Walter Kortschak
InvestorFounder at Firestreak Ventures Β· Senior Advisor at Summit Partners Β· Managing Partner at Kortschak Investments L.P.
United States
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About
Walter Kortschak is the founder of Firestreak Ventures and a senior advisor at Summit Partners, with over 40 years of experience as an investor across seed and growth stages. He began his venture capital career at Crosspoint in 1985, joined Summit in 1989, and helped launch the data-driven seed fund SignalFire in 2013; since 2023 he has invested through his family office. He serves on the board of trustees of Caltech, has invested in more than 70 companies including 24 that completed IPOs, and has appeared on the Forbes Midas List six times.
Experience
- Firestreak VenturesFoundercurrent2022 β presentUnited States / United Kingdom
- Kortschak InvestmentsFoundercurrent2010 β presentUnited States / United KIngdom
- Summit PartnersSenior Advisorcurrent2023 β presentUnited States
- Summit PartnersFormer Managing Partner2017 β 2023Menlo Park, California, United States
- Summit PartnersSenior Advisor & Board Member2010 β 2017Palo Alto, California, United States
- Summit PartnersManaging Partner1998 β 2010Menlo Park, California, United States
- Summit PartnersGeneral Partner1989 β 1998Menlo Park, CA
- SignalFireChairman Emeritus/Founding Investorcurrent2023 β present
- SignalFireExecutive Chairman & CIO2017 β 2023San Francisco, California, United States
- SignalFireFounding Investor & Advisor2013 β 2017San Francisco, CA
- End CueCo-Foundercurrent2013 β presentCulver City, California
- Vital InteractionBoard Member & Seed Investorcurrent2023 β presentUnited States
- PlaycoBoard Member & Investorcurrent2019 β presentTokyo, Japan
- ReziBoard Member & Seed Investorcurrent2024 β presentSeoul, South Korea
- Sightline PaymentsBoard Member & Founding Investorcurrent2011 β presentLas Vegas, Nevada, United States
- TokuBoard Member & Seed Investorcurrent2020 β presentTokyo, Japan
- Finnrick AnalyticsPre-Seed & Founding Investorcurrent2024 β presentUnited States
- BLOCKvBoard Membercurrent2025 β presentZug, Switzerland
- CaltechMember, Board of Trusteescurrent2012 β presentPasadena, California
- BubbleBoard Member2019 β 2023New York, United States
- RobinhoodEarly Investor2013 β 2021Menlo Park, California, United States
- Palantir TechnologiesEarly Investor2015 β 2020Palo Alto, California, United States
- EllipticBoard Member2017 β 2020London, England, United Kingdom
- LyftEarly Investor2015 β 2019San Francisco Bay Area
- The Trade DeskFounding Investor2012 β 2016Ventura, California, United States
- First Republic BankFounding Investor2010San Francisco, California, United States
- National Venture Capital AssociationMember, Board of Directors2003 β 2007Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- E-TEK Dynamics (JDSU)Founding Investor and Chairman1997 β 2000San Jose, CA
- McAfeeFounding Investor and Board Member1991 β 1999Santa Clara, CA
- Crosspoint Venture PartnersVice President/Associate1985 β 1989Woodside, California, United States
- MSC SoftwarePrincipal Software Engineer1982 β 1985Santa Ana, CA
Skills & more
+12 more
Business DevelopmentCoachingAnalyticsCorporate DevelopmentCompetitive AnalysisBusiness PlanningAngel InvestingAsset ManagementEnterprise SoftwareFundingEmerging MarketsEquitiesLanguages English Β· French Β· German
From Walter's professional profile.
Deals Β· 48
TorpagoBoard seat
via Kortschak Investments L.P. Β· filed Jul 2025 Β· $6.5M raise
Owner.comSolo GP
via Kortschak Investments L.P. Β· filed Jul 2020
AutodeskSolo GP
via Kortschak Investments L.P. Β· filed Jul 2018
MomentFeed IncSolo GP
via Kortschak Investments L.P. Β· filed Sep 2015
Main Street HubSolo GP
via Kortschak Investments L.P. Β· filed Jul 2015
AelurosSolo GP
via Kortschak Investments L.P. Β· filed Jan 2012
AnswersSolo GP
AvidSolo GP
CaamSolo GP
ClassDojoSolo GP
CscSolo GP
DiamondmmSolo GP
E*TRADESolo GP
EquifaxSolo GP
FinnrickSolo GP
FirstrepublicSolo GP
Flock FreightSolo GP
ForterSolo GP
FrameSolo GP
Fresh To Home foodSolo GP
GorgiasSolo GP
GradientXSolo GP
HomeboodleSolo GP
IsometricSolo GP
JdsuSolo GP
LucySolo GP
LyftSolo GP
NianticSolo GP
NighthawkradiologySolo GP
NvaonlineSolo GP
PalantirSolo GP
PhysiciansformulaSolo GP
PlaySolo GP
PropelPLMSolo GP
RainmakerSolo GP
RapidscanSolo GP
Redwood MaterialsSolo GP
ReziSolo GP
RobinhoodSolo GP
Sightline PaymentsSolo GP
SimilitySolo GP
The Trade DeskSolo GP
WdcSolo GP
Alcatel LucentSolo GP
DavitahealthcarepartnersSolo GP
FinisarSolo GP
McafeeSolo GP
SpirentSolo GP
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters. Some rows are inferred. Not right? Tell us.
Colleagues at Firestreak Ventures
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Frequently asked questions
- Who is Walter Kortschak?
- Walter Kortschak is the founder of Firestreak Ventures and a senior advisor at Summit Partners, with over 40 years of experience as an investor across seed and growth stages. He began his venture capital career at Crosspoint in 1985, joined Summit in 1989, and helped launch the data-driven seed fund SignalFire in 2013; since 2023 he has invested through his family office. He serves on the board of trustees of Caltech, has invested in more than 70 companies including 24 that completed IPOs, and has appeared on the Forbes Midas List six times.
- Where does Walter Kortschak work?
- Walter Kortschak is Founder at Firestreak Ventures.
- What boards does Walter Kortschak sit on?
- Walter Kortschak holds tracked board seats at Torpago.
- Where did Walter Kortschak go to school?
- Walter Kortschak studied at Caltech (M.S., Engineering); UCLA Anderson School of Management (M.B.A., Finance); Oregon State University (B.S., Engineering).
Same school
Also attended Caltech231
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Also attended UCLA Anderson School of Management329
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Also attended Oregon State University76
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Shared employers
Also worked at Summit Partners155
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