CRV Venture Capital Firm Investment History and Timeline

CRV was founded in 1979 by Frank Bonsall, and it has since become one of the most successful venture capital firms in the world.

In its early days, CRV made its first investment in a company called Compaq, which later merged with HP.

CRV's first fund was launched in 1980 with $6 million in capital, and it has since grown to manage over $5 billion in assets.

The firm's early success was largely due to its focus on investing in companies with strong technology and business models.

CRV's investment strategy is centered around backing talented entrepreneurs with a strong track record of innovation. They focus on early-stage investments, typically in the seed to Series C rounds.

CRV looks for companies with a clear market opportunity, a unique value proposition, and a strong team in place. They also consider the potential for scalability and growth.

CRV's investment team is known for their hands-on approach, often taking an active role in advising portfolio companies on strategy and operations.

CRV's Investment Strategy is quite diverse, but let's take a look at the sectors they invest in. They have a strong presence in Enterprise Applications with 172 investments.

CRV invests in a wide range of sectors, but Enterprise Applications is their most prominent one. This sector is followed closely by Enterprise Infrastructure with 78 investments.

Here's a breakdown of the sectors CRV invests in, along with the number of investments in each:

CRV also invests in Consumer, which is another significant sector with 61 investments.

CRV has invested in a wide range of sectors, including Enterprise Applications, Enterprise Infrastructure, High Tech, Consumer, FinTech, and Others.

The firm has a significant presence in the Enterprise Applications sector, with 172 investments to date.

CRV's investment portfolio includes companies like Demox Labs, which received a $4.5 million venture round in June 2023.

In addition to Demox Labs, CRV has also invested in Inworld AI, a company that has received multiple rounds of funding, including a $50 million Series A in August 2022.

One notable investment is Cybereason, which received a $200 million Series E in August 2019.

Here are some key statistics on CRV's investments:

CRV has also invested in companies like Ecosapiens, which received a $1.5 million seed round in May 2022.

CRV has a diverse portfolio of over 500 companies, including some notable successes like Facebook, Google, and Twitter.

Their investment strategy focuses on early-stage startups, typically investing in companies that have a strong founding team and a unique value proposition.

CRV's portfolio companies have achieved significant milestones, such as Facebook's IPO in 2012 and Google's acquisition of Android in 2005.

When investing in different geographic regions, it's essential to consider the unique characteristics of each area.

The article highlights the importance of investing in the Asia-Pacific region, which is expected to grow at a rate of 5.8% per annum. This is due to the region's large and growing middle class, as well as its increasing economic integration.

Investing in the US and Europe is also a viable option, with these regions boasting a high standard of living and well-developed infrastructure. The article notes that these regions are expected to grow at a rate of 2.5% per annum.

However, investing in emerging markets such as Africa and Latin America can be a high-risk, high-reward strategy. The article suggests that these regions have the potential to grow at a rate of 6% per annum, but are also more prone to economic volatility.

It's worth considering the impact of climate change on geographic investment, with some regions more vulnerable to its effects than others. The article notes that regions with high levels of water scarcity, such as the Middle East, may be at a disadvantage in the long term.

As we explore CRV's portfolio and performance, it's interesting to see which companies have made it to the public stage through IPOs. Bird's IPO date was November 5, 2021.

CRV invested in Bird early on, first putting money into the company on June 28, 2018, as part of the Series C funding round, which raised $300M. This shows that CRV was confident in Bird's potential from an early stage.

Recursion's IPO date was April 16, 2021, and CRV had already invested in the company by October 3, 2017, as part of the Series B round, which raised $60M. This demonstrates CRV's ability to spot promising companies and invest in them at strategic times.

DoorDash went public on December 9, 2020, and CRV had invested in the company as far back as May 22, 2014, as part of the Series A round, which raised $17.3M. This shows that CRV was one of the early supporters of DoorDash's growth.

Oportun's IPO date was September 26, 2019, and CRV had invested in the company on June 8, 2010, as part of the Series D round, which raised $28M. This highlights CRV's long-term commitment to Oportun's success.

Here are the IPO dates for CRV's public companies in a list for easy reference:

As we delve into the portfolio and performance of CRV, let's take a closer look at the companies they've acquired. Trail Security was acquired on October 17, 2024.

The acquisition dates for CRV's portfolio companies are quite recent, with most happening in 2024. Trail Security was acquired on October 17, 2024, while Aerodome was acquired just a day earlier, on October 16, 2024.

Aerodome had already received its first round of investment on May 30, 2024, which was part of its Series A funding. This round was worth $21.5 million.

Snipfeed, another company in CRV's portfolio, received its first investment on August 11, 2021, a significant three years before its acquisition on April 22, 2024. Its Seed round was worth $5.5 million.

Udacity, acquired on March 5, 2024, had been around since 2011, with its first Series A funding taking place on April 12, 2011. This initial investment was worth $5 million.

Drift, acquired on February 13, 2024, had also received its first round of investment in 2015, specifically on January 15, 2015, as part of its Series A funding. This initial investment was worth $15 million.

Here's a list of the acquired companies, including their acquisition and first investment dates:

1739 investors have co-invested in CRV's portfolio companies over the past 26 years. This includes funds and angels.

Some notable co-investors are Y Combinator, a16z, and SV Angel. Y Combinator has co-invested with CRV in 18 companies, and a16z has co-invested with CRV in 9 companies.

SV Angel has co-invested with CRV in 24 companies, making them one of the top co-investors. Tiger Global Management, SVB, and Google Ventures are also notable co-investors who have entered a company along with CRV.

Here are the top co-investors of CRV:

CRV is known for making financial transactions that support the growth of its portfolio companies. They invest in early-stage startups, providing the necessary funding to take their ideas to the next level.

Their typical investment size is between $500,000 and $2 million, which is a significant amount for early-stage companies. This investment enables them to scale their operations and expand their reach.

CRV's financial transactions are often accompanied by strategic guidance and mentorship, helping portfolio companies navigate complex business decisions.

CRV, a venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley, is doing something rare in the industry: giving money back to investors. They plan to return $275 million to investors because the market for mature start-ups has soured.

The firm has a $500 million Select fund, designed to back more mature start-ups, but they're choosing not to invest the remaining $275 million. The reason is that market conditions have changed for the worse, with valuations for start-ups being too high relative to their potential for a payoff.

This decision is part of a reset happening in the venture capital industry after the pandemic. Many start-ups and investment firms raised outsize funding, expecting the boom to keep going, but the tech exuberance has faded, and many start-ups have cut staff or shut down.

The market for initial public offerings and acquisitions has also been dismal, making it hard for venture capital firms to earn a return on their investments.

Demox Labs raised $4.50M in a Venture Round from several investors, including Hack VC and DCVC, in June 2023.

The funding landscape for startups is constantly evolving, with new players entering the scene and existing ones growing in influence. For instance, CRV has been involved in numerous funding rounds, including those of Demox Labs and several other companies.

In June 2023, Demox Labs secured a significant investment, marking a notable milestone in the company's growth.

Here are some key funding rounds mentioned in the article:

CRV has been a prominent investor in several funding rounds, often partnering with other investors to support startups.