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Paul Madera

Paul Madera

Co-Founder & General Partner·Meritech Capital Partners

Palo Alto, California, United States

Bio

Professional summary

Paul Madera is Co-Founder and General Partner at Meritech Capital. The firm's official profile says he co-founded Meritech in 1999 and helps lead its consumer, enterprise, and fintech practices. Prior to Meritech, he was Managing Director and Head of the Private Equity Group at Montgomery Securities, advising private technology companies on equity financings. Earlier, he worked as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley and served in the U.S. Air Force as an F-4 and F-16 pilot based in South Korea, Spain, and Utah. He holds a BS from the United States Air Force Academy and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Investment focus

Stage, sector, and overall fit

Stage

inference: growth-stage technology investing, based on Meritech's market position and portfolio profile; not directly stated on the provided source page

Sector

verified: Consumerverified: Enterpriseverified: Fintech

Thesis

ConsumerEnterpriseFintech

Notable companies

Selected portfolio companies the partner has backed

BuildOpsEGYMFilevineIcertisKineticaLyra HealthBrazeDatastaxForgeRockMetaMuleSoftNextdoorSalesforceYammerYubico

How to approach

Framing and angles for outreach

Pitch framing

Best suited for a metrics-driven growth story in enterprise, consumer, or fintech with clear market leadership potential and durable financial performance.

Personalization hooks

  1. 1Military aviation background as a former U.S. Air Force F-4 and F-16 pilot.
  2. 2Meritech profile says he cycles across the Bay Area to prepare for century rides.

Recent signals

What the partner has said or done recently

  • Meritech profile lists current companies including BuildOps, EGYM, Filevine, Icertis, Kinetica, and Lyra Health.

Background

Career, education, and skills

Career history

  • Meritech Capital PartnersCo-Founder & General PartnerPresent

Education

  • Stanford University Graduate School of BusinessM.B.A.

Skills

late-stage venture capitaltechnology investingenterprise softwaregrowth-stage investing

Other partners at Meritech Capital Partners

10 more profiles

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Alex Clayton is a general partner at Meritech Capital who helps lead the firm’s enterprise software, infrastructure, and fintech practices.

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Alex Kurland

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Alex Kurland is a general partner at Meritech Capital who helps lead enterprise software and infrastructure investing.

Arsham Memarzadeh

Arsham Memarzadeh

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Arsham Memarzadeh is a general partner at Meritech Capital who helps lead enterprise software and infrastructure investments.

Austin Wang

Austin Wang

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Meritech Partner focused on enterprise software, infrastructure, healthcare, and consumer.

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Cathy Choi

Cathy Choi

Partner

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Meritech Partner focused on enterprise and infrastructure software.

Enterprise softwareInfrastructure softwarePrivate equity diligenceTechnology growth
Craig Sherman

Craig Sherman

General Partner

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Craig Sherman is a general partner at Meritech Capital investing in consumer and healthcare companies.

Consumer internetLate-stage SaaSSoftware
George Bischof

George Bischof

General Partner

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George Bischof is a General Partner at Meritech Capital Partners, where he helps lead the firm’s enterprise software, infrastructure, and cybersecurity practices. He joined Meritech in 2008 after roles at Focus Ventures and Robertson Stephens.

Max Motschwiller

Max Motschwiller

General Partner

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Max Motschwiller is a General Partner at Meritech Capital Partners, where he helps lead the firm’s consumer, fintech, and enterprise software practices. He joined Meritech in 2015 after investing roles at Kleiner Perkins and Summit Partners.

Rob Ward

Rob Ward

Co-Founder & General Partner

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Rob Ward is Co-Founder and General Partner at Meritech Capital Partners. He helps lead the firm’s infrastructure, application software, and data and analytics investment practices.

Consumer internetEnterprise softwareGrowth-stage investments
Tanner Bhonslay

Tanner Bhonslay

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Meritech Partner investing in enterprise software, infrastructure, fintech, and consumer.

ConsumerEnterprise softwareFintechInfrastructure