Gordon Ritter is Co-Founder and General Partner at Emergence Capital, where his vision and relentless drive have shaped the firm into one of the most respected players in enterprise software investing. Gordon thrives on partnering with founders who tackle ambitious, industry-altering ideas—an ethos that’s defined his career and Emergence’s enduring success.

Gordon led Emergence’s first major investment in a fledgling cloud computing company called Salesforce, a decision that cemented the firm’s reputation as an early leader in enterprise software. His ability to see around corners continued with Veeva Systems, which he backed in 2008 when the company had just 25 employees and less than $1 million in revenue. Today, Veeva (NYSE: VEEV) boasts a $35 billion market cap, and Gordon remains its chairman. He was instrumental in Veeva’s decision to become the first publicly traded company to convert to a Public Benefit Corporation, a reflection of his belief in aligning business success with broader customer and societal impact.

Gordon’s expertise is rooted in his own entrepreneurial journey. Over 15 years, he founded and built companies that broke new ground in technology. Among them was Software As Service, co-founded with Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, which became the foundation for the Salesforce Platform. Another, Whistle Communications, was acquired by IBM, where Gordon went on to lead its $3 billion Global Small Business division.

This foundation of personal experience shapes how Gordon supports founders. He understands the challenges of building from scratch and brings both empathy and unwavering commitment to his partnerships. Whether working through strategic pivots or scaling operations, he’s a trusted advisor who helps entrepreneurs navigate the path to success, employing the same tenacity and determination that led him to successfully summit Denali and run across Switzerland in his downtime.

Gordon’s impact extends beyond the boardroom. A Princeton alumnus and former rower, he recently joined the university’s Board of Trustees, where he is helping shape curricula on AI and the future of education. He’s also a dedicated philanthropist, supporting organizations like the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, Common Sense Media, and the Center for Reproductive Rights. A four-time member of Forbes’ Midas List, Gordon lives in San Francisco with his wife, Amy, and their four children, cherishing family adventures as much as he does helping founders build the future.

Gordon’s rare combination of vision, experience, and commitment to impact makes him a cornerstone of venture capital and an exceptional partner to the world’s most ambitious entrepreneurs.