William Henry Draper III

William (Bill) Henry Draper III is an accomplished American entrepreneur who graduated from Yale University and Harvard Business School before continuing the venture capital legacy first started by his father. William Draper built first Draper International and subsequently Draper Investment Company into a world-renowned venture capital firm. Mr. Draper currently serves as General Partner of Draper Investment Company, applying more than 40 years of investment experience to funding profitable technology startups in the global sector.

As one of the country’s earliest venture capitalists, William Henry Draper III worked first for his father’s investment firm, Draper, Gaither & Anderson, which was considered the first venture capital company on the West Coast. In 1962, Mr. Draper co-founded Draper & Johnson Investment Company with his business partner and friend Pitch Johnson. Three years later, Mr. Draper, with colleagues, opened the doors to Sutter Hill Ventures, a private equity firm still in operation today and a key investor in technology-based startups.

In 1981 William Henry Draper III began a career in public service that would span more than a decade. During this time, Mr. Draper was appointed as President and Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States by President Ronald Reagan. In 1986, Mr. Draper became the second highest ranking individual in the United Nations in his role as head of the United Nations Development Program.

Returning to the capital investment business in the mid-90s, William Henry Draper III founded Draper International, regarded as the first U.S. venture capital firm to focus investments on private technology companies in India. During this time, Mr. Draper also established the US-based fund Draper Richards LP, which focused on financing early-stage technology companies.

William Henry Draper III is the co-founder of the Draper Richards Foundation, a nonprofit that identifies key social entrepreneurs and awards them with $100,000 annually for three years for their nonprofit business endeavors. A fervent community member and philanthropist, Mr. Draper sits on the boards of The Draper Richards Foundation, the Hoover Institution, the World Affairs Council of Northern California, the United Nations Association of the United States of America, the Atlantic Council, and several other organizations.