Bill Gurley

Bill Gurley is a veteran American venture capitalist, General Partner at Benchmark and one of Silicon Valley’s most influential investors, known for his early backing of transformative technology companies and thoughtful commentary on the evolution of tech markets. He earned a BS in computer science from the University of Florida and an MBA from the University of Texas before beginning his professional career as a design engineer at Compaq and in technical marketing at AMD. He later spent four years on Wall Street as a top‑ranked research analyst, covering major tech firms and serving as lead analyst on the Amazon IPO before entering venture capital.

Gurley joined Benchmark Capital in 1999 and for more than two decades has backed and guided companies that have reshaped digital marketplaces, including Uber, OpenTable, GrubHub, Nextdoor, Stitch Fix, and Zillow. His investment in Uber in 2011 is among the most lucrative in venture capital history, while his early support helped Nextdoor and OpenTable become public companies.

In January 2024, he was reappointed to the board of directors of Zillow Group, returning to a company he helped grow from its early days and reaffirming his ongoing influence in the real estate tech sector. After more than 20 years at Benchmark, Gurley stepped back from active investing and will not participate in the firm’s next fund, instead focusing on supporting his existing portfolio and new pursuits.

In recent years he has broadened his impact beyond traditional venture capital, working on a forthcoming book titled Runnin’ Down a Dream, addressing career strategy amid rapid technological change, and engaging in public discourse on innovation, economic trends, and the future of work. Known for his “Above the Crowd” blog and his sharp insights on startup economics, Gurley continues to shape thinking around entrepreneurship and investment in the digital age.