Bessemer Venture Partners

Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP) is a renowned venture capital firm with a rich history of over five decades in the industry. Founded in 1911, BVP has established itself as one of the most successful and respected investment firms, with a focus on backing innovative and high-growth companies.

BVP has a global presence and invests in companies across various stages, from early-stage startups to growth-stage companies. The firm has a diverse portfolio spanning multiple industries, including technology, e-commerce, software, healthcare, and more. BVP's investments have supported companies that have reshaped industries and transformed the way we live, work, and connect.

One of the key strengths of BVP is its deep industry knowledge and expertise. The firm takes a hands-on approach to investing, offering strategic guidance, operational support, and access to a vast network of industry leaders and experts. BVP's team consists of experienced investors and professionals who bring a wealth of knowledge and insights to their portfolio companies.

BVP is known for its long-term orientation and commitment to building enduring businesses. The firm partners with visionary entrepreneurs and management teams who have a strong vision and the drive to disrupt markets and create significant value. BVP's investments are driven by a belief in the power of innovation and the potential of companies to transform industries and solve complex problems.

Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP) is an American venture capital and private equity firm. It was founded in 1911 by Henry Phipps Jr., a co-founder of Carnegie Steel, as Bessemer Trust to manage his family's assets. In the same year, Bessemer Securities was spun out as a separate entity with $20 million in assets under management to invest in venture capital deals, publicly traded securities, and real estate.

Bessemer Securities opened an office in Silicon Valley in 1975, focusing on investments in technology and medical companies. Over the years, the firm expanded its investment team and assets under management. In 1986, the venture capital investment operation of Bessemer Securities became Bessemer Venture Partners, operating as a separate entity but still receiving funding and support from Bessemer Securities.

Bessemer Venture Partners began investing outside the United States in 2000, establishing offices in India, Israel, Latin America, and Europe. It has made investments in various companies, and some of its notable investments include Bright Health, LinkedIn, PagerDuty, Pinterest, Rocket Lab, Shopify, Toast, Twilio, Twitch, Wix.com, and Yelp.

In 2021, Bessemer Venture Partners expanded its focus to include private equity and established a private equity team. In September 2022, the private equity team, now known as BVP Forge, closed its first buyout fund.

As of 2022, Bessemer Venture Partners has approximately $20 billion in assets under management and employs 151 people. Its headquarters is located in San Francisco, California, and it has offices in India, Israel, and the United Kingdom.

BVP has a set of investment criteria that they use to evaluate potential investment opportunities. These criteria help them identify companies with high growth potential and align with their investment strategy. Here are some key elements of Bessemer Venture Partners' investment criteria:

• Market Potential: BVP looks for companies operating in large and growing markets with significant potential for disruption and innovation. They seek out companies that can address substantial market needs and have the potential to become leaders in their respective industries.
• Strong Management Team: BVP places great importance on the quality and experience of the management team. They look for visionary and capable founders or CEOs who have a track record of success and possess the leadership skills necessary to execute their business plans.
• Unique Value Proposition: BVP seeks companies that offer a unique value proposition and differentiate themselves from competitors. They look for innovative technologies, products, or business models that can create a sustainable competitive advantage in the market.
• Scalability and Growth Potential: BVP focuses on companies that have the potential for rapid growth and scalability. They evaluate the company's business model, customer acquisition strategy, and the ability to expand its market presence. BVP aims to partner with companies that can achieve significant revenue growth and market share expansion.
• Traction and Milestones: BVP prefers companies that have achieved some level of market traction and demonstrated their ability to execute their business plans. This can be measured through metrics such as revenue growth, customer adoption, user engagement, or successful product launches.
• Financial Performance: BVP evaluates the financial performance of potential investment opportunities, including revenue growth, profitability, and cash flow. They assess the company's financial projections and ensure they align with realistic market expectations.
• Fit with BVP's Expertise: BVP focuses on industries and sectors where they have expertise and deep domain knowledge. They seek opportunities where they can add value beyond capital investment, leveraging their network, industry insights, and operational expertise to support the company's growth.

