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Joe Kraus is the President of Lime and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. After earning a political science degree from Stanford University, he co-founded the web search engine Excite in 1993 and guided the company to an initial public offering. Kraus later co-founded the wiki platform JotSpot in 2004, serving as Chief Executive Officer until Google acquired the business in 2006. He then worked as a Director of Product Management at Google before spending nearly a decade as a General Partner at Google Ventures from 2009 to 2018. Since joining Lime as Chief Operating Officer in 2018, he has helped scale the micro-mobility company's operations to over 250 cities globally and achieve full profitability in 2022. His career focuses on scaling consumer technology platforms, venture capital investing, and expanding global transportation networks.
Joe Kraus stands as a distinguished Venture Partner at GV, bringing a wealth of entrepreneurial experience and strategic insight to the world of venture capital. At GV, the venture capital arm of Alphabet, Kraus plays a pivotal role in identifying and nurturing groundbreaking technology companies, particularly those innovating in enterprise software, artificial intelligence, and developer tools. His unique perspective, honed through years as a successful founder and operator, makes him an invaluable resource for the next generation of tech leaders.
Kraus's career journey is marked by significant contributions to the internet and software industries. He first rose to prominence as a co-founder of Excite, one of the pioneering search engines and web portals of the early internet era. This foundational experience provided him with deep insights into scaling consumer internet products and navigating rapid technological shifts. Following Excite, Kraus co-founded JotSpot, a wiki-based collaboration platform that was later acquired by Google. His tenure at Google after the acquisition further solidified his expertise in product management and strategic growth within a large, innovative technology company.
As a Venture Partner at GV, Joe Kraus is deeply involved in the firm's investment process, from initial due diligence to ongoing portfolio support. He works closely with founders, offering guidance on product development, market strategy, team building, and scaling operations. His investment focus areas reflect his background and foresight into future technological trends, emphasizing companies that are building robust solutions for businesses, enhancing developer productivity, or leveraging AI to create transformative products and services. Kraus is particularly interested in startups that demonstrate strong product-market fit and possess the potential for significant disruption within their respective industries.
Joe Kraus's approach to venture capital is characterized by a founder-first mentality. He understands the challenges and triumphs inherent in building a company from the ground up, offering empathetic and practical advice. His ability to connect with entrepreneurs on a fundamental level, combined with his strategic acumen, helps GV portfolio companies navigate complex landscapes and achieve their ambitious goals. Through his work at GV, Joe Kraus continues to shape the future of technology by backing visionary founders and innovative solutions across the tech ecosystem.
Joe Kraus is a Venture Partner at GV, the venture capital arm of Alphabet. He is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor, known for co-founding Excite and JotSpot, and for his expertise in product development and market strategy.
Joe Kraus primarily invests in technology companies focused on enterprise software, artificial intelligence (AI), and developer tools. He seeks out innovative startups with strong product-market fit and significant growth potential.
Joe Kraus works as a Venture Partner at GV (formerly Google Ventures), which is the venture capital arm of Alphabet Inc.
