Kramlich co-founded New Enterprise Associates (NEA) in 1977, making astute early investments in tech companies that would go on to become giants in computer networking.
Kramlich co-founded New Enterprise Associates (NEA) in 1977, making astute early investments in tech companies that would go on to become giants in computer networking.
Christina Kramlich, his daughter, expressed the family's loss to CNBC, describing her father as "our warm, curious, ever-optimistic family leader."
Before establishing himself as a venture capitalist, Kramlich invested in nascent tech firms, including a foundational investment in Apple. Along with partners Chuck Newhall and Frank Bonsal, he launched NEA shortly after Silicon Valley stalwarts such as Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins began operations. NEA quickly became a notable force in the industry, consistently raising funds exceeding a billion dollars.
Kramlich's early bet on 3Com, a company founded to commercialize Ethernet technology by Bob Metcalfe, paid off significantly when it went public in 1984 and reached a valuation of over $28 billion at the peak of the dot-com bubble. Despite later being eclipsed by competitors like Cisco, 3Com was acquired by HP in 2010 for $2.7 billion.
His investment portfolio also included other significant players like Grand Junction, which Cisco acquired, and Force10 Networks, bought by Dell in 2011. "We’ve gone from the very inception of Ethernet through to its becoming the dominant protocol of the internet for network communications," Kramlich reflected in a 2006 interview.
Beyond computer networking, Kramlich supported companies in various sectors, such as Macromedia, Ascend Communications, Juniper Networks, and in the emerging field of fusion power with TAE Technologies, where he served on the board until his passing.
Retiring from NEA in 2012, after the firm raised $2.6 billion for its 14th fund, Kramlich was not done with investing. In 2017, he founded Green Bay Ventures with Anthony Schiller and Casey Tatham, focusing on emerging technologies across manufacturing, energy, and other key industries. Named after his birthplace, Green Bay Ventures was a continuation of his enduring commitment to fostering innovation.
Kramlich's life journey took him from Wisconsin, where he moved frequently during his childhood, to studying at Northwestern and Harvard for his MBA, before making the pivotal move to California. There, he joined forces with Arthur Rock, setting the stage for his venture capital career.
Scott Sandell, NEA’s executive chairman, who joined the firm in 1996, praised Kramlich for his undying optimism and perseverance which made him a beloved figure in the venture capital community.
Survived by his wife Pam, his daughter Christina, and his other children Rix and Mary Donna, Kramlich leaves behind a legacy of visionary investments and a profound impact on the tech world.
Sara Montes de Oca is the Editor in Chief of TechEchelon. Previously a correspondent and producer in Washington, D.C., covering business, finance, and politics.
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