Famous As Venture Capitalist
Born On 28January 1955
Born In Delhi, India
Nationality Indian American
Vinod Khosla is an entrepreneur and a venture capitalist who grabbed all eyeballs with his investment deals. Considered as one of the most influential persons in the Silicon Valley, Vinod Khosla is better known as the co-founder of noted firm Sun Microsystems. After working for two years in Sun Microsystems, he left the company to become a successful venture capitalist. He always wanted to be successful and dreamt of establishing his own firm. He joined Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers where he invented new ideas in venture capitalism. He is one of those few entrepreneurs and venture capitalists whose ideas and interpretation about global market has made him popular. His own venture capital firm called Khosla Ventures established in 2004 created history with its strategic rules and brilliant work. Vinod Khosla was among the first venture capitalist to visualize that a combination of internet technology and fiber optics could make communications so fast, cheap and easy. As a visionary, Khosla has played important role in starting and helping companies that are involved in the field of multimedia, semiconductors, video games, Internet software and computer networking.
Early Life
Vinod Khosla was born on January 28, 1955 in New Delhi. He earned a B.Tech degree from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi. After completing his graduation, he attempted to start his own company, a dream that he had since age 15, but the venture failed. Then he went to the United States to get his M. S. degree in Biomedical Sciences from the Carnegie Mellon and later did his M.B.A from the Stanford University in 1979. At the Stanford, Khosla found a business idea and partners from the Stanford Club. They founded a computer aided and design company- Daisy Systems but the venture failed because of economic problems.
Career
The India born venture capitalist, Vinod Khosla is one of the most influential persons of the Silicon Valley. Vinod Khosla is in Forbes magazine's list of America's richest 400 people. Vinod Khosla is a world renowned venture capitalist and is revolutionizing communications through technology. He rose into fame at the age of 27 when he co-founded the Sun Microsystems with a German student and his Stanford classmate Andreas Bechtolsheim, Scott McNealy and UC Berkeley. Vinod Khosla served Sun Microsystems as Chairman and CEO from 1982 to 1984 and later left the company to discover his dreams in venture capitalism. In order to make his dreams true he joined a venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, as a general Partner. In this company he was noted for several successful investments which got him recognition as a popular venture capitalist. Vinod Khosla was among the first few venture capitalists to visualize that a combination of internet technology and fiber optics could make communications so fast, cheap and easy.
As a visionary, Khosla has played important role in starting and helping companies that are involved in the field of multimedia, semiconductors, video games, Internet software and computer networking. He has also invested in firms like Indian Microfinance NGO and SKS Microfinance which provide loan for women in ruler India. The biggest virtue of Khosla is that he doesn't just spread cash, but nurtures and supports beginners. Vinod Khosla has won accolades and admiration because of his ability to visualize business opportunities in right perspective. Khosla is not satisfied only in planning but takes active part in the implementation part as well. Vinod Khosla was instrumental in creation of Cerent Corp, juniper Networks, Viant, Extreme Networks, Lightera etc. Vinod Khosla is also one of the founding fathers of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE). With his knowledge in global investment and marketing strategies, most of his ventures were successful. According to Forbes's magazine list he is one of the three billionaire of Indian origin among the 400 richest persons of America.
To make his dreams true he formed his own venture capital firm called Khosla Ventures in 2004. The firm is established in Menlo Park, California which manages nearly $1 billion capital. In 2009, Khosla completed his million dollars of fundraising to invest in cleantech and information technology, which created revolution in the global market.
Personal Life
Vinod deeply believes in closeness of family and lives in Woodside, CA with his wife and four daughters.
Timeline
1955: Vinod Khosla was born.
1979: Received his MBA from Stanford University.
1982: He co-founded the form Sun Microsystems along with others.
1986: He joined venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.
2004: He founded his own venture capital firm called Khosla Ventures.
