Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs (SVASE)

Founded in 1986, El Dorado Ventures (EDV) is a leading early-stage venture capital firm that invests in disruptive technologies and business models in emerging and high-growth markets, across a broad range of sectors including software, technology-enabled services, communications and emerging technology. El Dorado has a two-decade track record of successful early-stage technology investing, including early investments in Compellent Technologies, Cyras Systems, EarthLink, Efficient Networks, Novellus and NuSpeed Internet Systems. Numerous EDV portfolio companies have gone public or been acquired by major technology companies, including AT&T, Ciena, Cisco Systems, nVidia, Siemens and Texas Instruments. With more than $750 million in capital under management, EDV has a stable group of institutional investors, most of whom have invested with EDV for more than a decade. EDV’s limited partners also include a select group of successful entrepreneurs and other technology luminaries, known as EDV’s Technology Partner Network, who play an active role as strategic consultants to EDV and its portfolio companies. El Dorado’s team of investment professionals is cycle-tested, accessible and easy to work with. EDV’s General Partners get directly involved in investment decisions early in the process, providing entrepreneurs with valuable and rapid feedback as EDV moves toward making its investment decision. In addition to its investment, EDV offers entrepreneurs hands-on guidance and value-added support including access to senior consultants, educational and networking events, an online Resource Center and an annual CEO Summit. If EDV believes strongly in the founding team and its vision, the firm may invest before a product is developed or before a complete management team is in place. While the firm evaluates over a thousand new investment opportunities annually, it is highly selective and only makes an average of six investments per year. When the firm makes a Seed Round investment, it typically ranges between $250,000 and $1 million. Series A financings typically range between $3 million and $5 million. El Dorado continues to be a key investor in subsequent rounds and reserves capital for follow-on financing. In order to play an ongoing role in the development of its portfolio companies, El Dorado takes a seat on the Board of Directors of most of its portfolio companies.