William Draper, a pioneering venture capitalist who helped shape Silicon Valley, died at 98. He was among the first to invest in tech startups, often searching the fruit orchards south of San Francisco for promising companies. Draper founded Draper, Gaither & Anderson, one of the earliest venture capital firms, and backed early successes like Teledyne.
He was known for his hands-on approach and belief in entrepreneurship. His son, Tim Draper, and grandson, Jesse Draper, also became prominent in the venture capital world. Draper’s legacy includes mentoring generations of investors and founders.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and later earned an MBA from Harvard. His career spanned decades of technological change, from mainframes to the internet. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and received numerous honors for his contributions to innovation.
Draper is survived by his wife, three children, and seven grandchildren.
Source: Wall Street Journal US Business · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing