Kleiner Perkins
Kleiner Perkins — AI-focused venture capital firm with $21B AUM
About
Kleiner Perkins, founded in 1972 by Eugene Kleiner, Thomas Perkins, Frank J. Caufield, and Brook Byers, is a prominent American venture capital firm headquartered in Menlo Park, California. Over the decades, the firm has invested in over 900 technology and life sciences companies, including notable names like Amazon.com, Google, and Genentech. In 2026, Kleiner Perkins announced the launch of its 22nd venture fund, KP22, a $1 billion early-stage fund, and a $2.5 billion growth-stage fund, collectively raising $3.5 billion to focus on artificial intelligence investments. The firm's investment thesis centers on identifying and supporting transformative companies across various sectors, with a recent emphasis on AI. Kleiner Perkins has backed AI-driven companies such as Anthropic, an AI safety company behind Claude, and Waymo, a leader in autonomous driving technology. The firm has also invested in Applied Intuition, Harvey, and OpenEvidence, reflecting its commitment to AI's potential in reshaping industries. Kleiner Perkins distinguishes itself through its long-standing history of early investments in industry-defining companies and its strategic focus on sectors poised for significant technological disruption, particularly in AI. The firm's substantial assets under management and its proactive approach to funding AI innovations underscore its influential role in the venture capital landscape.