Andy Rachleff
{{Short description|American businessman}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Andy Rachleff
| alma_mater = {{unbulletedlist|University of Pennsylvania| Stanford University}}
| occupation = {{unbulletedlist|Executive chairman of Wealthfront| Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturer}}
| known_for = {{unbulletedlist|Benchmark Capital|Wealthfront}}
| boards = {{unbulletedlist|University of Pennsylvania| Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation}}
| spouse = Debra Rachleff
}}
Andy Rachleff is a co-founder and Executive Chairman of Wealthfront.{{cite web|url=http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/andrew-s-rachleff|title=Andrew S. Rachleff|publisher=Stanford Graduate School of Business|accessdate=2014-08-23}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/2012/10/youre-young-youre-rich-now-what-10-questions-with-wealthfront-ceo-andy-rachleff/|title=You're Young and Rich, Now What? 10 Questions With Wealthfront CEO Andy Rachleff|date=2012-10-03|author=Marcus Wohlsen|accessdate=2014-08-23}}{{Cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2016/10/31/wealthfront-andy-rachleff/|title=Exclusive: Wealthfront's Founder Reclaims CEO Role as Current Chief Steps Down|date=2016-10-31|website=Fortune|access-date=2016-11-11}} He had previously been the executive chairman of the company after stepping down as the CEO, but then returned to the CEO role on October 31, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://recode.net/2014/01/13/wealthfront-leaps-out-in-online-financial-advising/|title=Wealthfront Leaps Out in Online Financial Advising|date=2014-01-13|author=Liz Gannes|accessdate=2014-08-23}}{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/09/30/why-angel-investors-dont-make-money-and-advice-for-people-who-are-going-to-become-angels-anyway/|title=Why Angel Investors Don't Make Money … And Advice For People Who Are Going To Become Angels Anyway|date=2012-09-30|accessdate=2014-08-23}}{{cite web|url=http://thisweekinstartups.com/andy-rachleff-ceo-of-wealthfront-twist-e335/|title=Episode: 335: Andy Rachleff, CEO of Wealthfront -TWiST #E335|accessdate=2014-08-23}} Rachleff co-founded Benchmark Capital in 1995 and was a general partner until 2004. Prior to Benchmark, Rachleff was a general partner with Merrill, Pickard, Anderson & Eyre.
Career
Rachleff co-founded Benchmark Capital, a venture capital firm, in 1995.{{cite web|url=http://www.seas.upenn.edu/media/feature-rachleff.php|title=Andy Rachleff: A Passion for Technology|author= Amy Biemiller|publisher=Penn Engineering}} The firm invested in companies including eBay, OpenTable, Snapchat, Twitter and Uber. Rachleff led investments in Blue Coat Systems, Equinix and Juniper Networks.{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Silicon-Valley-venture-capitalist-backs-offbeat-3231326.php|title=Silicon Valley venture capitalist backs offbeat cancer cure ideas|date=2008-01-15|author=Bernadette Tansey|accessdate=2014-08-23}}
In 2000, Rachleff joined the University of Pennsylvania Board of Advisors for the school of engineering. He retired from Benchmark Capital in late 2004 and began teaching technology entrepreneurship courses at Stanford Graduate School of Business in January 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.riabiz.com/a/5022384834740224/andy-rachleff-is-out-as-ceo-of-wealthfront-as-former-linkedin-star-takes-his-place|title=Andy Rachleff is out as CEO of Wealthfront as former LinkedIn star takes his place|author=Brooke Southall|date=2014-01-30|accessdate=2014-08-23}} In 2005, he also joined the University of Pennsylvania board of trustees where he is the Chairman of the university's endowment investment committee and a member of the executive committee.{{cite web|url=http://secure.www.upenn.edu/secretary/trustees/TrusteeNameList.html|title=The Trustees|accessdate=2014-08-23}}
Rachleff and his wife, Debra, partnered with the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation in 2007 to fund novel cancer research projects that did not receive funding from the National Institutes of Health.
In 2008, Rachleff co-founded Wealthfront (formerly known as kaChing).{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/12/01/wealthfront-debuts-customized-intelligent-online-investment-advisor-for-the-tech-community/|title=Wealthfront Debuts Customized, Intelligent Online Investment Advisor For The Tech Community|date=December 1, 2011|author= Leena Rao|accessdate=2014-08-23}} In December 2011, the company launched its automated investment service. Rachleff was the CEO and president until Adam Nash succeeded him on January 1, 2014. He returned to the CEO role on October 31, 2016 and is CEO and chairman of the company.{{cite web|url=http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/news/headlines/andy-rachleff-democratizing-investment-business|title=Andy Rachleff: Democratizing the Investment Business|date=2013-06-25|author=Erika Brown Ekiel|accessdate=2014-08-23}}
Rachleff teaches courses on technology entrepreneurship at Stanford Graduate School of Business.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnet.com/news/andy-rachleff-with-facebook-valley-unearths-lost-art-of-ipo/|title=Andy Rachleff: With Facebook, Valley unearths lost art of IPO|date=February 6, 2012|accessdate=2014-08-23}} He is a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, chairman of the board of overseers for its School of Engineering and Applied Science and vice chairman of its endowment investment committee. He is also a board member of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.
Rachleff has a BS from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Stanford University.