Microsoft Co-Founder's Investment Firm Opens Northern California Office

Harriet Davies

3 April 2013

Vulcan Capital, which manages Paul Allen’s multi-billion dollar portfolio, has brought in a managing director to head up a new Palo Alto office in California.

Abhishek Agrawal will head up Vulcan’s Silicon Valley presence and expand its investments in the internet and technology sectors.

He joins the firm from General Atlantic, a global growth equity firm with $17 billion in capital under management, which he joined in 2005.

"Abhishek brings a dynamic investment approach to growth equity that is complementary to our existing efforts in early-stage technology and the later stage buyout markets. His stellar investment record and entrepreneurial approach will help expand our reach in multi-stage technology investments," said Paul Ghaffari, chief investment officer of Vulcan.

Vulcan’s downtown Palo Alto office will focus on investments in the $10-million to $100-million range, covering mid- to late-stage venture capital, growth equity, recaps, buyouts and strategic public market block investments.

The firm is planning to hire a full team to work under Agrawal in the coming months.

Vulcan Capital was formed in 2003 as the investment arm of Vulcan, which manages the philanthropic and business affairs of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Allen was also chief technologist of Microsoft until he left in 1983. He is chairman of Vulcan; Jody Allen is president and chief executive.