Silicon Valley Legend Bill Gurley on Backing Uber and Betting Big
2/27/202639 min
Bill Gurley is a longtime Silicon Valley investor, entrepreneur, and thought leader on innovation, market dynamics, and career strategy. As a General Partner at Benchmark, he has backed iconic companies including Uber, Zillow, OpenTable, Grubhub, and Nextdoor, helping shape the modern internet economy.
Before venture capital, Bill was a top-ranked Wall Street analyst covering Amazon’s IPO and began his career as a design engineer at Compaq. Known for his deep thinking on network effects, marketplace economics, and disruptive technology, he has become one of the most respected voices in venture capital.
His book, Runnin’ Down...
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsTommy Mello· Host0:00
You've been a big part of so many companies. Which one was your favorite?
Bill Gurley· Guest0:04
Biggest outcome I was involved with is [beep]. You know, not, not just because of the size of the investment return, but the impact on the planet.
Tommy Mello· Host0:15
You know more people and more people at the top than anybody I know.
Speaker 30:19
[upbeat music] Bill Gurley has spent nearly three decades in Silicon Valley investing in and serving on the boards of companies like Twitter and Uber. Bill has become Silicon Valley royalty, known for his razor-sharp instincts and a talent for spotting breakout companies early on. If you've ever wondered how the best investors play the game, pay attention. Color Wars by Leelo.
Tommy Mello· Host0:38
All right, guys, welcome back to The Mellow Millionaire. Today, it's an honor to have Bill Gurley on the podcast. He's a partner at Benchmark, and he's coming out with a book that's a must-read, Running Down a Dream: How to Thrive in a Career That You Actually Love. Currently, he's a partner at Benchmark, one of Silicon Valley's most elite VC firms, and has become a frequently cited voice in unit economics, network effects, and marketplace dynamics. Bill, it truly is an honor to have you on today. Thank you for taking the time to do this.
Bill Gurley· Guest1:12
I'm thrilled to be here, Tommy. Thank, thanks for you having me on.
Tommy Mello· Host1:15
So let's just start out, you know, tell us a little bit about you, your career, a-and what made you wanna write a book.
Bill Gurley· Guest1:21
One day, I got invited to come speak to the MBA class at the University of Texas, where I went and where I got an MBA.