Google Capital is the late-stage growth capital fund financed by Google, and based in Mountain View, CA.[1] Founded in 2013, it focuses on larger, growth stage technology companies, and invests for profit rather than strategically for Google.[2] In addition to capital investment, Google Capital’s approach includes giving portfolio companies access to Google’s people, knowledge, and culture to support the companies’ growth and offer them guidance. This includes connecting them with a roster of advisors, such as David Drummond (Google’s SVP of Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer) and Sundar Pichai (Google’s SVP of Product).[3]
Since 2013, Google Capital has invested in 12 companies, in areas such as big data, financial technology, security, and e-learning.[4]
Team
Google Capital was started by partner David Lawee, formerly Google’s Vice President of Corporate Development, and before that, Google’s first Vice President of Marketing. Lawee was joined by partners Gene Frantz (formerly a partner at private equity firm TPG), Laela Sturdy (former Director of Sales & Business Operations at Google) and Gretchen Howard (former Managing Director in Sales & Business Operations at Google.)[5]
Google Capital also comprises over 30 advisors from senior positions within Google, who offer portfolio companies guidance in business areas such as data science, engineering, marketing, and product management.[6]
Investments
In 2013, Google Capital announced its first two investments in SurveyMonkey, a cloud-based online survey and questionnaire tool, and Lending Club, a peer-to-peer lending company based in San Francisco.[7][8]
In 2014, Google Capital made private investments in an additional nine companies, including the Bangalore-based online real estate startup CommonFloor,[9] Freshdesk, a San Francisco-based customer support platform,[10] Credit Karma, a free credit and financial management platform,[11] and China-based optical component company, Innolight.[12]
In April 2015, Google Capital announced an investment in ZenPayroll.[13]
Relationship to Google Ventures
Google Capital focuses on later stage and growth equity investments, while Google Ventures generally focuses predominantly on earlier stage investments. In addition, Google’s Corporate Development group does acquisitions and investments that are strategic for Google’s products and business.[12] All three investment groups are managed under David Drummond (SVP of Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer) at Google.[14]
69.181.207.8 (talk) 00:38, 20 April 2015 (UTC)
69.181.207.8 (talk) 18:52, 12 April 2015 (UTC)
