Wednesday, November 26, 2008

VC Feature: Avalon Ventures - focused on early stage web 3.0 deals (like Zynga)

FIRM OVERVIEW: Medium Private VC founded in 1983 based out of La Jolla, USA (US West)

FIRM DESCRIPTION: Avalon Ventures is a San Diego-based venture capital fund focusing on seed and early stage companies in life sciences, wireless communications and Web 3.0 digital media, primarily in California and the Northeast. Our current Fund, Avalon VIII, L.P. is $150 million. Avalon Ventures is one of the longest-standing venture capital firms in San Diego, investing in life sciences and information technology opportunities locally and around the country since 1983 through seven Avalon Ventures funds. The collective market capitalization of Avalon Ventures portfolio companies (most founded by Avalon partners) currently exceeds $11 billion.

TEAM MEMBERS: Brady Bohrmann, Douglas Downs, Jay B. Lichter, PhD, Kevin J Kinsella, Richard W. Levandov, Stephen L Tomlin,


"Managing Members
Kevin J. Kinsella has been in the venture capital industry since 1981 when he founded Spectragraphics Corporation and 1982 when he founded Landmark Graphics Corporation. He founded Avalon Ventures in 1983. Mr. Kinsella specialized in the formation, financing and development of more than 50 early stage companies, including: Athena Neurosciences (acquired by ELAN [ELN]); ANSA Software (acquired by Borland); Argonaut Technologies [AGNT]... read more

Stephen L. Tomlin has been an entrepreneur, senior executive and investor in wireless technology, biotechnology and Internet industries for over 15 years. Since 2001, Mr. Tomlin has been a Managing Member of Avalon Ventures sharing management responsibility and leading the firm's wireless investment activities in Avalon VI. From 1998 to 2000, Mr. Tomlin was a Vice-President of America Online, Inc. From 1994 to 1998, he was a co-founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of PersonaLogic, Inc., a Web-based e commerce navigation company, that America Online... read more

Jay B. Lichter, Ph.D. was previously a Venture Partner at Avalon and most recently led Avalon's investments in InCode Biopharmaceutics, Inc., an auto-immune disease company, and Akesis Pharmaceuticals, a developer of patent protected diabetes drugs, where he currently serves as President and CEO. Dr. Lichter is an experienced biotechnology and pharmaceutical business executive with over 20 years... read more

Richard W. Levandov has over 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur, operating executive, and venture capitalist involving a variety of cutting edge early stage technology companies. Prior to joining Avalon in 2007 to establish the Firm's East Coast investing activities he has been involved in many entrepreneurial and venture capital... read more
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Best deal? Synaptics in Avalon IV (ipo 2002)

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TheFunded rating: 4.1/5.0

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