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Eric Hahn primarily invests in early-stage and growth-stage companies within the enterprise software sector. His focus areas include cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, SaaS platforms, developer tools, and companies leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to solve complex business challenges.
Eric Hahn works as a Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, a leading global venture capital firm with offices in Menlo Park, San Francisco, Austin, London, Paris, Singapore, and Beijing.
Eric Hahn stands as a distinguished Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, a leading global venture capital firm renowned for backing transformative technology companies. With a career spanning decades as both a successful entrepreneur and a shrewd investor, Hahn brings a unique blend of operational expertise and strategic vision to the venture capital landscape. His primary focus at Lightspeed is on identifying and nurturing early-stage and growth-stage companies that are poised to redefine the enterprise software, cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity sectors.
Hahn's investment philosophy is deeply rooted in his firsthand experience building and scaling technology businesses. He is particularly drawn to innovative startups that leverage cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced cloud architectures to solve complex business challenges. His portfolio reflects a keen eye for companies developing robust SaaS platforms, developer tools, and critical security solutions that empower businesses to operate more efficiently and securely in an increasingly digital world. He seeks out founders with strong technical acumen and a clear vision for market disruption.
Before his impactful career in venture capital, Eric Hahn established himself as a serial entrepreneur and technology pioneer. He founded Collabra Software, a groupware company that was acquired by Netscape Communications in 1995. Following the acquisition, Hahn served as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Netscape, playing a pivotal role in shaping the early internet browser and web technology landscape. His entrepreneurial journey continued with NetObjects, a company he co-founded, which developed innovative web authoring tools. This deep operational background provides him with invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by startup founders, making him a highly sought-after advisor and board member.
Throughout his tenure at Lightspeed, Eric Hahn has been instrumental in backing numerous high-profile companies that have gone on to achieve significant success and market leadership. Notable investments include Cloudflare, a leading web infrastructure and security company; Rubrik, a pioneer in data security and management; Nutanix, a prominent enterprise cloud computing software company; AppDynamics, an application performance management platform acquired by Cisco; and MuleSoft, an integration platform acquired by Salesforce. These investments underscore his ability to spot enduring value and disruptive potential in the enterprise technology space.
Hahn's contributions extend beyond capital. He actively mentors founders, leveraging his extensive network and strategic insights to help portfolio companies navigate product development, market entry, and scaling challenges. His commitment to fostering innovation and supporting the next generation of technology leaders solidifies his reputation as a key figure in the venture capital ecosystem.
Eric Hahn is an independent investor and Principal at Inventures Group based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He previously served as the Chief Technology Officer of Netscape Communications and worked as a Partner at the venture capital firm Redpoint Ventures. As a serial entrepreneur, Hahn founded multiple enterprise software companies, including Collabra Software, which was acquired by Netscape, and Lookout Software, which was sold to Microsoft. He is best known as the founding Chief Executive Officer and long-time Chairman of the cybersecurity firm Proofpoint, leading the company through its 2012 initial public offering before its eventual $12.3 billion acquisition by Thoma Bravo in 2021. Equipped with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Hahn currently focuses his professional efforts on angel investments within the enterprise software, cybersecurity, and SaaS sectors.