Biz Stone
Description
Biz Stone is a prominent figure in the technology and venture capital landscape, best known as a co-founder of Twitter. His entrepreneurial journey extends beyond Twitter, encompassing roles at Xanga, Google, and co-founding companies like Jelly Industries (acquired by Pinterest) and The Obvious Corporation. Transitioning from a serial entrepreneur to an active investor, Stone has leveraged his deep industry insights and network to back promising startups across various stages, establishing himself as a significant angel investor and a venture capitalist.
As an angel investor, Biz Stone has a prolific track record, having personally invested in over 50 companies. His early-stage investments often focus on innovative companies with strong potential for disruption and positive societal impact. Notable early bets include Square, the mobile payments company, and Beyond Meat, the plant-based food producer, which he backed before its public listing. His angel checks typically support seed and pre-seed rounds, demonstrating a commitment to nurturing nascent ventures from their foundational stages.
Beyond his personal angel activities, Stone is a co-founder and general partner at Obvious Ventures, a venture capital firm established in 2014. Obvious Ventures is distinguished by its "world positive" investment thesis, focusing on companies that combine profit with purpose across sectors like sustainable systems, healthy living, and people power. The firm has raised substantial capital, including its fourth fund, Obvious Ventures IV, which closed at $343 million in 2023.
Stone's investment philosophy reflects his entrepreneurial spirit, prioritizing founders with bold visions and a commitment to creating meaningful change. His dual role as an active angel investor and a co-founder of a mission-driven venture fund provides him with a broad reach across the startup ecosystem, from early ideation to significant growth stages. This comprehensive approach underscores his influence in shaping the next generation of impactful companies.
Investor Profile
Biz Stone has backed more than 50 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 2 rounds, about 4% of its total and boasts 11 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Series A, Seed, Pre Seed rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, United Kingdom, India.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, FinTech, Artificial Intelligence (AI).
- Typical check size: $50K – $15M.
Stage Focus
- Series A (30%)
- Seed (30%)
- Pre Seed (14%)
- Series B (12%)
- Series Unknown (8%)
- Series C (6%)
Country Focus
- United States (64%)
- United Kingdom (18%)
- India (6%)
- Argentina (4%)
- Finland (2%)
- Sweden (2%)
- France (2%)
- Kenya (2%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- Fintech
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Saas
- Information Technology
- Food And Beverage
- Apps
- Financial Services
- Internet
- Mobile
Frequently Asked Questions
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