Lessie AI
Solutions
Tools
Directory
Resources
Pricing
Lessie AI
Solutions
Find Influencer
Find Client
Find Investor
Find Talent
Find Partner
Find Coach
Find Distributor
Find Property Leads
Tools
Instagram
Instagram Fake Follower Check
Instagram Follower Count
Instagram Engagement Calculator
Instagram Audit
Instagram Pricing Calculator
Find Instagram Creators
Compare Instagram Influencers
TikTok
TikTok Fake Follower Check
TikTok Follower Count
TikTok Engagement Calculator
TikTok Audit
Find TikTok Creators
Compare TikTok Influencers
YouTube
YouTube Follower Count
YouTube Fake Follower Check
YouTube Engagement Calculator
YouTube Audit
Find YouTube Creators
Compare YouTube Influencers
Twitter/X
Twitter Profile Search
Twitter/X Follower Count
Twitter/X Engagement Calculator
Twitter/X Audit
Find Twitter/X Creators
Compare Twitter/X Influencers
Email
Cold Email Generator
Email Verifier
Email Permutator
AI Email Outreach Engine
Email Addresses List
Email Outreach
Company Research
Company Profile Search
Company Location Finder
Other Tools
Free AI Headshot Generator
CPM Calculator
Tech Stack Checker
Market Size Calculator
ICP Fit Scorer
LinkedIn Profile Extractor
Directory
Featured Lists
50 Power Players Behind 2026's AI Investments
Female Fitness Influencers 20-35, 250K+ Followers
Independent Film Producers on Instagram in London
TikTok AI & SaaS educators for startups
High-End Real Estate Agents on Instagram in Dubai
Search more
Featured Profiles
Sean Astin | Creator
Tope Awotona | Founder
Erik Schluntz | Founder
Sonali De Rycker | Investor
Search more
Resources
Blog
Tools
FAQ & Help Center
Pricing
Plan
Credits FAQ
Payment & Subscription FAQ
Upgrade
English
  1. Home
  2. Investor
  3. Fred Wilson
Lessie
XLinkedInYouTubeDiscord
Solutions
  • Find Influencer
  • Find Client
  • Find Investor
  • Find Talent
  • Find Partner
  • Find Coach
  • Find Distributor
  • Find Property Leads
Tools
  • Cold Email Generator
  • Twitter/X Search Pro
  • TikTok Fake Follower Check
  • YouTube Follower Count
  • View more
Featured Lists
  • 50 Power Players Behind 2026's AI Investments
  • Female Fitness Influencers 20-35, 250K+ Followers
  • Independent Film Producers on Instagram in London
  • TikTok AI & SaaS educators for startups
  • High-End Real Estate Agents on Instagram in Dubai
  • Search more
Featured Profiles
  • Sean Astin | Creator
  • Tope Awotona | Founder
  • Erik Schluntz | Founder
  • Sonali De Rycker | Investor
  • Search more
BlogAbout UsContact Us
Term of ServicePrivacy Policy
Badge
© 2025 SUPERLINEAR TECHNOLOGY PTE. LTD. All rights reserved
Fred Wilson

Fred Wilson

Co-founder of Union Square Ventures (USV), early investor in Twitter, Tumblr, Zynga, and Etsy

BornAugust 7, 1961 (age 62)
NationalityAmerican
FirmUnion Square Ventures
EducationMIT (BS), Wharton (MBA)
Known ForEarly-stage venture capital, pioneering blogging in VC, social media investments
WebAVC.com
LinkedInLinkedInXXWebsite
Investor
Search More

About Fred Wilson

Fred Wilson is a prominent American venture capitalist and co-founder of Union Square Ventures (USV), a New York City-based venture capital firm. With a career spanning several decades, Wilson has been instrumental in funding and guiding numerous successful technology companies, particularly in the internet and social media sectors.

Known for his insightful commentary on the venture capital landscape, technology trends, and entrepreneurship, Wilson is also a prolific blogger. His blog, AVC.com, is widely read and respected within the tech community, offering candid thoughts on investments, market dynamics, and the future of technology.

Wilson's investment philosophy emphasizes large markets, passionate entrepreneurs, and companies that leverage network effects. He has a keen eye for disruptive technologies and business models, often investing in companies at their seed or early stages.

Net Worth

Fred Wilson's net worth is not publicly disclosed, but his significant contributions to the venture capital industry through Union Square Ventures (USV) and his early investments in several multi-billion dollar companies suggest a substantial personal fortune. USV has managed several funds over the years, with successful exits contributing significantly to their portfolio returns.

