Bill Bowes

Co-Founder at U.S. Venture Partners · Joined 1981

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Biography

Bill Bowes built a career at the very origins of both Silicon Valley venture capital and the modern biotechnology industry, joining the boards of Raychem and Cetus Corporation years before co-founding U.S. Venture Partners in 1981 with Stuart Moldaw and Robert Sackman. His most historically significant contribution came outside USVP entirely: Bowes was a founding shareholder and served as Amgen's first Treasurer and Chairman, helping build what became one of the world's largest biotechnology companies from its earliest days. At USVP, that same conviction in scientific and technical founders helped establish the firm as one of the longest-running and most successful early-stage investors in Silicon Valley history, backing more than 500 companies across four decades with 93-plus completed IPOs, spanning Check Point Software, SanDisk, Ross Stores, and Yammer. Bowes passed away in December 2016, leaving a legacy as one of the foundational figures connecting Silicon Valley's venture capital and biotechnology industries.

Education

Previous Experience

Notable Investments

Check Point Software CHKPSanDiskRoss Stores ROST

Career Timeline

1961
Joins the board of Raychem, serving until the late 1970s.
1972
Joins the board of Cetus Corporation, a pioneering biotechnology company.
1980
Becomes founding shareholder, first Treasurer, and Chairman of Amgen.
1981
Co-founds U.S. Venture Partners with Stuart Moldaw and Robert Sackman.
2016
Passes away on December 28, leaving behind a legacy as one of Silicon Valley's foundational biotech and venture figures.

Sources & References

Wikipedia - Bill Bowes ↗Wikipedia - U.S. Venture Partners ↗