Peter Ziebelman

Teaching Statement

Peter Ziebelman teaches S330 “Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital: Partnership for Growth” with John Glynn in the winter quarter. Peter received his degree from the GSB in 1987 as a Sloan fellow (now the MSx program). That year served as a perfect transition from his experience as an entrepreneur with venture backed start-ups to becoming a venture capitalist in 1988. Peter’s mission at the GSB is to help students understand the insider’s view of venture capital, the real world of venture capital negotiations and how to navigate in the rapidly evolving VC sector. His teaching, guest speakers and active classroom discussion has benefited the GSB student who is planning his or her start-up as well as the GSB student who wishes to enter the venture capital or private equity fields. Peter also advises Fortune 500 companies on entrepreneurship within their organizations as well as individuals who are interested in forming new venture capital partnerships.

Bio

Peter Ziebelman started his career as a venture capitalist 25 years ago.

He co-founded Palo Alto Venture Partners in 1996, after starting the US Information Technology Operations of the UK venture capital firm, Thompson Clive Partners in 1988. Peter has served on the boards of early stage companies that ultimately became public companies, such as AvantGo (AVGO), Persistence (PRSW) and Vicinity (VCNT).

Peter has also served on the boards of dozens of privately held high technology companies across a range of sectors from cloud based computing (DemandForce) to calendaring (When.com) to online car insurance (esurance) to security (PostX). He is also an independent director to a select number of privately held companies.

Peter was named to AlwaysOn’s Venture Capital 100 – the top 100 VC’s for 2012.

Peter started his career in sales and sales management with the Semiconductor Group at Texas Instruments. He later became the business products manager at a venture backed software start-up – Ryan-McFarland (now MicroFocus, Plc).

Peter is on the Stanford Graduate School of Business MSx Advisory Board, on the advisory board of the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford and formerly on the executive board of the Pacific Skyline Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He is a past president of the Yale Club of Silicon Valley.

Peter received a Bachelor of Science in Combined Sciences (with honors and distinction in the major) from Yale University in 1978, a Master of Science in Management from the Stanford GSB in 1987.

Peter and his wife, Cindy, live in Palo Alto and have three sons.

Teaching

Degree Courses

2017-18

STRAMGT 330: Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital: Partnership for Growth

This 3 unit course is a case study based course designed for those students interested in entrepreneurship and/or investing. The partnership (and interaction) between the entrepreneur and the investor is a very important dimension in the growth...

2016-17

STRAMGT 330: Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital: Partnership for Growth

This 3 unit course is a case study based course designed for those students interested in entrepreneurship and/or investing. The partnership (and interaction) between the entrepreneur and the investor is a very important dimension in the growth...

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