Focus Areas

Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Software and Fintech

Location

New York

Nick Beim focuses primarily on artificial intelligence, big data, software and fintech investments. He blogs on the economics of innovation at www.nickbeim.com.

Nick led the initial venture investments in a number of today’s leading AI and big data innovators including Dataminr, a real-time AI platform that identifies critical breaking information from publicly available data sets; Percipient.ai, an advanced computer vision analytics platform for national and corporate security; Chisel.ai, an enterprise platform for a new class of intelligent insurance applications;  and Intent Media, which enables companies to monetize their customer intent data assets with dynamic segmentation.

Nick’s software investments include Quiq, a messaging-based customer service software platform; JBoss, which developed the most widely used open source application server (acquired by Red Hat); Conductor, the leading SaaS platform enabling enterprises to manage, monitor and optimize SEO (acquired by WeWork); and OatSystems, the RFID application platform company founded by the team at MIT that developed the standards for passive tag RFID (acquired by Check Point Systems).

Nick’s consumer investments include Care.com, the largest global online marketplace for care services (IPO); and the Gilt Groupe, the largest private sale e-commerce company in the United States (acquired by Hudson’s Bay).

Prior to joining Venrock, Nick was a General Partner at Matrix Partners and worked in the technology groups at McKinsey and Goldman Sachs.

Nick’s primary passion outside of venture investing is international development, and in particular accelerating international development through entrepreneurship. Nick serves on the board of Endeavor, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs in developing countries that Tom Friedman has called “the best anti-poverty program of all.” Nick is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves as an Advisory Board Member at the Center on Global Energy Policy.

In 2011, Forbes named Nick one of the “Elite 8″ to watch in Venture Capital.

Nick recently published Learning Effects, Network Effects, and Runaway Leaders.

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Nick has been enormously valuable to my companies. He is incredibly accessible and is always available to pitch in. At the Gilt Groupe, Nick introduced us to three key members of our team: our Chairman, the CEO of JetSetter and the General Manager of our Japanese operations. He has contributed significantly on strategic decisions and has been a lot of fun to work with.

I've had the chance to work with Nick as an executive at TheLadders.com and now as Founder & CEO of a company in his portfolio. Nick is not only a very smart, thoughtful and balanced advisor on my board, but also an incredible mentor in supporting me and our executive team. He is an exceptional venture capitalist who is focused on developing long-term relationships, enhancing the professional growth of entrepreneurs in his network, and strategizing to help build successful companies. The smarts combined with the humility and genuine respectfulness is a rarity in this industry. I would wholeheartedly work with him again if I have the chance to build other companies down the road.

Nick is an incredible guy who understands entrepreneurs well. He unselfishly invested his time in helping us develop Intent Media long before we looked for funding. Nick is also the straightest shooter you will ever meet, with no typical Silicon Valley ego, and he's an incredibly successful venture capitalist. He shares our values and has been an ideal investment partner.