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Facebook investor Peter Thiel opens Mithril venture capital fund - Los Angeles Times

Reported by Latimes
Jun 20, 2012· 2 min read
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Key Takeaways
  • • Peter Thiel, PayPal co-founder and Facebook's first outside investor, launched Mithril Capital Management with an initial $402 million venture capital fund focused on mid-stage technology companies.
  • • Mithril Capital represents Thiel's expansion into dedicated venture capital management, building on his track record as an early-stage investor in Facebook and co-founder of Palantir Technologies and Founders Fund.
  • • The fund targets growth-stage startups, positioning itself in the mid-market segment of venture capital where established companies require expansion capital but have moved beyond early-stage funding rounds.
  • • Thiel's venture into a dedicated fund vehicle demonstrates continued institutional confidence in his investment thesis and track record among limited partners willing to commit substantial capital to the effort.
Summary
Peter Thiel, the PayPal co-founder and renowned venture capitalist, has established Mithril Capital Management, a new private venture investment firm with a debut fund capitalized at $402 million. The fund focuses on identifying and investing in mid-stage technology companies positioned for growth and scaling operations.

Thiel's entry into dedicated venture capital fund management builds on an already distinguished investment portfolio. He famously made the first outside investment in Facebook in 2004, securing a board seat with the social media giant. Beyond Facebook, Thiel co-founded Palantir Technologies, the data analytics firm, and established Founders Fund, further cementing his reputation as a consequential early-stage investor and venture capital strategist.

Mithril Capital Management's formation reflects broader institutional appetite for Thiel's investment methodology and demonstrated ability to identify transformative technology companies. The $402 million initial capitalization positions the fund to deploy meaningful capital into companies that have typically moved beyond seed and Series A stages but continue seeking expansion capital to accelerate growth. This mid-market focus distinguishes Mithril from Thiel's earlier work as a seed-stage investor, representing a maturation of his venture capital operations into a formal, institutionalized investment vehicle capable of managing substantial assets across a diversified portfolio of growth-stage enterprises.

The launch underscores Thiel's continued prominence within Silicon Valley's venture capital ecosystem and his ability to attract significant capital from institutional limited partners confident in his investment acumen and contrarian thinking regarding technology market opportunities.

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Latimes Facebook investor Peter Thiel opens Mithril venture capital fund - Los Angeles Times