Howard Morgan
Description
Howard Morgan is a distinguished figure in the venture capital landscape, known for his impactful contributions across various investment stages. He currently serves as the Chairman of B Capital Group, a global multi-stage investment firm, and is also a co-founder and Partner Emeritus of First Round Capital, a pioneering seed-stage venture fund. His career spans decades, marked by a unique blend of academic rigor, entrepreneurial spirit, and investment acumen, positioning him as a key architect in the evolution of modern venture capital.
Morgan co-founded First Round Capital in 2004 with Josh Kopelman, establishing one of the earliest and most successful institutional seed-stage funds. First Round revolutionized early-stage investing by providing not just capital but also a robust platform of resources and community support for founders. The firm became renowned for its high-conviction, founder-friendly approach, typically writing initial checks often starting at $500,000, and backing companies that went on to achieve significant scale, including household names like Uber, Warby Parker, and Blue Apron. This early focus allowed First Round to identify and nurture disruptive technologies from their nascent stages.
Building on his extensive experience, Morgan co-founded B Capital Group in 2015 alongside Raj Ganguly and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin. B Capital operates at the growth equity stage, focusing on Series B, C, and D investments in enterprise technology, fintech, healthcare, and consumer enablement companies. The firm leverages a unique partnership with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to provide portfolio companies with strategic insights and access to a vast network of corporate clients. B Capital's investment checks typically range from $25 million to over $200 million, targeting companies with proven products and significant market traction ready for global expansion.
Prior to his venture capital endeavors, Morgan’s diverse background included co-founding Renaissance Technologies, a highly successful quantitative hedge fund, and serving as a General Partner at Idealab!, an internet incubator. He also held a professorship at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he taught decision sciences. This multifaceted career underscores his deep analytical capabilities and strategic foresight, enabling him to identify and support transformative companies across the technological spectrum. Howard Morgan's enduring influence is evident in the two distinct yet equally impactful venture firms he helped build, shaping the trajectory of countless startups.
Investor Profile
Howard Morgan has backed more than 33 startups, with 2 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 3 rounds, about 9% of its total and boasts 7 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Pre Seed rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, Israel, Seychelles.
- Strong thematic focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Software, Machine Learning.
- Typical check size: $500K – $200M.
Stage Focus
- Seed (79%)
- Series A (15%)
- Pre Seed (6%)
Country Focus
- United States (82%)
- Israel (12%)
- Seychelles (3%)
- India (3%)
Industry Focus
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Software
- Machine Learning
- Information Technology
- Saas
- Financial Services
- Health Care
- Neuroscience
- Fintech
- Legal Tech
Frequently Asked Questions
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