Venrock
Venrock is a prominent venture capital firm that partners with entrepreneurs to build some of the world’s most disruptive, successful companies. Founded in 1969, Venrock is an outgrowth of one of the pioneering venture capital organizations, Rockefeller Brothers. The firm has a long history of investing in early-stage companies across various sectors, nurturing startups and guiding them through different stages of growth. Today, Venrock has a primary focus on technology and healthcare to tackle big, hard problems that most think are not possible.
ABOUT VENROCK
Venrock was originally established as the venture capital arm of the Rockefeller family.
Their investment strategy often involves identifying disruptive technologies and innovative business models, and they are known for their active involvement in the companies they invest in.
In recent years, Venrock has continued to focus on emerging technologies and trends, including advancements in digital health, artificial intelligence, and clean energy.
Their portfolio companies have included Apple Computer, Athenahealth, Centocor, Check Point Software, DoubleClick, Endeca, Gilead Sciences, Idec Pharma, Imperva, Illumina, Intel, Millennium Pharma, Nest, SlideShare and Tudou.
VENROCK NOTABLE INVESTMENTS
Apple.
Venrock was an early investor in Apple, providing critical early funding that helped the company grow into one of the most valuable tech giants in the world.
The firm invested in Intel in its early days, contributing to the growth of what would become a major player in semiconductor technology.
Netscape.
Venrock invested in Netscape during the early days of the internet, helping to support the development of one of the first widely used web browsers.
AOL.
Venrock's investment in AOL played a significant role in the rise of online communication and internet services.
Illumina.
A leading company in genomic sequencing and personalized medicine, Venrock was an early investor in Illumina, which has become a key player in the biotech industry.
Pharmacyclics.
Venrock invested in Pharmacyclics, which developed Imbruvica, a breakthrough drug for treating certain types of cancer. Pharmacyclics was acquired by AbbVie in a major deal.
Carbon Black.
A cybersecurity company that specializes in endpoint protection, Carbon Black was another successful investment for Venrock.
Nest Labs.
The firm invested in Nest Labs, a company known for its smart thermostats and smoke detectors. Nest was acquired by Google in 2014.