GV (company)

GV Management Company, L.L.C. is a venture capital investment arm of Alphabet Inc., founded by Bill Maris, that provides seed, venture, and growth stage funding to technology companies. Founded as Google Ventures in 2010, the firm has operated independently of Google, Alphabet's search and advertising division, since 2015. GV invests in startup companies in a variety of fields ranging from the Internet, software, and hardware to life science, healthcare, artificial intelligence, transportation, cyber security and agriculture. It has helped finance more than 300 companies that include Uber, Nest, Slack, and Flatiron Health.

History

The group was founded on March 31, 2010, with a $100 million capital commitment, by Bill Maris who also became GV's first CEO. In 2012, that commitment was raised to $300 million annually, and the fund has $2 billion under management. In 2014, the group announced $125 million to invest in promising European startups. By 2014, it had invested in companies such as Shape Security. In December 2015, the company was renamed GV and introduced a new logo.

As of 2016, GV has been less active as a seed investor, instead shifting its attention to more mature companies. There is also a focus on startups in the healthcare markets. It created the biotech company Calico and has invested in Foundation Medicine, Genomics Medicine Ireland, Editas Midicine, and Flatiron Health, among others. In 2020, GV promoted Terri Burns from principal to the firm’s first black female partner.

Structure

In 2013, GV developed an intensive, five-day design process, called a Design Sprint, which helps startups solve problems quickly. It is based on key ideas of agile development and design thinking. In addition, GV provides portfolio companies with access to operational help after making a financial investment. Full-time partners at GV work with portfolio companies on design and product management, marketing, engineering, and recruiting.