Peter Thiel

Accel’s Breyer Leads Forbes Midas List of Top Tech Investors Again, While Kleiner’s Doerr Leads in Media Scrutiny

Kara Swisher in Media on May 8 at 9:12 am PT

It’s hard being — and staying — king of the VCs.

Google Ventures Leads $17 Million Round in On Deck Capital

Arik Hesseldahl in News on May 1 at 8:42 am PT

A fast-growing startup that uses big data to make small-business loans.

Sympathy for Peter Thiel

I feel sorry for Peter Thiel. Did he really want flying cars? Flying cars are not a very efficient way to move things from one point to another. On the other hand, 20 years ago we had the idea that information could become available at your fingertips. We got that done.

– Bill Gates, in an interview with Wired magazine’s Steven Levy

Exclusive: PayPal Co-Founder Levchin Launches New Payments Startup, Affirm

Kara Swisher in Mobile on February 26 at 1:35 pm PT

He’s back, and this time the well-known entrepreneur wants to give you a digital charge card.

To VC or Not to VC: Former Square COO Rabois Leaning Toward Khosla Ventures Job

Kara Swisher in News on February 23 at 6:24 pm PT

A Silicon Valley choice.

Voices

After IPO, Facebook Insiders Make $775 Million

John Letzing and Scott Thurm, Reporters, The Wall Street Journal in News on January 15 at 3:00 pm PT

Facebook Inc. has been trading below its $38 offering price since shortly after its IPO in May. But that hasn’t stopped insiders from selling shares valued at more than $775 million in the past five months.

Voices

Thiel in Talks to Invest in Airbnb at $2.5B Valuation

Jessica E. Lessin, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal in Voices on October 19, 2012 at 12:34 pm PT

Online room rental service Airbnb Inc. is in discussions with venture capitalist Peter Thiel about a roughly $150 million investment that would value the company at around $2.5 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.

Peter Thiel Unloads Roughly 20 Million Facebook Shares

John Paczkowski in Social on August 20, 2012 at 2:47 pm PT

Facebook’s first outside investor cashes out the majority of his stake in the company.

Voices

Facebook Shares Unlocking

Telis Demos and Shayndi Raice, Reporters, The Wall Street Journal in News on August 13, 2012 at 4:10 pm PT

An avalanche of privately held Facebook shares could begin hitting the market this week — potentially putting further pressure on the company’s stock — as rules expire that have kept some early investors from cashing out.

News Byte

Asana Raises $28M to Reunite With Peter Thiel

Liz Gannes in Enterprise on July 23, 2012 at 9:44 am PT

Productivity toolmaker Asana said today it had raised $28 million led by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund. Asana’s team and investors are a bit of a Facebook reunion, including its co-founders Dustin Moskovitz and Justin Rosenstein and various employees, early investor Thiel, and early employees Adam D’Angelo and Matt Cohler via Benchmark Capital.