Barney Pell
InvestorVenture Partner at Radical Ventures
San Francisco, California
Writes $1M – $15M checks · typically $6M
About
Barney Pell is Chief Strategist, Chief Scientist, and Head of AI at Magic, a virtual assistant company. He is a Venture Partner at Radical Ventures, an Industry Advisor for EQT, and manages World Changing Ventures, his own investment fund and syndicate, with over 200 investments to date. Over three decades, Pell has held founder, executive, and advisory roles across numerous technology ventures, including Powerset (acquired by Microsoft), Moon Express, and LocoMobi, and served as an early advisor to LinkedIn and Figure Eight; he previously led AI research at NASA, including work on autonomous systems for space missions and the Mars Exploration Rovers, and holds a PhD in General Game Playing from Stanford University.
Experience
- MagicChief Strategist, Chief Scientist and Head of AIcurrent2023 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- Radical VenturesVenture Partnercurrent2019 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- EQT Ventures & GrowthIndustial Advisorcurrent2023 — present
- DeVry UniversityMember, President's Advisory Council on Technology & the Economycurrent2022 — present
- Decision TheoryFoundercurrent2002 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Creative Destruction LabFounding Fellowcurrent2015 — presentGreater Toronto Area, Canada
- Stanford University Graduate School of BusinessLecturercurrent2019 — presentStanford, California, United States
- UCSF Health HubBoard Membercurrent2018 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Ionomr Innovations Inc.Member Board Of Directors2017 — 2020Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Ecoation Innovative Solutions Inc (EIS).Member Board Of Directors2017 — 2020Greater Vancouver Metropolitan Area
- Figure EightChairman of the Scientific Advisory Board2016 — 2019San Francisco Bay Area
- Moon ExpressFounder, Vice Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer2010 — 2019Mountain View, CA
- LocoMobiCo-Founder, Chairman & Chief Strategy Officer2014 — 2019San Francisco Bay Area
- Pharma SurveyorAdvisor2006 — 2018Redwood City, California, United States
- Singularity UniversityAssociate Founder and Trustee2009 — 2017Mountain View, California, United States
- PortalariumAdvisor2011 — 2014
- QuickPay CorporationChairman and CEO2011 — 2014San Francisco Bay Area
- Speak With MeAdvisor2005 — 2012
- MicrosoftPartner Architect and Development Manager2008 — 2011San Francisco Bay Area
- Machine Intelligence Research InstituteAdvisor2007 — 2010
Education
- University of CambridgePh.D., Computer science1989 — 1993
- Stanford UniversityB.S., Symbolic Systems1986 — 1989
- James Monroe High SchoolHigh School Diploma1983 — 1986
Skills & more
Databases79Enterprise Software41SaaS20Evangelism1Mergers30Data Mining99Program Management99Software64Knowledge Management27Entrepreneurship99Information Technology17Venture Capital70
+12 more
Product ManagementRoboticsStart-upsE-commerceMergers & AcquisitionsSoftware DevelopmentStrategic PartnershipsSocial NetworkingArtificial IntelligenceMachine LearningBusiness DevelopmentStrategic PlanningFrom Barney's professional profile.
Colleagues at Radical Ventures
Aaron Brindle
Partner, Public Affairs at Radical Ventures
Aaron Rosenberg
Partner at Radical Ventures
Andy Bredar
Investor at Radical Ventures
Anna Howley
Executive Assistant & Office Manager at Radical Ventures
Anuj Karwa
Manager, Finance at Radical Ventures
Arrika He
Senior Associate, Finance at Radical Ventures
Blair Bernholtz
Partner, CFO at Radical Ventures
Carrie Barker
Director of Talent at Radical Ventures
Network10
Brian FeinsteinScout
Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners
Charlie SonghurstScout
Sr. Venture Partner at Acequia Capital (AceCap)
Chen FongScout
Angel at Saltagen Ventures
Gary KremenScout
Investor at Sand Hill Angels
Jacky ChenScout
General Partner at Archangel Network of Funds
Milad AlucozaiScout
Head of Life Sciences at BoxOne Ventures
Boris
Founding Partner at Version One Ventures
Matt Turck
Partner at FirstMark Capital
Rob Toews
Partner at Radical Ventures
Ryan Shannon
Partner at Radical Ventures
Investors connected to Barney in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Barney Pell work?
- Barney Pell is Venture Partner at Radical Ventures.
- What check size does Barney Pell write?
- Barney Pell typically writes checks of $1M – $15M.
Founder mafias
Stanford University mafia837
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Reid HoffmanB.S.Founded Manas AI +1Joe LonsdaleBSFounded Opto +3Mike Maples JrBSFounded Pattern BreakersSteve JurvetsonBSEEFounded Mojo VisionBalaji SrinivasanGraduate StudentFounded Counsyl +1Jess LeeBSFounded Polyvore
+ 830 more
University of Cambridge mafia243
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Immad AkhundMaster of Arts (M.A.)Founded Clickpass +2Inaki BerenguerMasterFounded InfiniteWatch +2Harish AgarwalMaster of Philosophy - MPhilFounded Nori +2Leonard Picardo1st class MEngFounded HeliosX +1Matt CliffordBachelor's DegreeFounded Entrepreneurs First +1Queen Chinyere QuinnPhD.Founded Oathafrica +1
+ 236 more
Creative Destruction Lab mafia30
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Christoph LengauerAssociateFounded Celsius Therapeutics +2Myra ArshadVenture - Matter StreamFounded Fluidic +1Christophe JurczakAssociateFounded PasqalAlice ReimerSite Lead, CDL-RockiesFounded the51Judy FairburnFellow - Energy TransitionFounded the51William Tunstall-PedoeFellowFounded UnlikelyAI
+ 23 more
Same school
Also attended University of Cambridge847
Niko BonatsosInvestment Team at General CatalystGeorgia StevensonInvestor at Index VenturesHannah SealInvestor at Index VenturesLeah von SiemensPartner at Manta Ray VenturesAnthony PhilippakisInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Erik NordlanderInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)
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+ 841 more
Also attended Stanford University2,000
Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders FundReid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockDavid SacksCo-founder & General Partner at Craft Ventures; PCAST co-chair; former White House AI & crypto czarKeith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesGarry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorAlfred LinPartner at Sequoia Capital
+ 1,994 more
Shared employers
Also worked at EQT Ventures & Growth26
Sofia DolfeInvestor at Index VenturesKaushik SubramanianVenture capitalist, product personMarnix van der PloegInvestor at EQT VenturesSai SriramagiriInvestor at EQT VenturesSandra MalmbergInvestor at EQT VenturesTed PerssonInvestor at EQT Ventures
+ 20 more
Also worked at Stanford University Graduate School of Business171
Michael McBrideInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Elliot GeidtManaging Director at Redpoint VenturesRenee ShahPartner at Redpoint VenturesDeena ShakirPartner at Lux CapitalBlair ShaneInvestor at IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)Jules MaltzInvestor at IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)
+ 165 more
Also worked at Microsoft1,060
Reid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockGarry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorNat FriedmanCo-lead of Meta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDGJavier SolteroSenior Venture Partner at Felicis VenturesViviana FagaGeneral Partner at Felicis VenturesWesley ChanInvestor at Felicis Ventures
+ 1,054 more
