uncertain world

My First Summer in the Sierra (1911) is his famous account of the spiritual awakening he experienced when, in 1869, he first encountered the mountains and valleys of central California, of which he wrote: “Bathed in such beauty, watching the expressions ever varying on the faces of the mountains, watching the stars, which here have a glory that the lowlander never dreams of, watching the circling seasons, listening to the songs of the waters and winds and birds, would be endless pleasure…. No other place has ever so overwhelmingly attracted me as this hospitable, Godful wilderness.”

To qualify, investors are ranked by their portfolio companies that have gone public or been acquired for at least $200 million over the past five years, or that have at least doubled their private valuation since initial investment to $400 million or more over the same period. Forbes and TrueBridge put a premium on exits over unrealized returns, large multiples on capital invested or huge cash sums returned as of March 2020, just as coronavirus swept the globe. A data-driven list, Midas is produced after reviewing the submissions of hundreds of partners across dozens of firms each year.

Note: Investors who have been fired or resigned from their firms for any kind of misconduct are subject to removal from Midas List eligibility.

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In an uncertain world, venture-backed businesses have helped define how we eat, shop and communicate. These tech investors have made star careers out of spotting such companies ahead of the curve and making bigger, bolder bets on their success.

THINK LONG, DREAM BIG, ACT DECISIVELY. THIS IS THE WAY TO DEAL WITH BUSINESS CYCLES."
—  NEIL SHEN, FOUNDING MANAGING PARTNER, SEQUOIA CAPITAL CHINA