutions
Hyperion Solutions Corporation was a business performance management software company, located in Santa Clara, California, USA, which was acquired by Oracle Corporation in 2007...
/Oracle
Oracle Corporation
Oracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation that specializes in developing and marketing hardware systems and enterprise software products – particularly database management systems...
, Macromedia
Macromedia
Macromedia was an American graphics and web development software company headquartered in San Francisco, California that produced such products as Flash and Dreamweaver. Its rival, Adobe Systems, acquired Macromedia on December 3, 2005 and controls the line of Macromedia...
, Maven Networks/Yahoo!, Real Networks, RedBack Networks, and Walmart.com.
Breyer is on the Board of Directors of Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
Stores, Inc, where he is the Lead/Presiding Independent Director, and Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee. He also served on the Board of Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC , formerly Marvel Enterprises and Toy Biz, Inc., is an American entertainment company formed from the merger of Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. and Toy Biz, Inc....
up until their acquisition by Disney, where he was the founding Chairman of the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee. He also serves on the board of Dell Inc., where he is Chair of Leadership Development and Compensation Committee. In October 2011, he was elected to News Corporation
News Corporation
News Corporation or News Corp. is an American multinational media conglomerate. It is the world's second-largest media conglomerate as of 2011 in terms of revenue, and the world's third largest in entertainment as of 2009, although the BBC remains the world's largest broadcaster...
's board with over 98% of the shareholder vote.
Breyer is an investor/board member of privately held companies Brightcove
Brightcove
Brightcove is a Cambridge, MA based company that produces an Online Video Platform .- History :Brightcove was founded in 2004 by Jeremy Allaire, who now serves as CEO. In March 2006, Brightcove acquired Seattle-based Metastories, makers of StoryMaker, a publishing tool for video, audio, images, and...
, Etsy
Etsy
Etsy is an e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items as well as art and craft supplies. These items cover a wide range including art, photography, clothing, jewelry, edibles, bath & beauty products, quilts, knick-knacks and toys. Many individuals also sell craft supplies like beads,...
(since 2007), Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
(since April 2005), Global Grind, Legendary Pictures
Legendary Pictures
Legendary Pictures is an American film production company, whose parent company, Legendary Entertainment, is based in Burbank, California and was founded by Thomas Tull in 2004...
and Vostu
Vostu
Vostu is a social gaming company which was launched in May 2007.Initially a social network for Latin America with a strong presence in Brazil, the company developed and launched its first successful social game in June 2009 under the title "Joga Craque", a soccer-focused RPG for Brazilian players...
. In each of these cases, he was either the first or among the first venture capital investors in the company. Breyer is also on the Strategic Investment Committee/Board of Accel-KKR
Accel-KKR
Accel-KKR is a technology-focused private equity firm focused on control investments in middle-market companies. The firm invests primarily in software and IT-enabled businesses...
, IDG-Accel China Fund, and Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
Seed Fund. In the case of Facebook, Breyer led Accel’s $12.7 million investment in April 2005, and also invested his own money in the company. At that time, Facebook had "a near $100 million valuation." In early 2011, the imputed valuation of Facebook moved up to $50 billion in a transaction with Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
.
Accel is also a backer of Groupon
Groupon
Groupon is a deal-of-the-day website that features discounted gift certificates usable at local or national companies. Groupon was launched in November 2008, the first market for Groupon was Chicago, followed soon thereafter by Boston, New York City, and Toronto...
, which in late 2010 turned down a purchase offer from Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
for $6 billion. In early 2011 Groupon
Groupon
Groupon is a deal-of-the-day website that features discounted gift certificates usable at local or national companies. Groupon was launched in November 2008, the first market for Groupon was Chicago, followed soon thereafter by Boston, New York City, and Toronto...
was talking about an initial public offering
Initial public offering
An initial public offering or stock market launch, is the first sale of stock by a private company to the public. It can be used by either small or large companies to raise expansion capital and become publicly traded enterprises...
which would value the company at $15 billion.
