Mithril Capital
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Venture capital |
| Founded | 2012 in San Francisco |
| Founder | Ajay Royan and Peter Thiel |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Ajay Royan (Managing Director) |
| Products | Private equity investments |
| Website | mithril |
Mithril Capital Management is an American venture capital firm founded by Peter Thiel and Ajay Royan in San Francisco in 2012.[1] It was named after the fictional metal mithril.[2]
History
[edit]Thiel initially invested $100 million and allowed Royan to run the firm.[3] Thiel subsequently served as chair of the investment committee.[4] Since it's inception, Mithril has financially partnered with entities such as Temasek, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Sawiris family.[5]
In 2018, Mithril relocated to Austin, Texas.[6] The firm was subject to a 2019 federal investigation for potential financial misconduct.[7][8] That year, Mithril invested in Glance, and Indian software company owned by InMobi.[9]
Personnel
[edit]Leading figures of the company have included Brian Behlendorf, Crystal McKellar, and Jim O'Neill.[10] Future U.S. vice president JD Vance worked for the firm for a year in 2016.[11] Vance went on to form Narya Capital alongside Mithril colleague Colin Greenspon in 2019.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ Loizos, Connie (3 October 2019). "In a new filing, the venture firm Mithril Capital says it has been under assault by its former general counsel". TechCrunch.
- ^ Hsu, Tiffany (20 June 2012). "Facebook investor Peter Thiel opens Mithril venture capital fund". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ "What Happened at Mithril When Peter Thiel Wasn't Around". Bloomberg. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ Mac, Ryan. "Peter Thiel Launches New Venture Firm With $400 Million Under Management". Forbes. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ Schleifer, Theodore (18 February 2019). "Mithril Capital promised to be the "capstone" to Peter Thiel's investment empire. It ended up as a major distraction". Vox. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ Loizos, Connie (21 September 2018). "Mithril Capital Management, cofounded by Ajay Royan and Peter Thiel, is leaving the Bay Area". TechCrunch. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ Schleifer, Theodore (12 September 2019). "The FBI is investigating a venture capital fund started by Peter Thiel for financial misconduct". Vox. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ Chapman, Lizette (12 September 2019). "Peter Thiel's VC firm Mithril Capital is focus of complaint to FBI". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ "Peter Thiel's investment firm to invest $45 million in India AI startup". Bloomberg. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ Aragon, Lawrence (30 December 2019). "Where are they now: Mithril Capital". Venture Capital Journal. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ Webster, Seamus. "A colleague who worked with J.D. Vance at Mithril doesn't remember seeing him in the office". Fortune. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ Aragon, Lawrence (10 January 2020). "Mithril alums Greenspon and Vance launch Narya Capital". Venture Capital Journal.
Further reading
[edit]- Mashayekhi, Rey. "Mithril Capital's Ajay Royan Talks about Working with Peter Thiel and Why 'Investing Is Hard'". Fortune. Retrieved 29 April 2025.