Jeff Bezos
Description
Jeff Bezos, renowned as the founder of Amazon, has cultivated a formidable presence in the venture capital landscape through his personal investment vehicle, Bezos Expeditions. Following his transition from Amazon's CEO, Bezos has increasingly dedicated his focus to a diverse portfolio of ventures spanning technology, space exploration through Blue Origin, and various other strategic interests. His investment approach is characterized by a long-term vision and a willingness to back ambitious, often disruptive, companies.
Bezos Expeditions has a storied history of identifying and supporting groundbreaking companies, particularly in their nascent stages. Famously, Bezos made an early investment of $250,000 in Google in 1998, a move that underscored his prescient ability to spot future industry giants. Over the years, his portfolio expanded to include early stakes in other transformative companies like Airbnb, Uber, and Twitter, demonstrating a consistent interest in consumer internet and platform businesses. Beyond these well-known successes, Bezos's investment thesis often gravitates towards companies with significant market potential and innovative solutions.
While his early investments were often smaller, angel-style checks, Bezos's more recent activity reflects a capacity and inclination for much larger, growth-stage and strategic investments. His current typical first check sizes range from approximately $5 million for significant participations in earlier rounds, up to $250 million when leading substantial growth equity rounds. For instance, Bezos Expeditions notably led a $100 million Series B round for Wildtype, a cultivated seafood company, in 2022, showcasing his commitment to emerging sectors like sustainable food technology.
Bezos's unique position as an individual investor with vast resources allows him unparalleled flexibility to invest across various stages and industries, from nascent startups to established unicorns. His investments are not merely financial but often carry the weight of his strategic insight and long-term commitment, making Bezos Expeditions a highly sought-after partner for entrepreneurs aiming to build enduring businesses.
Investor Profile
Jeff Bezos has backed more than 37 startups, with 3 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 5 rounds, about 14% of its total and boasts 14 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Series B, Series A, Series Unknown rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, United Kingdom, Canada.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning.
- Led 2 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $5M – $250M.
Stage Focus
- Series B (32%)
- Series A (22%)
- Series Unknown (11%)
- Seed (11%)
- Series C (5%)
- Series D (5%)
- Angel (5%)
- Series E (3%)
- Grant (3%)
- Pre Seed (3%)
Country Focus
- United States (86%)
- United Kingdom (5%)
- Canada (3%)
- Denmark (3%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Machine Learning
- Enterprise Software
- Mobile Apps
- Analytics
- Logistics
- Simulation
- Software Engineering
- Information Technology
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.