Union Square Ventures (USV) Funds

Since its inception in 2003, USV has raised numerous funds, typically ranging from $125 million to $250 million each. These funds have consistently delivered strong returns to limited partners through successful investments and acquisitions.

Key Investments & Exits
Twitter
Early investor, IPO in 2013 (acquired by Elon Musk for $44 billion in 2022)
Tumblr
Acquired by Yahoo for $1.1 billion in 2013
Zynga
IPO in 2011 (acquired by Take-Two Interactive for $12.7 billion in 2022)
Etsy
IPO in 2015, current market capitalization over $8 billion
Indeed
Acquired by Recruit Co. for an undisclosed sum, estimated to be over $1 billion
Twilio
IPO in 2016, current market capitalization over $10 billion

Investment Strategy

Fred Wilson's investment strategy at Union Square Ventures (USV) is characterized by a focus on early-stage companies that build large, engaged networks. He primarily invests in companies operating in broad, unproven markets where network effects can create significant defensibility and value.

USV's investment thesis often revolves around companies that provide services directly to users, leverage open source technologies, and foster strong community engagement. They look for passionate founding teams with a clear vision and the ability to execute on ambitious goals. Wilson is known for identifying disruptive business models that can scale rapidly.

The firm typically invests in a limited number of companies each year, taking a hands-on approach to support their portfolio companies through various stages of growth. Their sectors of interest frequently include social media, web3, developer tools, AI/machine learning, and next-generation internet platforms.

Contact Information

For direct inquiries related to Union Square Ventures and its portfolio, please visit the official USV website for contact details. Fred Wilson is also very active on his blog, AVC.com, where he often engages with comments and questions from his readers.

While direct personal contact details are not publicly shared, engaging with his blog posts or reaching out through USV's official channels are the most appropriate ways to connect.

Use Lessie to find verified contact information, mutual connections, and the best outreach strategy for reaching Fred Wilson and similar investors.

Contact via Lessie

Podcast

Fred Wilson has been a guest on numerous podcasts and given many interviews discussing venture capital, technology trends, and entrepreneurship. Some notable appearances include:

Related Profiles

Bill Gates

Co-founder of Microsoft, Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Investor

Chamath Palihapitiya

Founder & CEO of Social Capital, 'King of SPACs'

Daniel Ek

Co-founder & CEO of Spotify, Early Investor in Ample & Hype

David Sacks

Founding Partner of Craft Ventures, Entrepreneur & Podcaster

Doug Leone

Global Managing Partner at Sequoia Capital

Elon Musk

Visionary Entrepreneur, CEO of SpaceX & Tesla, Investor in Transformative Technologies

Ben Horowitz

Co-founder & General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Author of 'The Hard Thing About Hard Things'

Chris Sacca

Venture Investor, Founder of Lowercase Capital & Philanthropist

Eric Schmidt

Former CEO of Google, Executive Chairman of Alphabet, and Tech Investor

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Fred Wilson?

Fred Wilson is a highly respected American venture capitalist, co-founder of Union Square Ventures (USV), and a prolific blogger known for his early investments in iconic tech companies like Twitter, Tumblr, and Etsy.

What is Fred Wilson known for?

Fred Wilson is widely recognized for his pioneering work in early-stage venture capital, his insightful blog AVC.com, and successful investments in companies that have shaped the internet and social media landscape.

Which companies has Fred Wilson invested in?

Fred Wilson, through USV, has invested in a wide array of influential companies including Twitter, Tumblr, Zynga, Etsy, Indeed, Twilio, MongoDB, and many others.

What is Fred Wilson's investment philosophy?

Wilson's investment philosophy focuses on early-stage companies that build large, engaged networks in broad, unproven markets. He prioritizes strong network effects, passionate founding teams, and disruptive business models.

How can I contact Fred Wilson?

Fred Wilson can be reached through Union Square Ventures (USV) or via his popular blog, AVC.com, where he frequently engages with readers in the comments section.

What is Fred Wilson's net worth or fund size?

While Fred Wilson's personal net worth is not publicly disclosed, Union Square Ventures (USV) has raised multiple funds, typically ranging from $125 million to $250 million, and has achieved significant returns through successful exits.

What are some notable quotes by Fred Wilson?

"The only thing that matters is product-market fit." and "Bet on the team, not just the idea." are two well-known quotes attributed to Fred Wilson.

What are some of Fred Wilson's career highlights?

Key career highlights include co-founding Union Square Ventures, leading early investments in Twitter, Tumblr, and Etsy, and establishing AVC.com as a leading voice in the venture capital industry.

Ready to reach more person?

Start for free