The Bill Maris Story from Google Ventures to Entrepreneur

Bill Maris is a name that's synonymous with innovation and entrepreneurship. He's a pioneer in the field of venture capital, having co-founded Google Ventures, which was the first corporate venture capital fund in the world.

Maris's journey from Google Ventures to becoming a successful entrepreneur is a fascinating one. He's had a front-row seat to some of the most exciting startups in the world.

One of Maris's earliest successes was investing in companies like Nest, the smart thermostat company that was acquired by Google for $3.2 billion. This deal not only made Google Ventures a significant player in the venture capital space but also set the stage for Maris's future entrepreneurial endeavors.

Bill Maris founded GV, formerly Google Ventures, in 2008 as the venture capital investment arm of Google. He was responsible for the fund's strategy and management, overseeing $3.0 billion in investments in technology and the life sciences.

Bill managed $2.5 billion and made 400+ investments in companies including Nest, Uber, and Flatiron Health. His investments resulted in more than 20 IPOs, 100+ mergers and acquisitions, and includes more than 40 companies whose valuations have exceeded $1 billion.

Maris left Google Ventures on August 12, 2016, declaring "mission accomplished."

Bill Maris was born in 1975, a year that would shape the world in many ways. He grew up in a family that valued education, which would later become a cornerstone of his career.

Maris attended Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics. This degree would serve as a solid foundation for his future endeavors.

After completing his undergraduate studies, Maris went on to earn a Master's degree in Business Administration from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Bill Maris founded GV, formerly Google Ventures, in 2008 as the venture capital investment arm of Google.

He was responsible for the fund's strategy and management, overseeing $3.0 billion in investments in technology and the life sciences.

Bill managed $2.5B and made 400+ investments in companies including Nest, Uber, Flatiron Health, and 23andme.

His investments resulted in more than 20 IPO's, 100+ mergers and acquisitions, and includes more than 40 companies whose valuations have exceeded $1B.

Maris also founded Calico, a multibillion-dollar company whose mission is to understand and influence the genetic basis of aging.

Google funded the company after Maris pitched the board of directors.

Bill was also Google's Vice President of Special Projects, which included extensive work with early-stage projects like Google X, Verily, and Waymo.

He left Google Ventures on August 12, 2016, declaring "mission accomplished."

In 2017, Maris founded S32, a California-based venture fund with approximately $2 billion under management.

Google Ventures, led by Bill Maris, invested $9 million in Theranos in 2011, despite the company's lack of a proven business model.

Bill Maris was fascinated by Theranos' promise to revolutionize healthcare with its proprietary blood-testing technology.

The investment was a significant risk, as Theranos had no product to sell, no customers, and no revenue.

Maris believed in the potential of Theranos' technology and was willing to take a chance on the company.

Theranos' valuation at the time of the investment was around $3.9 billion, which was based on the company's projections of future growth.

Maris and Google Ventures also received a seat on Theranos' board of directors as part of the investment deal.