Bessemer Venture Partners operates with a set of principles and values that guide its approach to working with entrepreneurs and building enduring companies. These principles include:

• Curiosity: The firm fosters curiosity and a spirit of exploration, which helps them uncover new opportunities and inspire others. They approach challenges with an open mind and embrace the joy of discovery.
• Learning & Mentorship: Bessemer recognizes the importance of investing in its people and creating an inclusive environment for growth. They believe that everyone has the capacity to both learn and mentor throughout their career and life.
• Innovation: Encouraging independent thought and challenging prevailing practices is essential for driving innovation. Bessemer values divergent opinions and seizes opportunities to progress as an organization.
• Intellectual Honesty: Trust is built on mutual intellectual honesty. The firm strives to obtain and share information while being aware of cognitive and professional biases.
• Empowerment: Bessemer believes in empowering individuals to take ownership and make decisions. They encourage using their best judgment to pursue opportunities and confront challenges.
• Collaboration: Bessemer attributes its success to high-performing individuals working collaboratively. They recognize the importance of individual performance and foster a selfless approach to assisting one another.

In addition to these principles, Bessemer Venture Partners is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. They aim to create an environment where individuals can be their authentic selves, actively address inequality, and appreciate the value of differences.

BVP takes a mission-driven approach and aims to help companies transform their industries, innovate, and deliver superior offerings to customers. They value and respect the expertise and legacy of their partner companies. While recognizing that successful companies have achieved their current success independently, BVP Forge aims to be an additive partner. They bring an operational and strategic framework, seeking alignment and a proactive approach to winning together.

BVP Forge believes in the power of exceptional people, product strategies, and customer strategies to drive profitability and growth. They emphasize building winning cultures, investing in great products, developing customer communities, and optimizing growth and profitability.

Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP) has built an impressive portfolio of investments in a wide range of industries and sectors. With a history spanning over five decades, BVP has been a key player in supporting innovative and disruptive companies from early-stage startups to growth-stage companies. Here are some notable companies in BVP's portfolio:

• Pinterest: BVP was an early investor in Pinterest, a popular visual discovery platform that allows users to find and save ideas for various interests. Pinterest has grown into a global platform with millions of users and has achieved significant valuation milestones since its early days.
• LinkedIn: BVP was an early investor in LinkedIn, the world's largest professional networking platform. LinkedIn has revolutionized the way professionals connect and has become a vital tool for recruitment, job searching, and professional networking.
• Shopify: BVP has been an investor in Shopify, a leading e-commerce platform that enables businesses to create and manage online stores. Shopify has experienced tremendous growth and has empowered countless entrepreneurs to start and scale their businesses online.
• Twitch: BVP was an early investor in Twitch, a live streaming platform focused on video gaming, e-sports, and creative content. Twitch has become the go-to platform for gamers and has expanded to include a diverse range of content creators and communities.
• DocuSign: BVP has supported DocuSign, the global leader in electronic signature technology. DocuSign has transformed the way businesses manage agreements and contracts, offering secure and efficient digital signing solutions.
• Twilio: BVP has been an investor in Twilio, a cloud communications platform that enables developers to build and integrate communication capabilities into their applications. Twilio's APIs have played a crucial role in powering communication services for businesses worldwide.
• SendGrid: BVP invested in SendGrid, a leading email deliverability platform that helps businesses send and manage transactional and marketing emails at scale. SendGrid provides reliable email infrastructure and analytics tools for businesses of all sizes.
• Yelp: BVP has supported Yelp, a popular platform for user-generated reviews and local business recommendations. Yelp has become a trusted source of information for consumers seeking reviews and insights about local businesses.
• Udemy: BVP has been an investor in Udemy, a leading online learning platform that offers a vast range of courses taught by expert instructors. Udemy has democratized education by providing accessible and affordable learning opportunities to individuals worldwide.
• Blue Apron: BVP invested in Blue Apron, a meal-kit delivery service that provides pre-portioned ingredients and recipes to customers. Blue Apron revolutionized the meal-kit industry and introduced a convenient and personalized cooking experience.