By DFJ
Our DFJ team recently gathered at the Computer History Museum to cheer on the winners of the Deloitte Technology Fast 500. Companies are selected for this honor based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2011 to 2014. We’d like to give a shout out to the 14 DFJ portfolio companies included in the 2015 list: NanoString Technologies, Ooma, Twitter, PulsePoint, Athenahealth, Tesla Motors, SolarCity, Prosper Marketplace, Chef Software, Twilio, Box, PubMatic, Redfin, and Good Technology.
Josh Stein, recipient of the 2015 Deloitte Fast 500 Venture Capitalist of the Year award, and Jeff Queisser, co-founder and chief systems architect at Box, were on stage for a fireside chat moderated by Heather Gates, the director of Deloitte’s west coast emerging growth team. As an investor and board member, Josh shared great insider stories about the early days at Box, and how the company successfully grew over the years.
During the fireside chat, Josh revealed one of his investment strategies. He is keeping a close eye on startups founded by kids coming out of Mercer Island High School. Yes, that would be the same high school where Jeff and his three Box co-founders all graduated from. Josh reiterated throughout the night what we all believe at DFJ: all credit for great companies belongs with the entrepreneurs.
That said, it does help to have great folks by your side, and Deloitte singled out Josh as the venture capitalist who has had the most significant impact on Silicon Valley in 2015. We’re proud that Steve Jurvetson was recognized for this same award in 2012. The honor recognizes the person’s deal-making track record as well as their success finding and nurturing emerging companies — many of whom number among the rapidly growing companies that have received the Fast 500 award.
Congrats again to our portfolio companies and Josh. Thank you to the Deloitte Fast 500 team for a great night!
