Silicon Valley Pioneer Dick Kramlich Dies at 89

Dick Kramlich, a pioneering venture capitalist and co-founder of New Enterprise Associates (NEA), passed away on Saturday, February 4, 2025, at the age of 89. Kramlich was an early investor in Apple and played a significant role in shaping the Silicon Valley landscape. His daughter, Christina Kramlich, confirmed his death, stating that he had not been ill for a long time.

Kramlich co-founded NEA in 1977 with Chuck Newhall and Frank Bonsal, a few years after heavy hitters Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins opened their doors in Menlo Park, California. Throughout his career, Kramlich made several lucrative investments in computer-networking companies, including 3Com, Grand Junction, and Force10 Networks.

One of Kramlich's most notable investments was in 3Com, which was started by Bob Metcalfe as a way to commercialize Ethernet technology. 3Com went public in 1984 and soared to a valuation of over $28 billion during the dot-com bubble of 2000. Although 3Com's technology was eventually bypassed by products from Cisco and others, the company was purchased by HP in 2010 for $2.7 billion.

Kramlich also invested in Grand Junction, started by a 3Com co-founder, and saw that company through to a 1995 sale to Cisco. Additionally, he invested in data center networking company Force10 Networks, which was acquired by Dell in 2011.



Kramlich retired from NEA in 2013, a year after the firm raised $2.6 billion for its 14th fund, one of the biggest ever at the time in the industry. However, he wasn't done with investing. In 2017, Kramlich started Green Bay Ventures to invest in companies developing technology and products in manufacturing, energy, transportation, logistics, real estate, and communications.

Throughout his career, Kramlich received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to the venture capital industry. These include lifetime achievement awards from the National Venture Capital Association and the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, as well as the Silicon Valley Deloitte Technology Fast 50 award and the Red Herring Magazine Top 100 technology award.

Kramlich's impact on the venture capital landscape and the broader technology industry is undeniable. His strategic investments, leadership, and visionary strategies have shaped the Silicon Valley ecosystem and left a lasting legacy. As we remember Dick Kramlich, we celebrate his life and the indelible mark he left on the world of venture capital.