Bessemer Venture Partners

Professional services

A long-established private investment firm focused on venture capital and growth-oriented investments in technology, healthcare, consumer, and related sectors.

Last updated August 31, 2026

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Overview

Bessemer Venture Partners, commonly known as BVP, is an American venture capital and private investment firm with roots in the Phipps family office established by Henry Phipps Jr. in 1911. Phipps was a co-founder of Carnegie Steel, and the original investment structure was created to manage and deploy family wealth. The organization’s early activities were broader than modern venture capital: they included investments in private companies, publicly traded securities, and real estate. The venture operation developed through Bessemer Securities, a related investment entity that continued to manage the Phipps family’s capital after Bessemer Trust began accepting outside investors in 1974. This separation gave the family investment business greater latitude to pursue riskier private investments, including technology and medical companies. Bessemer Securities opened a Silicon Valley office in 1975, an important step in connecting the organization with the emerging technology-investment ecosystem. The organization also experienced substantial losses from real-estate investments during the 1970s, illustrating the risks associated with its broader investment mandate. During the 1980s, Bessemer Securities expanded its investment staff and added specialists with venture-capital expertise. The firm’s venture activities were eventually separated into Bessemer Venture Partners, while Bessemer Securities remained a parent and source of financial and organizational support. This institutional history distinguishes BVP from a venture fund created at a single point in time: its current platform evolved from a century-old family investment structure and gradually developed into a dedicated venture-capital partnership. BVP began investing outside the United States in 2000, with activity extending to markets including India, Israel, Latin America, and Europe. It also operated briefly in China before closing that office in 2006. The firm’s international scope has remained a defining feature, with offices listed in the United States, India, Israel, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom. The firm historically invested primarily with capital associated with the Phipps family and Bessemer Securities. In 2007, it closed Bessemer Venture Partners VII, its first fund to accept capital from outside investors. This marked a significant change in the firm’s capital base and helped establish BVP as a more conventional institutional venture-capital platform. Its investment focus has included enterprise software, consumer businesses, healthcare, and other technology-enabled sectors, with participation across early-stage and later-stage company development. BVP expanded beyond its traditional venture model in 2021 by creating a private-equity team. That operation later became known as BVP Forge. In September 2022, BVP Forge closed its first buyout fund, while BVP announced a twelfth early-stage fund. The two announcements illustrated the firm’s effort to operate across both venture investing and buyout-oriented private equity while maintaining separate strategies. The reported size of those funds was $780 million for the first BVP Forge buyout fund and $3.85 billion for the twelfth early-stage fund. BVP remains a private investment firm rather than a publicly traded corporation. Its present identity combines a long family-office lineage, a global venture-capital network, and a newer private-equity capability. The firm is associated with long-horizon investing and support for companies from early development through later growth, although the exact investment terms, portfolio composition, and assets under management can vary by fund and are not fully represented in the available reference material.

History

Bessemer Venture Partners traces its institutional origin to 1911, when Henry Phipps Jr. established Bessemer Trust in New York to manage his family’s assets. Phipps had been a co-founder of Carnegie Steel. During the same period, Bessemer Securities was separated as an investment entity with a broad mandate covering venture investments, public securities, and real estate. The early organization therefore functioned as a family investment office rather than as a dedicated venture-capital firm in the modern sense. A structural change occurred in 1974, when Bessemer Trust began accepting outside investors. Bessemer Securities continued to manage the Phipps family’s money, giving it greater freedom to pursue higher-risk private investments in technology and medical companies. The organization’s diversification also exposed it to losses: its real-estate investments produced significant losses during the 1970s. In 1975, Bessemer Securities opened a Silicon Valley office, connecting the investment operation with the region that was becoming central to technology entrepreneurship. By 1986, Bessemer Securities had reported assets under management of $950 million and had expanded its investment team with venture-capital specialists. Its venture activities were subsequently spun out as Bessemer Venture Partners. Bessemer Securities continued to be regarded as the parent organization because it supplied funding and support to the venture business. BVP internationalized its investment activity from 2000 onward, entering or pursuing opportunities in India, Israel, Latin America, and Europe. It also briefly operated an office in China, which closed in 2006. In 2007, the firm closed Bessemer Venture Partners VII, its first fund to take capital from outside investors. Before that point, BVP’s capital had been supplied by the Phipps family or Bessemer Securities. The fundraising change helped transform the firm from a family-backed investment operation into a broader institutional venture platform. The firm’s investment scope has included enterprise software, consumer companies, healthcare, and other technology-related businesses. Its model has covered early-stage financing as well as investments in companies that have reached later growth stages. BVP’s geographic footprint has included the United States and offices or activities in India, Israel, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom. In 2021, BVP established a private-equity team, extending the organization beyond its traditional venture-capital emphasis. That unit became known as BVP Forge. In September 2022, BVP Forge closed its first buyout fund, reported at $780 million, while BVP announced a twelfth early-stage fund reported at $3.85 billion. These developments represented a deliberate broadening of the firm’s investment architecture: venture funds continued to address early and growth-stage opportunities, while the Forge platform pursued buyout transactions. In 2024, Venture Capital Journal ranked BVP third among venture-capital firms by total fundraising over the ranking’s most recent five-year period. BVP remains privately held and combines its historical family-investment roots with a global venture operation and a newer private-equity business. The available reference material does not establish a complete list of current partners, portfolio companies, assets under management, or detailed office-level activities.

