Josh James
Description
Josh James is a prominent figure in the Utah tech ecosystem, known for his successful entrepreneurial ventures before transitioning into venture capital. He first gained widespread recognition as the co-founder and CEO of Omniture, a web analytics company that was acquired by Adobe Systems in 2009 for a significant $1.8 billion. Following the acquisition, James served as a Senior Vice President and General Manager at Adobe before embarking on his next major startup, Domo. As the founder and CEO of Domo, a business intelligence software company, he led the company through its growth phase, ultimately taking it public in 2018.
Leveraging his deep operational experience and success, James launched the Silicon Slopes Venture Fund in 2021. This fund was established with a clear mission to foster and invest in the burgeoning technology sector within Utah, often referred to as "Silicon Slopes." The fund aims to provide crucial capital and strategic guidance to promising early-stage companies, helping to cultivate the next generation of successful tech enterprises in the region.
The Silicon Slopes Venture Fund, which initially launched with $100 million in capital, primarily targets seed and Series A rounds for Utah-based technology startups. The fund is known for writing initial checks ranging from $1 million to $5 million, indicating a focus on providing substantial early-stage funding to companies with strong potential for growth. This investment strategy reflects James's commitment to building a robust local tech economy by backing founders who are solving significant problems and demonstrating strong execution capabilities.
James's transition from a serial entrepreneur to an active investor through the Silicon Slopes Venture Fund underscores his dedication to the tech community that he helped build. His firsthand experience in scaling and exiting companies provides invaluable insights and mentorship to the startups he backs, making the fund a strategic partner for founders looking to navigate the complexities of growth and market expansion within the competitive tech landscape.
Investor Profile
Josh James has backed more than 28 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 1 rounds, about 4% of its total and boasts 13 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Series A, Seed, Series B rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States.
- Strong thematic focus on SaaS, Software, Enterprise Software.
- Typical check size: $1M – $5M.
Stage Focus
- Series A (32%)
- Seed (32%)
- Series B (11%)
- Series Unknown (7%)
- Angel (7%)
- Private Equity (4%)
- Series D (4%)
- Series C (4%)
Country Focus
- United States (100%)
Industry Focus
- Saas
- Software
- Enterprise Software
- Information Technology
- Fintech
- Internet
- E-commerce
- Financial Services
- Social Media
- Human Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
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