Fundraising Fox

Frederic Kerrest

Unicorn founder

Co-Founder and Vice Chairperson of the Board (former Chief Operating Officer, 2009–2023) at Okta

San Francisco Bay Area

Writes $5K – $50K checks · typically $25K

FoundedOkta$24.5B

Find your path to Frederic

931 people in our graph share verified history with Frederic — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Viviana FagaunlockedFrederic: together at Salesforce (2004–2007)
×5Frederic: together at Stanford University
Frederic: together at MIT Sloan School of Management
×2Frederic: together at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

About

Frederic Kerrest is a technology entrepreneur, investor, and advisor working across enterprise AI, infrastructure, and cybersecurity. He co-founded Okta, where he serves as Vice Chairman, and founded 515 Ventures and Windproof Partners, through which he invests in and advises startups including Chainguard, ClickHouse, Cyera, and Decagon; he also co-founded the neurotherapeutics company Herophilus, which was acquired by Genentech/Roche. Kerrest authored the Wall Street Journal bestseller Zero to IPO, teaches entrepreneurship at UC Berkeley Haas, serves as a Trustee of the MIT Corporation, and holds a BS in Computer Science from Stanford and an MBA from MIT Sloan.

Co-founder at Okta

Intro paths

→

In turn, Frederic can intro founders to Okta's investors below.

Okta's investors · 10

Andreessen HorowitzMenlo Park · $500K – $50M checksFloodgateMenlo Park · $500K – $5M checksGlynn Capital ManagementMenlo ParkGreylock PartnersSan Francisco · $100K – $200M checksJuniperoMiamiKhosla VenturesMenlo Park · $5K – $50M checksPortland Seed FundPortland · $25K checksSequoia CapitalMenlo Park · $4.4M – $214M checksSV AngelSan FranciscoWebb Investment NetworkSan Francisco · $500K – $750K checks

Co-founders at Okta

TMTodd McKinnon
Todd McKinnonCo-Founder, Chairperson of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
JFJ. Frederic Kerrest
J. Frederic KerrestCo-Founder and Vice Chairperson of the Board (former Chief Operating Officer, 2009–2023)

Co-Founder and Vice Chairperson of the Board (former Chief Operating Officer, 2009–2023) at Okta

Intro paths

→

In turn, Frederic can intro founders to Okta's investors below.

Okta's investors · 10

Andreessen HorowitzMenlo Park · $500K – $50M checksFloodgateMenlo Park · $500K – $5M checksGlynn Capital ManagementMenlo ParkGreylock PartnersSan Francisco · $100K – $200M checksJuniperoMiamiKhosla VenturesMenlo Park · $5K – $50M checksPortland Seed FundPortland · $25K checksSequoia CapitalMenlo Park · $4.4M – $214M checksSV AngelSan FranciscoWebb Investment NetworkSan Francisco · $500K – $750K checks

Co-founders at Okta

TMTodd McKinnon
Todd McKinnonCo-Founder, Chairperson of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
FKFrederic Kerrest
Frederic KerrestCo-founder

