Hummer Winblad Venture Partners
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Venture capital |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | John Hummer, Ann Winblad |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Ann Winblad, John Hummer |
| Products | Venture capital investments in software and internet enterprises |
Hummer Winblad Venture Partners (abbreviated as HWVP) is a United States-based venture capital firm specializing in software and internet enterprises, headquartered in San Francisco, California. Established by John Hummer and Ann Winblad, the company was among the initial backers of Napster, a pioneering file sharing platform, and supported various online businesses during the dot-com bubble era.
Initial decade (1989–1999)
After selling her business Open Systems and providing consultancy services to firms such as Microsoft, Apple Computer, and IBM, Ann Winblad partnered with ex-professional basketball athlete John Hummer to create Hummer Winblad Venture Partners. The firm originally concentrated on securing investments from pension funds to finance software enterprises. In 1999, Bill Gates contributed capital to HWVP’s venture fund. Although not ranked among the elite venture capital firms, HWVP attracted considerable media coverage throughout this timeframe.
Napster involvement and the dot-com period (2000–2014)
In 2000, Hummer Winblad spearheaded a $15 million investment round for Napster despite ongoing litigation initiated by the Recording Industry Association of America. This decision was noted by The Economist as an uncommon move for the firm, which typically exhibited more conservative risk tolerance compared to other Silicon Valley investors. By 2001, several companies within their portfolio, including Pets.com, Homes.com, eHow, and Rival Networks, had either declared bankruptcy or ceased operations. In 2006, HWVP resolved a legal dispute with EMI Group and Universal Music Group following the collapse of Napster.
Transition to HWVP branding (2015–)
The year 2015 marked the rebranding of Hummer Winblad Venture Partners to HWVP. In 2016, the firm completed its first fundraising round without founders Ann Winblad or John Hummer serving as general partners. As of 2019, HWVP’s investment portfolio features companies such as Ace Metrix, Aria Systems, and NuoDB, underscoring its sustained commitment to enterprise software and technological advancement.