Today the Madrona Team is gratified to announce our latest $300 million fund, Madrona Fund VII, for investing in exceptional technology entrepreneurs and founders in the Pacific Northwest from Day One. Our longstanding endowment, foundation and family office investors see a huge amount of opportunity for growth in our market. We agree – we think the next big technology trends of cloud computing, intelligent applications powered by AI/ML, multi-sense user interfaces and solutions combining the digital and physical world will drive the next decade of innovation are all happening in greater Seattle better than anywhere else in the world.
We look forward to working with great entrepreneurs, co-investors, and partners as we build the next big companies for the future. Here are the details: we raised $300 million from which we will make initial investments over the next 3-4 years and use to continue to support those companies over the long run – often for 10+ years. Four of our companies have IPO’d in the last two years (Smartsheet, Redfin, Apptio and Impinj) and they exemplify how we work. We were there at day one through the ups and downs for every one of those companies. The average time from inception to IPO for those companies was 12 years. We believe whole heartedly in the innovation of people in the Northwest and we are excited every day to get up and work with you to build success.
Thank you!
Below is our press release on the new fund.
Madrona Venture Group Expands Capital for Entrepreneurs in the Pacific Northwest – Announces a New $300 Million Fund for Early-Stage Technology Companies
Fresh from Four IPOs, Madrona’s Fund VII was Over-Subscribed with Investors Interested in Participating in the Growing Innovation Ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest
Seattle, WA – May 22, 2018 – Madrona Venture Group (www.madrona.com) today announced the closing of a $300 million investment fund, Madrona’s seventh. Madrona’s strategy is to partner with the most promising technology entrepreneurs and their teams from day one through the long term. Madrona primarily focuses on great founders based in the Pacific Northwest, which is home to two of the world’s four largest technology companies, Microsoft and Amazon, as well as a thriving technology and startup ecosystem.
In the past two years, four of Madrona’s portfolio companies have gone public. With each of these companies – Smartsheet, Redfin, Apptio and Impinj – Madrona was there at day one and partnered with the team every step of the way. The average time from initial investment to IPO for these companies was 12 years, exemplifying the firm’s long-term commitment to entrepreneurs.
“The entrepreneurs in our region continue to build exceptional companies on the leading edge of major customer, technology and business model changes. We believe cloud computing, intelligent applications powered by AI/ML, multi-sense user interfaces and solutions combining the digital and physical world will drive the next decade of innovation,” said Matt McIlwain, managing director, Madrona Venture Group. “On behalf of the entire Madrona team, we are proud to have the trust of our many limited partners and outstanding founders.”
Fund VII is Madrona’s seventh fund over the last 23 years and brings funds under management to nearly $1.6 billion. The oversubscribed fund is supported by a diverse set of repeat and long-term investors including the nation’s premier endowments, foundations, family offices, Outsourced Chief Investment Offices (OCIOs) and entrepreneurs.
Madrona’s philosophy of supporting technology entrepreneurs and startups in their earliest days continues with this fund, and the firm will deploy capital to lead and participate in seed and Series A investment rounds. In addition, the entire Madrona team will continue to roll up their sleeves to help with recruiting great talent, making strategic business decisions, amplifying company stories, connecting them with partners and customers and raising follow-on financings.
Mark Mader, long-time CEO of newly public Smartsheet (NYSE: SMAR) commented, “Madrona understood Smartsheet’s vision and the value of our innovation from our earliest days, even when some others did not. In the eleven years since, our partnership has yielded significant growth, supported by Madrona’s valued counsel on market trends, buyer needs, funding, executive talent, and ability to collaborate with other growth investors. As I reflect on the early decisions that made a positive difference for Smartsheet’s business, our decision to partner with Madrona is one that delivered in the short, medium, and long term.”
Madrona has been committed to supporting, spurring and fostering the innovation ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest over its history, ranging from creating Seattle’s first startup studio, Madrona Venture Labs, five years ago; launching and supporting Seattle TechStars; partnering with the University of Washington Allen School of Computer Science; and working with the angel investor community. This year, Madrona will open Floor 33, a Seattle innovation community co-located with Madrona that will house an expanded Madrona Venture Labs and a curated co-working space for founders and their teams featuring programming for residents and the entire community. This 22,000 square foot location will open later this summer.
Current and new portfolio companies will benefit from an expanded group of Managing Directors, investment professionals, Venture Partners and professionals dedicated to helping our companies succeed. Recent additions include: Managing Director, S. Somasegar; Venture Partners, Ted Kummert, Hope Cochran, and Luis Ceze; Strategic Director, Betsy Sutter; investment professionals Maria Karaivanova, Sudip Chakrabarti and Chris Picardo; Talent Director, Shannon Anderson; and Business Development and Investor Relations Director, Alice Ryder.
About Madrona
Madrona is an early stage venture capital firm in the Pacific Northwest. The firm invests in technology entrepreneurs and companies, and works with them to build their businesses. Madrona manages nearly $1.6 billion and was an early investor in companies such as Amazon.com, Apptio, Smartsheet, Rover.com, and Redfin.
Contact: Erika Shaffer [email protected] 206-972-5514
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