Kleiner Perkins
An American venture capital firm investing primarily in early-stage technology and life-sciences companies.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Kleiner Perkins is a privately held American venture capital firm based on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, California. Established in 1972 by engineer and investor Eugene Kleiner and Hewlett-Packard executive Thomas J. Perkins, the firm became one of Silicon Valley’s most influential institutional investors. Its original identity was closely associated with Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers, commonly abbreviated as KPCB; the shorter Kleiner Perkins name became the firm’s principal public identity after a later reorganization. The firm’s investment model has historically combined capital with intensive company-building support. Partners have helped founders recruit executives, develop products, establish commercial partnerships, prepare for public offerings, and navigate organizational scaling. This approach was particularly visible in the firm’s technology investments during the personal-computing, enterprise-software, internet, mobile, consumer-internet, and cloud eras. Portfolio companies associated with Kleiner Perkins include Amazon, Google, Netscape, Sun Microsystems, Intuit, Electronic Arts, Genentech, Compaq, Twitter, Spotify, Slack, DoorDash, Figma, Stripe, Instacart, Duolingo, Nest, Waymo, and many other technology and life-sciences businesses. Portfolio participation and investment timing vary by company, and the firm’s public company list is not a complete record of all investments. Kleiner Perkins has also been associated with several prominent venture investors. John Doerr played a major role in the firm’s technology practice and became especially identified with investments in Amazon and Google. Other partners, including Brook Byers, William “Bing” Gordon, Wen Hsieh, Ted Schlein, Mamoon Hamid, and others, have developed practices across software, consumer products, healthcare, biotechnology, and enterprise technology. The partnership has changed over time, including a separation from the growth-investing organization later known as KPCB Growth and subsequent partner departures and arrivals. Today, Kleiner Perkins presents itself as a founder-focused investor working from company formation through later financing and, in some cases, public-market or acquisition outcomes. Its published portfolio and perspectives emphasize artificial intelligence, enterprise software, fintech, consumer technology, healthcare, biotechnology, cybersecurity, climate-related technologies, and advanced hardware. The firm publishes founder and portfolio-company perspectives rather than offering retail financial products. As a private venture capital partnership, it does not have a public stock ticker and does not publicly report ordinary corporate revenue or profit figures.
History
Kleiner Perkins was formed in 1972 by Eugene Kleiner, one of the original members of the technology-investment group later associated with Silicon Valley, and Tom Perkins, a former Hewlett-Packard executive. The firm initially invested in technology businesses at a time when venture capital was still a relatively specialized form of financing. Its presence on Sand Hill Road helped establish Menlo Park as a center of the American venture industry. During the 1970s and 1980s, the partnership backed companies across computing, semiconductors, biotechnology, and medical technology. Investments and relationships involving Genentech, Sun Microsystems, Compaq, Intuit, and other companies helped define the firm’s reputation for supporting technically ambitious businesses. Brook Byers became closely associated with the firm’s healthcare and life-sciences activities, while later partners expanded its software and consumer practices. The internet boom made Kleiner Perkins particularly prominent. John Doerr became one of the best-known venture investors of the period, with investments that included Amazon and Google. The firm also backed Netscape and numerous companies involved in networking, online services, digital advertising, and enterprise computing. Its portfolio-company relationships often extended beyond financing: partners helped introduce executives, customers, board members, and strategic partners. In the 2000s and 2010s, the firm invested in social media, mobile software, cloud computing, cybersecurity, biotechnology, consumer services, and digital commerce. Portfolio companies associated with this period included Twitter, Spotify, Nest, Slack, Stripe, DoorDash, Instacart, Duolingo, and Waymo. The organization also developed a separate growth-investment identity, commonly known as KPCB Growth, before the early-stage and growth businesses were separated and the core firm returned to the Kleiner Perkins name. The firm faced public scrutiny during Ellen Pao’s discrimination lawsuit, filed after her employment at Kleiner Perkins. Although the jury ruled for the firm, the proceedings became a prominent discussion of gender, promotion practices, and workplace culture in venture capital. The firm subsequently continued to operate and refresh its partnership. In the 2020s, Kleiner Perkins emphasized software, artificial intelligence, fintech, healthcare, biotechnology, climate technology, and advanced hardware. Its public materials describe investments and company-building work involving businesses such as Figma, Glean, Rippling, Motive, Labelbox, and MAI. The firm remains private, and its principal public role is that of an institutional venture investor rather than a consumer-facing financial-services provider.
