Overview

Gender

male

Investor Type

Angel

Jim is a founding Partner of Focus Ventures. While at Focus, he has led successful investments in Cosine Communications, Starent Networks, Telera (Alcatel) and Netscaler (Citrix). He is currently responsible for Focus’ investments in Infoblox, Miradia, MuDynamics, PA Semi, PCH International, Pure Digital and Teknovus.

In addition to his investment work, Jim spearheads Focus’ efforts in Asia, to which he brings to bear his 30 years experience in the region. Jim has initiated customer and partner relationships for numerous Focus portfolio companies including inCode Telecom, NetScaler, PixelWorks, PureDigital and Silicon Optix. Jim is frequently tapped to speak about his experiences at events hosted by organizations such as Asian Venture Capital Journal and International Business Forum.

Jim was a cofounder in 1986 and a Managing Director of the successful merchant banking boutique, Amsterdam Pacific Corportation, which was purchased by a large European bank in 1994. Prior to forming Amsterdam Pacific Corporation, he was Vice President in the Telecommunications Section of the Bank of America's Investment Banking Group where he led media and high technology assignments in the U.S., Europe, and the Far East. Outside of his work at Focus, Jim has successful investments in companies such as ONI, Alteon, Prism Radio Partners, Deeptech, Hello Direct, US Filter and USA Waste (Waste Management Inc.).

Jim has lectured on corporate and project financing at Stanford and has written numerous finance related articles including one published in the May-June 1982 issue of the Harvard Business Review, which was subsequently selected as one of the year's best and published in a hardcover collection.

Jim has an Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin and MBA (as an Arjay Miller Scholar) and MA degrees from Stanford University. Prior to attending business school, he worked for four years as a telecommunications engineer in the U.S. Air Force, specializing in analog/digital voice systems and digital networking.