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What is a Capybara?
At Capybara Ventures we like companies who aspire to be category leaders...like our namesake, the world's largest rodent. We and our investors derive inspiration from this industrious and intelligent giant.
The capybara, Hydrochoerus Hydrochaeris, is a semi-aquatic rodent of South America. It weighs about a hundred pounds, and is about 2 feet tall at the shoulder.
Team
Eric Rosenfeld - Managing Partner: Eric co-founded Capybara Ventures with Bob Ward in 2004. Eric also co-founded the Oregon Angel Fund, an annually renewing, highly participatory fund of 80 angel investors. The two venture funds have helped launch and grow over 25 local growth companies and have attracted over $150M in co-investment and follow-on investment. Eric and his partners review over 200 business plans annually and are dedicated to identifying and cultivating the next generation of growth companies in Oregon.
Eric was a research analyst at SRI International, a member of the executive team at Mentor Graphics, a principal owner of Second Story Interactive Studios, and a research fellow at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He serves on the boards of the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (past chair), Catlin Gabel School, Oregon Symphony, Oregon Jewish Community Foundation, Umpqua Bank Regional Board, and several portfolio companies. Eric received his MBA from IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland, and degrees in Industrial Engineering and American Studies from Stanford University.
Bob Ward - Managing Partner: Bob co-founded Capybara Ventures with Eric Rosenfeld in 2004 and is currently CEO of Northwest Analytics, an industry leader in delivering Manufacturing Intelligence and SPC software solutions to effectively manage and improve plant processes in manufacturing enterprises and supply chains.
Previously, Mr. Ward was founder and CEO of Acclivity Photonics, a venture-backed company based in Silicon Valley. While in the Valley, Mr. Ward was also a senior member of the Light Path Technologies team that went public in 1996. Mr. Ward currently sits on the Board of Directors of Clinicient and Phoseon Technologies. He is actively engaged in the Portland high-technology community including committee positions with the Oregon Entrepreneurs Forum, Oregon Biotechnology Association, Portland State University Science and Industry, and Oregon Forum. Bob earned his Master’s degree in Engineering Management from Stanford University, and also holds undergraduate degrees in Economics and Physics from Bowdoin College.
Lynn Fletcher - Investor Support & Office Administrator: Lynn joined Capybara Ventures in 2011. She is responsible for membership services, meeting & event planning, marketing support, database & contact management and more.
Lynn got her start in retail and sales and thrives in customer services environments. She has worked independently with small businesses assisting with business plans, websites, and general office set up and spent the last 10 years as an Executive Assistant to C level executives in the Portland area. She recognizes people’s needs and values helping others achieve their goals. She received her B.S in Psychology from Oregon State University.