- 2025
Ambiq IPO
[5]Kleiner Perkins-backed Ambiq began trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
- 2020
Desktop Metal became publicly traded
[6]Desktop Metal, a Kleiner Perkins-backed additive-manufacturing company, became publicly traded.
- 2015
Jury rejected Pao’s claims
[4]A jury found for Kleiner Perkins in the employment-discrimination trial.
- 2012
Ellen Pao lawsuit filed
[4]Former employee Ellen Pao filed a lawsuit alleging discrimination and retaliation.
- 1999
Google investment relationship began
[1]John Doerr led Kleiner Perkins’s early investment in Google, one of the firm’s most prominent technology investments.
- 1996
Amazon investment
[1]Kleiner Perkins invested in Amazon during the company’s early development and supported executive recruiting and business-building efforts.
- 1972
Firm established
[1]Eugene Kleiner and Tom Perkins established the venture capital partnership that became Kleiner Perkins.
Products and positioning
A high-profile, founder-oriented venture capital firm focused on technology and life sciences, with an emphasis on early-stage company formation, product development, recruiting, and long-term business building.
Financial services · 1972
Early-stage venture capital
Kleiner Perkins provides equity financing to founders and technology companies at early stages, often participating from company formation through seed and subsequent venture rounds. Its published portfolio spans enterprise software, consumer technology, artificial intelligence, fintech, healthcare, biotechnology, cybersecurity, and hardware.
Financial services
Growth-stage venture capital
The firm has also participated in later-stage financing and historically maintained a growth-investment organization. Growth activity supports companies with established products, expanding revenue, larger operating teams, and a path toward an eventual public offering or acquisition.
Professional services
Founder platform support
Beyond capital, the firm’s value proposition includes recruiting assistance, introductions to customers and partners, board support, product and go-to-market advice, and access to a network of founders and operators. The exact services differ by company and investment stage.
Controversies
2012
Ellen Pao discrimination lawsuit
Ellen Pao sued Kleiner Perkins, alleging gender discrimination and retaliation connected with her employment and promotion. The case went to trial in 2015, when a jury found for Kleiner Perkins. The proceedings nevertheless generated substantial discussion about gender inequality and workplace practices in the venture-capital industry.
Marketing campaigns
- 2025MAI seed investment announcement
United States
Kleiner Perkins publicly supported MAI’s launch and seed financing, presenting the company’s AI agents as tools for automating performance marketing for smaller businesses.
Outcome. The investment positioned Kleiner Perkins within the emerging AI-agent and marketing-automation category.
- Portfolio company case studies and perspectives
Global
Kleiner Perkins uses its website to publish case studies and perspectives about portfolio companies, founders, products, and investment theses. Examples include materials on AOL, Amazon, Google, and newer artificial-intelligence companies.
Outcome. The program functions as founder communications, investment-brand development, and public documentation of portfolio-company stories.
Brand decisions
2015
Defended employment-discrimination caseOtherBackground
The firm faced a high-profile lawsuit from former employee Ellen Pao concerning alleged discrimination and retaliation.
Action taken
Kleiner Perkins contested the allegations in court.
Aftermath
The jury ruled in favor of Kleiner Perkins, while the case remained influential in discussions about diversity and workplace culture in venture capital.
- Focused public positioning on artificial intelligence and company formationStrategy
Background
The firm’s recent perspectives and portfolio materials highlight artificial intelligence, enterprise software, healthcare, and other technology categories.
Action taken
Kleiner Perkins has used investment announcements and founder perspectives to communicate a focused early-stage investment strategy.
