Mission Ventures

Mission Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 1997 and headquartered in San Diego, California. The firm established itself as a significant player in the early-stage investment landscape, primarily focusing on technology and life sciences companies in emerging markets. Over its operational history, Mission Ventures successfully raised and managed four funds, accumulating a substantial $900 million in capital under management. This considerable financial backing allowed the firm to support a diverse range of innovative startups during the dot-com era and beyond.

The firm's investment strategy centered on providing initial capital to promising early-stage ventures. Mission Ventures typically deployed first cheques ranging from $2 million to $10 million, with additional reserves allocated for follow-on investments to support portfolio companies through subsequent growth phases. Its sectorial interests were broad within technology and life sciences, encompassing areas such as software, internet, wireless communications, semiconductors, biotechnology, and medical devices. This strategic focus aimed to capitalize on nascent trends and disruptive innovations across various high-growth sectors.

While Mission Ventures played a notable role in funding several successful companies, particularly in the late 1990s and early 2000s, its public activity regarding new investments appears to have significantly slowed down in recent years. Many of its prominent portfolio companies, such as WebSideStory and Entropic Communications, achieved successful exits through acquisitions or IPOs primarily before 2010. The firm's website and public records suggest that its primary focus has shifted towards managing its existing portfolio rather than actively pursuing new early-stage deals, reflecting a mature phase in its operational lifecycle.