John Thompson

John Thompson serves as a Venture Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, a prominent multi-stage venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California. In this capacity, Thompson leverages his extensive operational and leadership experience to advise portfolio companies and identify strategic investment opportunities. His career prior to Lightspeed is marked by significant executive roles within the technology sector, including his tenure as CEO of Symantec and as Chairman of Microsoft. He also held various leadership positions at IBM, culminating in his role as general manager of IBM Americas. This deep background in enterprise software and corporate governance makes him a valuable asset to Lightspeed's investment team and its portfolio.

Lightspeed Venture Partners is known for its comprehensive investment strategy, spanning from early-stage seed rounds through to growth equity investments. The firm invests across a diverse range of sectors, including enterprise software, consumer technology, fintech, and healthcare. With Thompson's profound understanding of scaling technology companies and navigating complex market landscapes, he is particularly well-suited to mentor founders and guide companies through critical growth phases. His insights are especially pertinent for enterprise software and cybersecurity ventures, areas where he has direct, high-level experience.

Lightspeed Venture Partners commands substantial capital, as evidenced by its recent fundraises. For instance, in 2022, the firm announced the closing of over $7 billion across its various funds, including dedicated vehicles for early-stage, growth, and select investments. This significant capital base enables Lightspeed to deploy substantial resources across its portfolio. While the firm's investment sizes vary widely based on stage and opportunity, typical first checks can range from approximately $500,000 for nascent seed-stage companies to upwards of $50 million for more mature, growth-stage enterprises. Thompson's involvement helps Lightspeed identify and nurture companies that can benefit from his strategic guidance and industry network, reinforcing the firm's commitment to long-term value creation.