Alex Clayton
General Partner
Meritech Capital Partners
Alex Clayton is a general partner at Meritech Capital who helps lead the firm’s enterprise software, infrastructure, and fintech practices.
Bio
Professional summary
Craig Sherman joined Meritech in 2011 and invests in consumer and healthcare. His Meritech investments include Roblox, 10x Genomics, Zipcar, Zulily, GoFundMe, Bright Health, Niantic, Wealthsimple, Self, and Lynda.com. Before Meritech, he was an entrepreneur and independent board member, COO at Ancestry.com, CEO of Cendant Japan and GaiaOnline, and an entrepreneur-in-residence at Benchmark Capital. Meritech’s profile says he is interested in life science and healthcare companies that change patients’ lives and consumer companies that foster creativity, connection, well-being, or safety.
Investment focus
Stage, sector, and overall fit
Stage
GrowthLate stage
Sector
ConsumerHealthcareLife sciencesConsumer internetDigital media
Thesis
Consumer businesses that foster creativity, connection, well-being, or safetyHealthcare companies that improve patients' livesFounder and management-team coaching
Notable companies
Selected portfolio companies the partner has backed
Roblox10x GenomicsZipcarZulilyGoFundMeBright HealthNianticWealthsimpleSelfLynda.comAledadeElement BiosciencesEncoded TherapeuticsPendulum
How to approach
Framing and angles for outreach
Pitch framing
Lead with human impact and durable consumer or healthcare value: why the product improves patient lives, creativity, connection, well-being, or safety. Craig’s operating background suggests founders should also show management maturity and openness to a board-level sounding board.
Personalization hooks
- 1Reference his operating experience at Ancestry.com, GaiaOnline, and Cendant Japan.
- 2Connect the pitch to consumer creativity, connection, well-being, safety, or direct patient impact.
- 3Mention relevant Meritech investments such as Roblox, GoFundMe, 10x Genomics, Niantic, or Wealthsimple if comparable.
Recent signals
What the partner has said or done recently
Meritech profile lists current companies including Aledade, Element Biosciences, Encoded Therapeutics, GoFundMe, Pendulum, Self, and Wealthsimple.
Meritech profile lists Niantic Games as acquired by Scopely and Evernote as acquired by Bending Spoons.
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