Brad Feld facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brad Feld
Education	MIT
Occupation	Venture capitalist, author
Spouse(s)	Amy Batchelor

Brad Feld, born on December 1, 1965, is an American businessman, writer, and blogger. He is also a venture capitalist, which means he invests money in new companies to help them grow. He co-founded a company called Foundry Group in Boulder, Colorado.

Brad started investing in technology startups in the early 1990s. First, he was an angel investor, using his own money. Later, he became an institutional investor, using money from larger organizations. He was one of the first people to invest in well-known companies like Harmonix, Zynga, MakerBot, and Fitbit.

Brad Feld's Career Journey

Starting His First Company

In 1987, while studying at MIT, Brad Feld co-founded a company called Feld Technologies. This company created custom software for small and medium-sized businesses. It grew to have 20 employees and earned nearly $2 million each year.

In 1993, AmeriData bought Feld Technologies for about $2 million. After the sale, Brad became the chief technology officer at AmeriData.

Learning from Challenges

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Brad helped run a company called Interliant. This company provided online services and hosting. Interliant faced difficulties and closed down in 2002. This happened after a time when many internet companies struggled. Brad often talks about his experience with Interliant. He uses it as an example to show that even successful people can learn from business challenges.

Helping New Startups Grow

In 2006, Brad Feld helped David Cohen start Techstars. Techstars is a special program that helps new companies get started. It provides early funding and support to help them succeed.

Before starting Foundry Group in 2007, Brad also co-founded other investment firms. These included Intensity Ventures and Mobius Venture Capital.

Foundry Group Investments

Foundry Group began with a fund of $225 million. Since then, they have raised four more funds, each also $225 million. These funds were raised in 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2016. These funds help new companies get started.

In 2013, Foundry Group also created a $225 million fund called Select Fund. This fund invests in companies that are already growing. In 2016, they launched Foundry Next, a $500 million fund. This fund also invests in growing companies and other investment firms.

Supporting Nonprofits

Brad Feld is involved with several nonprofit organizations. He serves on the boards of groups like the National Center for Women & Information Technology. He also supports Startup Colorado, Global EIR Program, and UP Global. These organizations help people and communities, often by encouraging new businesses.

As of 2022, Brad Feld was the main supporter of the Banana Lounge at MIT. This lounge gives away hundreds of thousands of bananas to students and staff at MIT.

Brad Feld's Writing and Ideas

Since 2005, Brad Feld has been writing on his blog called Feld Thoughts. On his blog, he shares his ideas about technology and investing.

Brad has written and co-written several books. These books focus on starting businesses, investing in technology, and general advice for startups. He is also part of the Xconomists. This is a group of advisors for a tech news company called Xconomy.

Brad Feld's Personal Life

Brad Feld was born in Arkansas and grew up in Dallas, Texas. In 1983, he moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts. He attended MIT, where he earned two degrees in Management Science. Since 1995, he has lived in Boulder, Colorado. He lives there with his wife, Amy Batchelor, who is also a co-author of some of his books.