Experience

  1. Windproof PartnersManaging Partner & Foundercurrent2024 — present
  2. 515 VenturesManaging Partner & Foundercurrent2016 — present
  3. OktaVice-Chairman & Co-Foundercurrent2023 — present
  4. OktaExecutive Vice-Chairman, COO and Co-Founder2019 — 2023
  5. OktaBoard Member, COO & Co-Founder2009 — 2019
  6. Zero to IPO BookAuthorcurrent2020 — present
  7. Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyTrustee, MIT Corporationcurrent2025 — present
  8. Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMember, Governance and Nominations Committeecurrent2026 — present
  9. Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMember, MIT Sloan Dean's Advisory Cabinetcurrent2026 — present
  10. Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMember, Department Visiting Committees: Economics; Sloan School of Managementcurrent2022 — present
  11. University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of BusinessProfessional Faculty / Lecturercurrent2026 — present
  12. The Operator NetworkPartner & Foundercurrent2019 — present
  13. Stanford University School of EngineeringMember, Engineering Leadership Councilcurrent2026 — present
  14. Whistle PerformanceChairman of the Boardcurrent2022 — present
  15. BlackstoneSenior Advisorcurrent2021 — present
  16. Herophilus - Acquired by Genentech Roche ($RHHBY)Chairman & Co-Founder2017 — 2023
  17. Zero to IPO PodcastCo-Host & Co-Founder2018 — 2020
  18. Hummer Winblad Venture Partners (Aspenwood Ventures)Summer Associate2008San Francisco Bay Area
  19. Salesforce.comDirector, Sales & Business Development2002 — 2007San Francisco Bay Area
  20. Meridian Global SolutionsDirector, Enterprise Technology Division2000 — 2002Argentina, Brazil, Mexico
  21. Applied Materials, Moai Technologies, Sun Microsystems & WebTV NetworksSoftware Engineer / FT & Internships1997 — 2000San Francisco Bay Area

Skills & more

Strategy59Leadership20Management23Strategic Planning10Sales Engineering10Business Development45Venture Capital25Start-ups99Strategic Partnerships77Entrepreneurship41Cloud Computing38Go-to-market Strategy10
+12 moreMobile DevicesMergers & AcquisitionsCRMSoftware DevelopmentExecutive ManagementCross-functional Team LeadershipSalesBusiness PlanningProduct MarketingAnalyticsProduct ManagementCompetitive Analysis

Languages English · French · Spanish

From Frederic's professional profile.

Network14

Aaron KingScout
Advisor at Linus Analytics
Arunas A. ChesonisScout
Managing Partner at Safar Partners
Cathy GaoScout
Partner at Sapphire Ventures
Chang XuScout
Partner at Basis Set Ventures
Chen FongScout
Angel at Saltagen Ventures
Dan WrightScout
Angel
David UlevitchScout
General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz
Dr. Emir SandhuScout
Investor at Sandbox Industries
Edith HarbaughScout
Investor at LaunchDarkly
Erica BresciaScout
Managing Director at Redpoint Ventures
George KurtzScout
Angel
Aaref Hilaly
Partner at Bain Capital Ventures
▶2 more connections

John CowgillKristian Andersen

Investors connected to Frederic in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Frederic Kerrest?
Frederic Kerrest is a technology entrepreneur, investor, and advisor working across enterprise AI, infrastructure, and cybersecurity. He co-founded Okta, where he serves as Vice Chairman, and founded 515 Ventures and Windproof Partners, through which he invests in and advises startups including Chainguard, ClickHouse, Cyera, and Decagon; he also co-founded the neurotherapeutics company Herophilus, which was acquired by Genentech/Roche. Kerrest authored the Wall Street Journal bestseller Zero to IPO, teaches entrepreneurship at UC Berkeley Haas, serves as a Trustee of the MIT Corporation, and holds a BS in Computer Science from Stanford and an MBA from MIT Sloan.
Where does Frederic Kerrest work?
Frederic Kerrest is Co-Founder and Vice Chairperson of the Board (former Chief Operating Officer, 2009–2023) of Okta.
What check size does Frederic Kerrest write?
Frederic Kerrest typically writes checks of $5K – $50K.
What companies did Frederic Kerrest found?
Frederic Kerrest founded Okta.
Where did Frederic Kerrest go to school?
Frederic Kerrest studied at MIT Sloan School of Management (Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Finance / Entrepreneurship); Stanford University (Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Computer Science); Lycee International de St. Germain-en-Laye (French Baccalaureat, Sciences).

