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Kohlberg Ventures
Kohlberg Ventures invests in early stage digital media, consumer product, and clean tech companies. The firm makes individual investments ranging from $100,000...
Kohlberg Ventures
Kohlberg Ventures invests in early stage digital media, consumer product, and clean tech companies. The firm makes individual investments ranging from $100,000 to $10 million based on company needs and opportunity size. Kohlberg Ventures is currently investing from its $25 million KV2 fund, having made 28 investments and 8 portfolio exits.
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
2008
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Portola Valley
Corporate office
Portola Valley, CA, United States
Principals
James Kohlberg
Founder and Chairman
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How is Kohlberg Ventures related to KKR and Kohlberg & Company?
James Kohlberg is the son of Jerome Kohlberg Jr., who co-founded KKR in 1976 before leaving to establish Kohlberg & Company. Kohlberg Ventures is James Kohlberg's personal investment office, entirely separate from both firms. His brother, Jerome Kohlberg III, also operates a distinct investment entity, Kohlberg Management. The three organizations share a surname and private equity DNA but no overlapping management, commingled funds, or strategic coordination.
Does Kohlberg Ventures raise outside capital or manage third-party funds?
No. Kohlberg Ventures operates as a proprietary investment vehicle, deploying James Kohlberg's personal and family capital without soliciting external limited partners. This permanent-capital structure eliminates fundraising-cycle constraints and allows the firm to hold positions for extended durations that would exceed a standard venture fund's life.
What is Kohlberg Ventures' investment focus?
The firm concentrates on early-stage companies in the energy transition and electrification sectors. Its most publicly recognized positions are in battery technology, residential solar, and grid-scale storage. QuantumScape and Sunrun represent the archetypes: capital-intensive hardware businesses attacking decarbonization at different points in the energy stack. Select enterprise software investments also appear in the portfolio.
Has Kohlberg Ventures exited any major positions?
Sunrun, one of Kohlberg Ventures' long-held portfolio companies, completed a 2015 IPO and has since grown into the largest residential solar and storage installer in the United States. The firm's stake timeline and realized returns are not publicly reported. QuantumScape's 2020 public listing through a SPAC merger provided liquidity, though Kohlberg Ventures' specific share sales or holding status remain undisclosed.
Who makes investment decisions at Kohlberg Ventures?
James Kohlberg, as founder and chairman, is the primary decision-maker. The firm does not publicly list other investment professionals, and its lean operational footprint suggests a concentrated decision-making structure centered on the founder. Kohlberg has been involved in clean energy investing since at least the mid-2000s, giving him direct sector experience that predates the current wave of climate venture funds.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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