Arthur Patterson co-founded Accel in 1983 after roles at Citicorp Venture Capital, Adler & Company, and the U.S. Treasury Department, betting on a strategy of deep specialization in specific technology categories rather than spreading investments broadly - an unusual approach at the time. Over four decades, he has led Accel investments through IPOs including Veritas Software, UUNet, Portal Software, and Actuate, and served as a director of MetroPCS through its eventual merger with T-Mobile. His most famous bet came in 2005, when he led Accel's Series A investment in Facebook, still cited as one of the highest-multiple returns in venture capital history. He received the National Venture Capital Association's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.
Education
A.B., Harvard University
M.B.A., Harvard Business School
Previous Experience
General Partner, Adler & Company
Venture Capital Investor, Citicorp Venture Capital