Benchmark

Benchmark is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco that has established itself as one of the most prestigious and influential early-stage investors in the technology industry. Founded in 1995, the firm is renowned for its unique organizational structure and investment philosophy, which prioritizes deep, hands-on collaboration with the entrepreneurs they back. Unlike most venture capital firms that operate with a hierarchical management structure, Benchmark functions as an equal partnership. This means the firm has no CEO or managing partner; instead, all general partners share equal ownership, equal compensation, and equal decision-making power. This structure is designed to foster a culture of shared responsibility and ensure that every partner is fully aligned with the success of the firm's portfolio companies.

Our customers—the ambitious founders we partner with—face the daunting challenge of building category-defining companies from the ground up. To support them, Benchmark maintains a deliberately small fund size, allowing partners to dedicate significant time and attention to a select number of investments. We typically lead Series A and Series B rounds and take a board seat, working closely with founders to navigate the complexities of scaling a business. Our track record speaks to the effectiveness of this approach, with a portfolio that includes some of the most successful startups in history, such as eBay, Uber, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Discord, and many others. By aligning our incentives directly with those of our founders, we strive to build enduring companies that transform industries.