Ron Conway and the Power of Investing and Philanthropy

Ron Conway is a true pioneer in the world of investing and philanthropy. He has been a key player in the development of the startup ecosystem in Silicon Valley.

Conway's early investment in Google was a pivotal moment in his career, earning him a significant return on investment. This success paved the way for his future endeavors.

As a prominent angel investor, Conway has invested in over 200 startups, including Google, Twitter, and Facebook. His keen eye for talent and innovative ideas has made him a sought-after investor.

Conway's philanthropic efforts are equally impressive, with a focus on education and entrepreneurship. He has donated millions to various causes, including the Silicon Valley Education Foundation.

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Ron Conway has been a prolific investor for decades, starting his angel investing career in the mid-1990s. He raised $4 million for his first venture capital fund, Adam Ventures, in 1997.

Conway's venture capital firm, Angel Investors LP, was an early investor in several notable companies, including Google, Ask Jeeves, Loudcloud, Napster, and PayPal. He was recognized for his success with Angel Investors LP by inclusion in the 2006 Forbes Midas list of top dealmakers.

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Some of Conway's notable investments include Airbnb, Attributor, Blippy, Digg, Facebook, and Google. Here are some of his notable investments:

In addition to his investing endeavors, Conway is also committed to philanthropy. In 2021, he joined The Giving Pledge, a campaign established by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to persuade and recruit extremely wealthy people to contribute a majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes.

Conway began angel investing in the mid-1990s with investments in Marimba Systems, Red Herring magazine, and others. He raised $4 million for his first venture capital fund, Adam Ventures, in 1997.

Conway's venture capital firm, Angel Investors LP, was an early investor in several notable companies, including Google, Ask Jeeves, Loudcloud, Napster, and PayPal. Angel Investors LP raised $30 million for its first fund, Angel Investors I, within two months of its start.

Conway was recognized for his success with Angel Investors LP by inclusion in the 2006 Forbes Midas list of top dealmakers. He was a special partner at Baseline Ventures from 2006 through 2009.

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SV Angel, Conway's personal investment vehicle, was turned into a venture capital firm in 2009, raising $10 million from outside investors. The firm raised six funds through 2018.

SV Angel retooled its investing strategy in 2018 to focus on a "back to basics" role as individual angels instead of raising a new fund. In March 2022, the firm announced that it had raised $269 million for its first-ever growth equity fund.

Here are some notable investments made by Conway's venture capital firm, SV Angel:

Philanthropy is a vital part of investing, and it's inspiring to see individuals like Conway making a difference.

Conway joined The Giving Pledge in 2021, a campaign founded by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to encourage the wealthy to donate a majority of their wealth to philanthropy.

This commitment to giving back is a remarkable example of the impact one person can have.

In 2022, Conway donated $2.5 million to Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher's 'Stand with Ukraine' GoFundMe, showing the power of collective action in responding to global crises.

Conway also donated $25,000 to Ariana Grande's Protect & Defend Trans Youth Fund, highlighting the importance of supporting marginalized communities.

The SV Angel Economic Empowerment Award is a significant initiative that aims to promote economic empowerment through technology. Ron Conway and Brian, the founder of Airbnb, will select one Y Combinator company to receive financial support and mentorship.

This award is a result of Ron and Brian's shared belief that technology can be a powerful engine for economic empowerment. They want to inspire more entrepreneurs to create companies that offer economic opportunities for more people.

The selected company will receive financial support from Airbnb with no strings attached, allowing them to focus on their mission without any external pressures. Ron and Brian will also personally mentor the company with support from SV Angel and Brian's team at Airbnb.

This award is not just about providing financial support, but also about creating a sense of community and inclusivity in the tech industry. By sharing their resources and expertise, Ron and Brian are helping to level the playing field for underrepresented groups.

The Economic Empowerment Award is a testament to the power of collaboration and the impact that can be made when individuals with a shared vision come together.

