Brian Singerman
{{Short description|American venture capitalist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Brian Singerman
| image = Brian Singerman Photo.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|40|2017|04|18}}
| birth_place =
| education = Stanford University (BS)
| occupation = Partner at Founders Fund
| known_for = Founder of iGoogle
| spouse =
| website =
}}
Brian Singerman (born {{birth based on age as of date|40|2017|04|18|noage=1}}) is an American venture capitalist and businessman. He is a partner emeritus at Founders Fund, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm with over $11 billion under management.{{cite web|title=A look inside Founders Fund, as it closes on $5 billion across two new funds|url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/03/04/a-peek-inside-founders-fund-as-it-closes-on-5-billion-across-two-new-funds/|work=TechCrunch|accessdate=2 August 2023}}
Early life and education
Singerman graduated from Stanford University in 1999 with a B.S. in Computer Science.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2017/04/18/brian-singerman-founders-fund-power-player/?sh=74208a671bc5|title=Move Over, Peter Thiel -- How Brian Singerman Became Founders Fund's Top VC|work=Forbes|accessdate=2 August 2023}} Following Stanford, he joined the virtual-world online start-up There as a software engineer.{{cite web|title=Founders Fund: The Most Exclusive Tech Conference Ever|url=https://www.inc.com/eric-markowitz/founders-fund-staging-the-most-exclusive-tech-conference-ever.html|work=Inc.|accessdate=2 August 2023}}
Career
= Google =
In 2004, Singerman joined Google where he spent four years as an engineer and executive. At Google, he founded the personal web portal, iGoogle.{{cite web|url=http://www.inc.com/eric-markowitz/founders-fund-staging-the-most-exclusive-tech-conference-ever.html|title=Founders Fund: Is This the Most Exclusive Tech Conference Ever|work=Inc.|accessdate=2 August 2023}}
During his tenure at Google, Singerman began his investment career, launching a $1 million fund called XGYC Fund, short for "ex-Google, Y Combinator."{{cite web|title=Move Over, Peter Thiel -- How Brian Singerman Became Founders Fund's Top VC|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2017/04/18/brian-singerman-founders-fund-power-player/?sh=74208a671bc5|work=Forbes|accessdate=2 August 2023}}
= Founders Fund =
In 2008, Singerman joined Founders Fund, where he works alongside Peter Thiel and Ken Howery.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/03/04/a-peek-inside-founders-fund-as-it-closes-on-5-billion-across-two-new-funds/|title=A look inside Founders Fund|work=TechCrunch|accessdate=2 August 2023}} He focuses on healthcare, biotechnology, wearable computing, and robotics.
Singerman has been a board director for several companies, including Affirm, Cloud9, Emerald Therapeutics, The Long-Term Stock Exchange, Oscar Health, and Postmates. Additionally, he has served as a board observer for Airbnb, Forward, and Wish.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2017/04/18/brian-singerman-founders-fund-power-player/?sh=74208a671bc5|title=Move Over, Peter Thiel -- How Brian Singerman Became Founders Fund's Top VC|work=Forbes|accessdate=2 August 2023}}
On December 3, 2024, Singerman announced his transition to the role of partner emeritus at Founders Fund, planning to continue as a strategic advisor while prioritizing a new work-life balance.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-03/brian-singerman-reduces-investing-role-at-peter-thiel-s-founders-fund|title=Brian Singerman Reduces Investing Role at Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund|work=Bloomberg|accessdate=3 December 2024}}
= Notable investments =
One of Singerman's most prominent investments was in Stemcentrx, a biotechnology firm focused on cancer therapies. In April 2016, AbbVie acquired Stemcentrx in a transaction valued at up to $10.2 billion, marking the largest portfolio exit in Founders Fund's history.{{cite news|date=2016-04-28|title=Stemcentrx Sale to Return a Record $1.7 Billion for VC Firm Founders Fund|work=Bloomberg|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-28/stemcentrx-sale-to-return-a-record-1-7-billion-for-vc-firm-founders-fund}} However, in 2019, AbbVie shuttered Stemcentrx after its lead cancer drug, Rova-T, failed to outperform placebo in a Phase 3 clinical trial.{{cite web|date=2019-08-29|title=$5.8B for Nothing: AbbVie Shelves Stemcentrx Drug After Latest Flop|url=https://xconomy.com/detroit-ann-arbor/2019/08/29/5-8b-for-nothing-abbvie-shelves-stemcentryx-drug-after-latest-flop/|work=Xconomy|accessdate=2021-01-08}}
He has also been involved in investments in Oculus VR (acquired by Facebook) and Postmates (acquired by Uber).{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2017/04/18/brian-singerman-founders-fund-power-player/?sh=74208a671bc5|title=Move Over, Peter Thiel -- How Brian Singerman Became Founders Fund's Top VC|work=Forbes}}
Personal life
References
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Category:American financial businesspeople
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:Stanford University alumni
Category:Businesspeople from the San Francisco Bay Area
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