Something Ventured


Something Ventured is a 2011 documentary film investigating the emergence of American venture capitalism in the mid-20th century. Something Ventured follows the stories of the venture capitalists who worked with entrepreneurs to start and build companies like Apple, Intel, Genentech, Cisco, Atari, Tandem, and others. It is a full-length independent film which includes interviews with prominent American venture capitalists and entrepreneurs of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, as well as archival photography and footage. The film has aired across the US on local PBS stations as well as on public television in Norway.
Something Ventured features the venture capitalists Arthur Rock, Tom Perkins, Don Valentine, Dick Kramlich, Reid Dennis, Bill Draper, Pitch Johnson, Bill Bowes, Bill Edwards, and Jim Gaither. The entrepreneurs featured in Something Ventured are Gordon Moore, Jimmy Treybig, Nolan Bushnell, Dr. Herbert Boyer, Mike Markkula, Sandy Lerner, John Morgridge, and Robert Campbell.
Narrated by author Po Bronson, Something Ventured premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival in March 2011. Something Ventured was conceived and executive produced by Paul Holland of Foundation Capital and his wife, Linda Yates who as a Silicon Valley native introduced Paul and the team to many of the original VCs featured in the film. The film was co-executive produced by Molly Davis of Rainmaker Communications. Something Ventured was directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmakers Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine (co-directors of Ballets Russes. Something Ventured’s North American distribution partner is Zeitgeist Films.

Production

Executive producer:
Paul Holland and Molly Davis
Director:
Dayna Goldfine and Dan Geller
Producer:
Dayna Goldfine, Dan Geller and Celeste Schaefer Snyder
Editor:
Jen Bradwell and Gary Weimberg
Original music and score:
Laura Karpman
Narrator:
Po Bronson
Cinematography:
Dan Geller
Sound:
Richard Beggs

Press