China Counts In The Forbes Midas List
Any surprise that China plays a major role in the Forbes Midas list this year? All in all, three-quarters of the firms on the just-published 2011 rankings are backers of China startups and emerging companies. Ten of the 100 tech investors on the tally have done deals or overseen their firms’ strategy in China — which shows where many of the industry leaders are focused today.
Jim Breyer of Accel Partners, who ranks tops with Facebook, is also the Palo Alto-based investor’s biggest champion for China deal making. He has led Accel’s deals and funds with Beijing-based IDG Capital Partners, a high achiever in China (think Qihoo 360, Dangdang, Baidu, Soufun, Ctrip, QQ).
Other scorers on the Silicon Valley heavy list who have shaped their firm’s China strategies: Mike Moritz of Sequoia Capital (#2), John Doerr (#14) and Ted Schlein (#85) of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers plus Chris Schaepe (#68) of Lightspeed Venture Partners. Sequoia and Kleiner Perkins are a study in contrasts so far in China, as last weeks’ post points out.
A newcomer to this year’s list is long-time China hand Jim Boettcher (#37) of Focus Ventures. Best known in venture circles for the $590 million price Cisco paid to buy his portfolio company that makes the Flip video camera, Boettcher is also one of the more disruptive thinkers in China tech investing.
One more China dealmaker new to this 2011 list is Tim Chang (#87) of Norwest Venture Partners, a backer of GroupOn clone Lashou and innovative mobile software maker Borqs. Glenn Solomon (#56) of GGV Capital makes the list while several of his partners have been perennials on Midas.
China is a major player on the Forbes Midas List!