2024
Ranked among leading venture fundraisers
[1]Bessemer Venture Partnersen.wikipedia.org
Venture Capital Journal ranked BVP third among venture firms by fundraising over the most recent five-year period covered by its ranking.
2022
BVP Forge launches with first buyout fund
[1]Bessemer Venture Partnersen.wikipedia.org
BVP Forge closed its first buyout fund, reported at $780 million, while BVP announced a twelfth early-stage fund reported at $3.85 billion.
2021
Private-equity team established
[1]Bessemer Venture Partnersen.wikipedia.org
BVP formed a private-equity team, later known as BVP Forge.
2007
First fund with outside investors
[1]Bessemer Venture Partnersen.wikipedia.org
Bessemer Venture Partners VII became the firm’s first fund to accept capital from investors outside the Phipps family and Bessemer Securities.
2006
China office closes
[1]Bessemer Venture Partnersen.wikipedia.org
The firm ended its brief office presence in China.
2000
International investment begins
[1]Bessemer Venture Partnersen.wikipedia.org
BVP began investing outside the United States, including in India, Israel, Latin America, and Europe.
1986
Investment platform expands
[1]Bessemer Venture Partnersen.wikipedia.org
Bessemer Securities reported $950 million in assets under management and expanded its investment team with venture-capital specialists.
1975
Silicon Valley office opens
[1]Bessemer Venture Partnersen.wikipedia.org
Bessemer Securities opened an office in Silicon Valley, strengthening its connection with the developing technology investment market.
1974
Bessemer Trust begins accepting outside investors
[1]Bessemer Venture Partnersen.wikipedia.org
Bessemer Trust opened its capital to outside investors, while Bessemer Securities continued managing the Phipps family’s money and pursuing riskier private investments.
1911
Phipps establishes the family investment structure
[1]Bessemer Venture Partnersen.wikipedia.org
Henry Phipps Jr. founded Bessemer Trust and separated Bessemer Securities to manage and invest family assets across private investments, public securities, and real estate.

Products and positioning

BVP positions itself as a long-established, globally active investment partner for technology, healthcare, consumer, and other high-growth companies. Its differentiation rests on its century-long investment heritage, early-stage venture specialization, international presence, and expanded ability to invest in later-stage and buyout situations.

Venture capital
Early-stage venture capital
BVP’s core business is investing in emerging companies, particularly in technology, enterprise software, healthcare, consumer, and related sectors. Early-stage investing may support companies before or during initial commercial scale-up, although the available reference material does not specify standard check sizes, ownership targets, or investment terms.
Venture capital
Growth-stage venture capital
The firm also invests in companies that have progressed beyond formation and early product development. These investments are intended to support expansion and scaling, complementing BVP’s early-stage activity across software, consumer, healthcare, and other technology-enabled markets.
Private equity · 2021
BVP Forge buyout investing
BVP Forge is the name associated with BVP’s private-equity operation. Created after the firm established a private-equity team in 2021, the platform focuses on buyout investing and closed its first reported buyout fund in September 2022.