Founder mafias

Stanford University mafia1,932

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Peter ThielJ.D.Founded PayPal +1Reid HoffmanB.S.Founded LinkedIn +2David SacksB.A.Founded YammerKeith RaboisB.A.Founded OpendoorGarry TanBSFounded Y Combinator +1Joe LonsdaleBSFounded Opto +5

+ 1,925 more

MIT Sloan School of Management mafia327

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Hemant TanejaS.M.Founded Hippocratic AIBrad FeldS.M.Founded TechstarsGleb ChuvpiloFinancial Technology Option (FTO)Founded Thor Directed Energy +6Natan LinderExecutive Education.Founded Tulip Interfaces +2AjayM.B.A.Founded Timescale +2David AuerbachMBAFounded Circular Impact +2

+ 320 more

Salesforce mafia175

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Alexander BruehlCo-Investor ⇨ ContentfulFounded Contentful +6Andre Esteva, PhDHead of Medical AIFounded Cresta +2Eric TobiasVice President, ProductFounded Opendate +1John DillonCEOFounded Hyperion Solutions +1Tal BrownProduct ManagerFounded Zone7 Technologies Inc. +1Richard SocherChief Scientist, EVPFounded Aixventures +1

+ 168 more

Lycee International de St. Germain-en-Laye mafia7

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Matthieu HafemeisterHigh School DiplomaFounded Concourse +1Alex CavoulacosBaccalaureatFounded The MuseShelby BonsHigh School DiplomaFounded FeldyStamatios LiapisFounded EnlayeNick SireauBaccalaureatFounded Serenatis BioMargot de BroglieHigh SchoolFounded Your Juno

Same school

Also attended MIT Sloan School of Management774

Doug LeonePartner at Sequoia Capital; former Global Managing PartnerHemant TanejaCEO & Managing Director of General CatalystBrad FeldCo-founder of Foundry and TechstarsChris MorrisProcess Specialist, Exit Readiness at Mayfair Equity PartnersBirgitteInvestor at InvestinorOlaInvestor at Investinor

+ 768 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; former White House AI & Crypto CzarKeith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesGarry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorAlfred LinPartner at Sequoia Capital

+ 1,994 more

Also attended Lycee International de St. Germain-en-Laye16

Martin SoderbergPartner at Spear CapitalPeter JamesDirector at Advent InternationalCharlotte BaumhauerPrincipal at SquareOneMarius ThebaultAssociate at Circular Innovation FundClara RicardPrincipal at TransitionAva ColarussoDirector at Oxeon Partners

+ 10 more

Also attended FASNY - French American School of New York1

Timothée AllezAnalyste at Founders Future

Shared employers

Also worked at Massachusetts Institute of Technology764

Aileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesMatt HuangCo-founder and Managing Partner at ParadigmMichael TruellCo-founder & CEO of CursorRaquel UrtasunFounder & CEO of WaabiColin WebbFounder & CEO of Avatar RoboticsAbraham BachrachCo-founder & CTO of Skydio

+ 758 more

Also worked at University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business105

Arhaan A.Deeptech Fellow at Clear VenturesJules MaltzInvestor at IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)Lana DevlikamovaLegal Operations Manager at CapitalGAlex TranInvestor at CapitalGLisa SuennenVenture Partner at PROOFSebastian KreisVenture Partner & IC Member at ATTOM CAPITAL

+ 99 more

Also worked at Stanford University School of Engineering47

Tanya JomaaAssociate at Redpoint VenturesJohn WaleckaCo-Founder at Redpoint VenturesAlexander AshavskyManaging Director, Data Science and Engineering at Deerfield Management CompanyGil RosenGP at Blockchain BuildersKun PengGP at Blockchain BuildersSteven WillingerGP at Blockchain Builders

+ 41 more

Also worked at Hummer Winblad Venture Partners (Aspenwood Ventures)12

Prashant ShahPartner at Monta Vista CapitalWill PriceInvestor at Next Frontier CapitalAnagha RajeInvestor at Signia Venture PartnersMark GorenbergInvestor at Zetta Venture PartnersLars LeckieInvestor at AspenwoodSteve KishiManaging Director at Aspenwood

+ 6 more