Aftermath
The firm continues to present itself as an active early-stage partner to technology founders.
Recent events
Armadin raises $255.5M Series B at over $2.5B valuation[8]
Reported:
Armadin, the agent-swarm security startup founded by Kevin Mandia, announced on Thursday (2026-10-01) that it raised $255.5 million in a Series B round at a valuation of more than $2.5 billion. The round was led by Andreessen Horowitz and Accel, with Bain Capital Ventures, Redpoint, 8VC, Ballistic Ventures, Google Ventures, In-Q-Tel, Kleiner Perkins, and Menlo Ventures joining in.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
Autograph closes $170 million Series B funding[9]
Reported:
Autograph announced the closing of a $170 million Series B funding round co-led by a16z and Kleiner Perkins.
Rain raises $110 million in Series B funding[10]
Bahrain-based cryptocurrency exchange platform Rain raised $110 million in a Series B funding round co-led by Paradigm and Kleiner Perkins, with participation from other investors. Rain said it planned to use the investment for geographical expansion, technology upgrades, and team growth.
Rain raises $110 million in Series B funding[11]
Bahrain-based cryptocurrency exchange Rain raised $110 million in a Series B funding round co-led by Paradigm and Kleiner Perkins, with participation from other investors.
Dexterity raises $140 million in Series B funding[12]
Reported:
Dexterity raised an additional $140 million in Series B equity funding and debt. Existing investors Lightspeed Venture Partners and Kleiner Perkins led the round, with additional participation from Obvious Ventures, B37 Ventures and Presidio Ventures.
Avo announces more than $80 million in funding[13]
Reported:
Avo announced that it had raised over $80 million in funding, including a $45 million Series B round led by Insight Partners, with existing investors Kleiner Perkins and JLL Spark also participating. The Series B proceeds are intended to support expansion across 10 major markets over the next 12 months.
Calixa announces $4.25 million seed round[14]
Reported:
Calixa announced a $4.25 million seed round led by Kleiner Perkins, with participation from Operator Collective, Liquid 2 Ventures, and individual investors. The round had closed in February 2020 and was announced on March 9, 2021.
Nova Credit raises $50 million in Series B funding[15]
Reported:
Nova Credit announced that it raised $50 million in equity financing in a Series B round led by Kleiner Perkins, with participation from Canapi Ventures and existing investors. The company said the financing would be used to expand its global reach and mission to support newcomers.
Trusona raises $20 million in Series C funding[16]
Reported:
Trusona announced that it had raised $20 million in a Series C funding round led by Georgian Partners, with participation from existing investors and Akamai.
- Unconfirmed
Evervault raises €2.9 million in seed funding[17]
Reported:
Evervault raised €2.9 million in seed investment led by Sequoia Capital, with other investors also participating.
Sources17 sources
- 1Kleiner Perkins official websitekleinerperkins.com
- 2Kleiner Perkins partnerships archivekleinerperkins.com
- 3Kleiner Perkins perspectiveskleinerperkins.com
- 4Ellen Pao v. Kleiner Perkins discussionpbs.org
- 5Ambiq IPO coveragefinance.yahoo.com
- 6Desktop Metal became publicly tradedmtec-sc.org
- 7MAI seed investment announcementkleinerperkins.com
- 8Armadin以逾25亿美元估值完成2.555亿美元B轮融资techcrunch.com
- 9Autograph 完成 1.7 亿美元 B 轮融资coinspeaker.com
- 10Rain完成1.1亿美元B轮融资cairoscene.com
- 11Rain完成1.1亿美元B轮融资wamda.com
- 12Dexterity获得1.4亿美元B轮融资menafn.com
- 13Avo宣布获得超过8000万美元融资prnewswire.com
- 14Calixa宣布获得425万美元种子轮融资techcrunch.com
- 15Nova Credit完成5000万美元B轮融资prnewswire.com
- 16Trusona完成2000万美元C轮融资securityweek.com
- 17Evervault获得290万欧元种子融资techcentral.ie
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