Brand decisions

2022
Launch first BVP Forge buyout fund and announce twelfth early-stage fundProduct launch
Background
The new private-equity team needed a dedicated fund while BVP continued to raise capital for its established early-stage strategy.
Action taken
In September, BVP Forge closed its first buyout fund and BVP announced its twelfth early-stage fund.
Aftermath
The announcements demonstrated the firm’s two-track structure, combining venture investing with a distinct buyout platform.
Reported fund sizes. $780 million first BVP Forge buyout fund; $3.85 billion twelfth early-stage fund (September 2022)
Source
2021
Establish a private-equity platformStrategy
Background
BVP sought to complement its venture-capital business with a strategy aimed at later-stage and buyout opportunities.
Action taken
The firm created a private-equity team that later operated under the BVP Forge name.
Aftermath
BVP Forge subsequently closed its first buyout fund in 2022, expanding the organization’s investment model beyond venture capital.
Source
2007
Open fundraising to outside investorsStrategy
Background
Before 2007, BVP’s funds were backed by the Phipps family or Bessemer Securities.
Action taken
BVP closed Bessemer Venture Partners VII as its first fund to accept capital from outside investors.
Aftermath
The firm moved toward a broader institutional venture-capital model while retaining its historical relationship with Bessemer Securities.
Source
2000
Expand investment activity internationallyStrategy
Background
BVP had historically developed from a United States-based family investment operation, but the firm identified opportunities beyond the domestic market.
Action taken
The firm began investing in India, Israel, Latin America, and Europe, and later maintained offices or activities in several international markets.
Aftermath
International investing became a continuing part of BVP’s platform, although its China office was later closed in 2006.
Source

Recent events

2022-01-26
Firebolt announces $100 million Series C funding round[3]Firebolt 宣布完成 1 亿美元 C 轮融资prnewswire.com
Reported: 2022-01-26
Firebolt announced a $100 million Series C funding round, bringing its total investment to $269 million and its valuation to $1.4 billion. Alkeon Capital led the round, with other named investors participating.
2022-01-20
Virtru announces $60 million growth financing[4]Virtru宣布获得6000万美元成长融资finanznachrichten.de
Reported: 2022-01-20
Virtru announced that it raised $60 million in growth financing, co-led by existing investor ICONIQ Growth and new investor Foundry Capital, with other investors also participating.
Unconfirmed
Tackle announces $100 million Series C funding[5]Tackle宣布获得1亿美元C轮融资varinsights.com
Tackle.io announced a $100 million Series C funding round co-led by Coatue and existing investor Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners. The company said the funding would help advance its product roadmap and expand its global reach.
2021-09-21
Daylight announces $12.3 million Series A funding round[6]Daylight宣布完成1,230万美元A轮融资prnewswire.com
Reported: 2021-09-21
Daylight Automation, formerly FormHero, announced a $12.3 million Series A funding round led by RTP Global, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Golden Ventures. The investments will support rebranding, hiring, product development, marketing initiatives, and expansion in the U.S. and Canada.
2021-07-16
Shopmonkey raises $75 million in Series C funding[7]Shopmonkey完成7500万美元C轮融资prnewswire.com
Reported: 2021-07-16
Shopmonkey raised $75 million in Series C funding, led by previous investors Bessemer Venture Partners and Index Ventures, with participation from returning investors Headline and I2BF and new investor ICONIQ Growth.
2021-06-17
TRM Labs closes $14 million Series A[8]TRM Labs完成1,400万美元A轮融资texasguardian.com
TRM Labs announced that it had closed a $14 million Series A funding round led by Bessemer Venture Partners, with participation from additional investors.
2021-06-02
Spruce announces $60 million Series C funding round[9]Spruce宣布完成6000万美元C轮融资nationalmortgageprofessional.com
Reported: 2021-06-02
Spruce announced a $60 million Series C funding round led by Zigg Capital, with existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners and Scale Venture Partners also participating. The company said the investment would be used to build on its title and residential closing technology offerings.
2021-05-27
Xanadu raises US$100 million in Series B financing[10]Xanadu 获得 1 亿美元 B 轮融资optics.org
Xanadu raised US$100 million in Series B financing, with Bessemer Venture Partners leading the round and several other investors participating.
2021-04-15
pearpop announces $16 million in funding[11]pearpop宣布获得1600万美元融资prweb.com
Reported: 2021-04-15
pearpop announced $16 million in funding, including $10 million in Series A financing led by Seven Seven Six and $6 million in prior seed financing involving the named co-leads and participants.
Unconfirmed
Electric closes $40 million funding round[12]Electric完成4000万美元融资crn.com
Electric said it closed a $40 million venture capital funding round to expand its R&D, sales and marketing capabilities and finance potential acquisitions.

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