NVCA Oral History Collection: Michael C. Brooks
An oral history featuring Michael Brooks, a venture capital industry veteran, who was a Partner with Venrock 2000 to 2015. From 1985 to 2000, Michael was a Partner of J.H. Whitney & Co.
Why is advancing the next era of venture capital important?
Venture capital is an American national treasure. It has fueled the advancement of innovation, economies, and people. It has created value, jobs, wealth, and life-changing products and services. Though venture capital as an industry may be young and as an asset class may be small, high-growth startups and their long-term investors have truly changed the world.
To continue the success of the industry’s past 50 years to the next 50 years and beyond, we must expand opportunities for people of all backgrounds to access the venture ecosystem and thrive. We must educate future leaders on best practices and help them learn from the industry’s rich history. We must help firms build strong, healthy cultures and values. We must keep the public and ecosystem informed through qualitative and quantitative insights.
By investing in tomorrow’s leaders today, we shape the next era of venture capital.
10,000+
high-growth startups—across all 50 states and DC—raised venture funding in 2019 to build and grow their businesses.
42%
of all U.S. IPOs from 1974 to 2015 were venture-backed companies, representing 63% of the market capitalization and 85% of R&D.
2.9 million
is the average net jobs created annually between 1980 and 2010 by high-growth startups, which account for ~50% of gross jobs created in the U.S.
1,300+
U.S. venture firms are active today, managing an aggregate of $444 billion in assets.