Breyer is the former chairman of the National Venture Capital Association
National Venture Capital Association
The National Venture Capital Association is the leading trade association representing the venture capital industry in the U.S. The NVCA represents the venture industry in public policy debates in Washington, DC, and promotes high professional standards, professional development, and interaction...
(NVCA), a former president of the Western Association of Venture Capitalists, and on the Board of the Associates of the Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
, Pacific Community Ventures, Stanford Technology Ventures Program, Technet, and a trustee of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a modern art museum located in San Francisco, California. A nonprofit organization, SFMOMA holds an internationally recognized collection of modern and contemporary art and was the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th century art...
(SFMOMA), and of The Menlo School. He is a minority owner of the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
. Breyer is chairman of the Stanford Engineering Venture Fund, former chairman of the Harvard Business School California Research Center, and is the former chairman of the Silicon Valley region committee for Stanford University's Campaign for Undergraduate Education. He is also a member of various World Economic Forum
World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....
committees, and a member of the Lead Director Network. In December 2005, Breyer was appointed an honorary professor at the 1,000 year-old Yuelu Academy, Hunan University
Hunan University
Hunan University , located in Changsha, Hunan province, is one of the oldest and most important national universities in China.- History :Hunan University traces its history back to the Yuelu Shuyuan founded in the Song Dynasty, originally in 976, over 1000 years ago...
, China. Breyer is also the chief executive officer of Breyer Capital, a venture capital
Venture capital
Venture capital is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as...
and investment firm.
On September 2, 2011, it was announced that Breyer had been nominated to serve on the board of News Corporation
News Corporation
News Corporation or News Corp. is an American multinational media conglomerate. It is the world's second-largest media conglomerate as of 2011 in terms of revenue, and the world's third largest in entertainment as of 2009, although the BBC remains the world's largest broadcaster...
.
External links
- Jim Breyer's profile at the Accel PartnersAccel PartnersAccel Partners is a global venture and growth equity firm funding companies from inception through the growth stage.The firm is based in Palo Alto, California with major offices in Bangalore, Beijing, London, and Shanghai....
Official Site - Jim Breyer’s profile at the TechcrunchTechCrunchTechCrunch is a web publication that offers technology news and analysis, as well as profiling of startup companies, products, and websites. It was founded by Michael Arrington in 2005, and was first published on June 11, 2005....
Official Site - Business Week profile at the Business Week Official Site
- Dell's Extreme Makeover Business Week October 15, 2009
- Jim Breyer profiled in The Venture Capital Journal
- Jim Breyer Interview in Harvard Business School Bulletin
- Jim Breyer article in The Financial Times
- Mark Zuckerberg: The evolution of a remarkable CEO by Matt Marshall
- Chicago Business profile Chicago Business
- Jim Breyer joins Dell board Venture Beat
- WSJ Marvel/BBN Outlook for M&A's
- Raytheon Completes Acquisition of BBN Technologies Press Release
- Price Revealed For BBN Deal: $350 Million TechcrunchTechCrunchTechCrunch is a web publication that offers technology news and analysis, as well as profiling of startup companies, products, and websites. It was founded by Michael Arrington in 2005, and was first published on June 11, 2005....
Official Site - Accel Partners feels like a billion dollars today, no really All Things Digital, by Kara SwisherKara SwisherKara Swisher is an American technology columnist for the Wall Street Journal and an author and commentator on the Internet....
- Accel Keeps the Hits Coming With AdMob, Playfish Wall Street Journal November 9, 2009
- Fertile Ground for Startups BusinessWeekBusinessWeekBloomberg Businessweek, commonly and formerly known as BusinessWeek, is a weekly business magazine published by Bloomberg L.P. It is currently headquartered in New York City.- History :...
November 12, 2009 by Spencer E. Ante - Year in Review Bright Spot Venture Capital JournalVenture capital journalThe Venture Capital Journal, or VCJ, is a monthly glossy magazine that covers investment trends, financing techniques and news from across the Venture Capital industry. The magazine, founded in 1961, focuses on venture capital and features expert analysis and commentary...
January 2010