At GIV, we're a team of individuals with completely diverse backgrounds. We have partners who have helped build the very infrastructure that powers today's Internet and payment processing machines, and others on our team who have extensive experience as operating executives and investment bankers.
Founded by visionary and serial entrepreneurs
GIV is a private equity firm founded in 1999 by two leading entrepreneurs: Bill Melton and Dr. Jeong Kim. Bill Melton has founded companies such as VeriFone, Transactional Network Services, CyberCash, and other leading technology companies. Bill was also an early investor and Director on the Board of America Online. Dr. Jeong Kim founded Yurie Systems, which was sold to Lucent for $1.2 billion in 1998. Dr. Kim currently serves as President for Bell Labs.
In 2004, GIV partnered with Argo Global Capital to jointly co-invest and provide our portfolio companies with deep operational and financial guidance. Argo is a leading venture capital firm focused on investing in companies that are enabling the convergence of wireless communications and the Internet. Argo was founded by H.H. Haight and is based in Boston, MA.
The original founders of GIV have started five companies, four of which reached successful IPOs, creating an aggregate $3 billion in market value. Collectively the team at GIV has invested over $315 million in nearly 140 private equity transactions. Its Limited Partners include CEOs and senior executives of recognized public and private corporations.
Just as we've helped drive some pioneering concepts to success, we've also seen some great ideas fail. GIV’s role is to support a company's management team in building a world-class enterprise by acting as a responsible and constructive member of the company's Board of Directors.