William P. Egan
William P. Egan | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | Fairfield University (B.A., 1967), The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (MBA, 1969) |
| Occupation(s) | Venture capital investor, businessman |
| Years active | Since before 1979 |
| Known for | Founder and general partner of Alta Communications; founder of Marion Equity Partners; co-founder of Burr, Egan, Deleage & Co. (BEDCO) |
| Notable work | Done Deals: Venture Capitalists Tell Their Stories (featured) |
William P. Egan is a prominent American venture capital investor, recognized as the founder and general partner of Boston-based Alta Communications, a firm specializing in venture capital, as well as Marion Equity Partners, which operates in the private equity sector. In 1979, he established Alta’s forerunner, Burr, Egan, Deleage & Co. (BEDCO), supporting leading companies in information technology, life sciences, and communications industries. Alongside fellow BEDCO co-founder Craig Burr, Egan is a limited partner at Nobska Partners.
Early life and education
Egan completed his undergraduate studies with a B.A. from Fairfield University in 1967 and subsequently earned an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1969.
Career
Before founding his own ventures, Egan was a partner at TA Associates and initially worked as the manager of Venture Capital for New England Enterprise Capital Corporation. He has held leadership roles including president and chairman of the National Venture Capital Association. His board memberships extend across various sectors such as communications, cable, IT, and biopharmaceuticals, notably including Cephalon.
Egan has been a dedicated trustee at Fairfield University, receiving an Alumni Service Award in 1995. His philanthropic efforts encompass the largest gift ever made to Fairfield, which resulted in renaming its nursing school and dedicating the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola in honor of his parents. He also serves on the trustee board of the University of Pennsylvania and participates on Wharton’s graduate advisory board.
His achievements in venture capital are documented in Done Deals: Venture Capitalists Tell Their Stories (Harvard Business School Press). Additionally, Egan holds part ownership of the Boston Celtics through Boston Basketball Partners LLC and contributes to The Wharton Center for Leadership and Change Management as an advisory board member.
Personal life
Egan and his wife Jacayln Egan (née Jacalyn Conklin) have made substantial donations to Fairfield University and divide their residence between Boston, Massachusetts, and Newport, Rhode Island. The couple also share ownership stakes in the Boston Celtics NBA franchise through their involvement with Boston Basketball Partners, LLC.
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