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Ron Conway is a prominent figure in civic and philanthropic activities. He serves as Vice Chairman of UCSF Medical Foundation in San Francisco and co-chair of the "Fight for Mike" Homer and Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease.

Conway is also involved with various educational institutions, including UCLA, St. Francis High School, Sacred Heart Schools, and The UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco. He serves on the development committees of these organizations.

As a strong advocate for the technology community, Conway founded the San Francisco Citizens Initiative for Technology and Innovation, or sf.citi, in 2012. This organization aims to promote public initiatives and private/public partnerships involving tech companies.

Conway has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, particularly on issues of gun control and immigration. He has also been involved in various political campaigns, including raising $600,000 for Ed Lee's successful mayoral campaign in San Francisco in 2011.

Conway's philanthropic efforts extend to supporting education and immigration reform. In 2014, he donated $685,000 to David Chiu's Assembly campaign, and in 2022, he contributed $50,000 to The Next 50, a liberal political action committee.

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Conway is active in community and philanthropic activities, serving as Vice Chairman of UCSF Medical Foundation in San Francisco.

He is also involved with the "Fight for Mike" Homer and Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, where he serves as co-chair.

Conway is on the development committees of several organizations, including UCLA, St. Francis High School, Sacred Heart Schools, and The UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco.

He also serves on the development committees of Packard Children's Hospital, Legacy Ventures, and Ronald McDonald House at Stanford.

In addition, Conway serves on the Benefit Committee of the Tiger Woods Foundation.

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Ron Conway is a major player in San Francisco's politics, and his influence can be seen in various ways. He was the single largest campaign contributor to Ed Lee's successful mayoral campaign in 2011, raising $600,000 for Lee through independent expenditure committees.

Conway's involvement in politics extends beyond individual campaigns. In 2012, he founded sf.citi, a 501(c) organization that advocates for the technology community and partners with public agencies.

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As a tech industry leader, Conway has been vocal about his support for immigration reform and education improvements. He was a supporter of the lobbying group FWD.us, which launched in 2013.

Conway's influence can also be seen in his financial support for local politicians. In 2014, he and fellow Airbnb investor Reid Hoffman donated $685,000 to David Chiu's Assembly campaign.

Conway has been critical of President Donald Trump, particularly on issues like gun control and immigration. He spent over $1 million and raised millions more to support efforts to win Democratic control of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018.

Conway's wife, Gayle, has also been involved in politics, donating $200,500 to a PAC that attacked Jane Kim in 2018.

Transcripts of public events and activities can be a valuable resource for understanding community engagement and civic participation.

Public lectures and debates often feature prominent speakers and thinkers, sharing their expertise and insights with the public.

The transcripts of these events can provide a permanent record of the discussions and ideas exchanged.

In some cities, public meetings are also transcribed and made available online, allowing citizens to review and participate in the decision-making process.

These transcripts can be a useful tool for tracking the progress of public projects and initiatives, as well as for holding elected officials accountable.

Ron Conway is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor with a long history of success. He was the Founder and Co-Managing Partner of SV Angel, a position he still holds today.

Ron has been an angel investor since the mid 90’s, and has been involved in numerous startups throughout his career. He was the Founder and Managing Partner of the Angel Investors LP funds from 1998 to 2005.

Ron's professional background includes time at National Semiconductor Corporation, where he held various marketing positions from 1973 to 1979. He was also a co-founder, President, and CEO of Altos Computer Systems from 1979 to 1990.

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Ron took Altos public on Nasdaq in 1982 and later served as CEO of Personal Training Systems (PTS) from 1991 to 1995. PTS was acquired by SmartForce/SkillSoft in 1995.

Ron is a dedicated philanthropist, serving on the Board of the Salesforce.com Foundation and the UCSF Medical Center Chancellor's Advisory Board in SF. He is also involved with several other charitable organizations, including the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, College Track, and the THORN Foundation.