Bill Hambrecht

Organization leader

1935 –

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Who is Bill Hambrecht?

William R. "Bill" Hambrecht is an American investment banker and chairman of WR Hambrecht + Co which he founded in 1998. He helped persuade Google to use an Internet-based auction for their initial public offering in 2004, instead of a more traditional method using banks and other financial companies to find buyers. He is credited with popularizing this "OpenIPO" model, using Dutch auctions to allow anyone, not just investing insiders, to buy stock in an IPO, potentially raising more money for startups. Some of the companies he has helped have an IPO like this include Overstock.com, Ravenswood Winery, Andover.net and Salon.com.

Hambrecht is also credited as one of the first major investors to recognize the value of technology and biotech companies, helping to take Apple Computer, Genentech and Adobe Systems public in the 1980s with his earlier San Francisco-based company Hambrecht & Quist, which he founded in 1968 and which also backed the IPOs of Netscape, MP3.com, and Amazon.com. The firm was bought by Chase Manhattan in 1999. In 1997, he sponsored the foundation of BOOM Securities Limited.

Hambrect is a 1957 graduate of Princeton University. He has been listed as one of the top political donors in the country, giving mostly to Democratic candidates, and credits Nancy Pelosi, whom he met in the 1970s, with inspiring him to get involved in politics.

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Born
1935
San Francisco
Also known as
  • William R Hambrecht
Spouses
Ethnicity
  • Caucasian race
Nationality
  • United States of America
Profession
Education
  • Bachelor of Arts, Princeton University
    ( - 1957)
  • Bachelor of Science, Princeton University
Employment
  • Chief Executive Officer, WR Hambrecht + Co
    (1998/01 - )
  • Hambrecht & Quist
    (1968 - 1997)
  • Hambrecht Geneva Ventures
Lived in
  • San Francisco

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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