History of Bill Gurley in Timeline

Bill Gurley is a prominent American venture capitalist and general partner at Benchmark, a well-known Silicon Valley venture capital firm. He is known for his insights on technology trends, venture capital, and the broader business landscape. Gurley has been involved in numerous successful investments in tech companies.

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Full Timeline

May 10, 1966: Bill Gurley Born

On May 10, 1966, John William "Bill" Gurley was born. He is now known as an American venture capitalist and general partner at Benchmark, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm.

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1989: Graduated from the University of Florida

In 1989, Bill Gurley graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree, where he was also a member of the men’s basketball team.

1993: Received MBA from University of Texas

In 1993, Bill Gurley received his Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas McCombs School of Business.

2008: Advised caution to portfolio companies

In the fall of 2008, amidst an economic collapse, Bill Gurley sent a letter to his portfolio companies advising CEOs to exercise caution in spending but to seek opportunities.

2015: Expressed concerns about private tech investing

In a 2015 interview, Bill Gurley stated his belief that Silicon Valley and venture-backed businesses had entered a speculative and unsustainable phase. His warnings, along with posts on his blog, 'Above the Crowd', about venture capital spending, sparked widespread discussion in the industry.

March 2016: Named VC of the Year

In March 2016, Bill Gurley was named VC of the Year at TechCrunch’s annual Crunchies awards.

June 2017: Left Uber's Board of Directors

In June 2017, Bill Gurley left Uber's board of directors. The announcement came a day after Uber CEO Travis Kalanick resigned amidst controversy over the company's corporate culture.

April 2020: Stepping back from Benchmark

In April 2020, The Wall Street Journal reported that Bill Gurley would be stepping back from Benchmark as he was not investing in a new fund that his venture capital firm was raising.