Brad Feld began investing in technology startups in 1987, founding Feld Technologies while still in college and selling it in 1993 before relocating to Boulder, Colorado, where he became a foundational figure in building the city's entrepreneurial ecosystem from near-scratch. After co-founding Mobius Venture Capital in 1996 and Techstars, he co-founded Foundry Group in 2006 with Seth Levine, Ryan McIntyre, and Jason Mendelson - four friends who'd worked together at Mobius and shared frustration with founder-unfriendly, opaque VC practices. That 'radical transparency' philosophy, including every partner publishing their personal email address, backed Fitbit (acquired by Google for $2.1 billion), Zynga (IPO'd at a $7 billion valuation), and Gnip (acquired by Twitter) across more than 200 portfolio companies. Feld coined the widely-cited 'Boulder Thesis' in his book Startup Communities, champions a 'Give First' philosophy of mentorship, and has completed 25 marathons toward a goal of finishing one in all 50 states. Foundry Group announced its final fund in January 2024, choosing a deliberate, planned conclusion after nearly two decades of staying intentionally small and partner-driven.
Education
BS, Management Science, MIT
MS, Management Science, MIT
Previous Experience
Founder, Feld Technologies (custom software, founded in college, sold 1993)
Co-Founder, Mobius Venture Capital (1996, one of the first internet-focused venture firms)