Joe Floyd is a General Partner at Emergence Capital who has been helping founders build enduring companies since joining the firm 13 years ago, Joe has led investments in transformative businesses like SalesLoft, project44, ThreeFlow, and Together.ai. Out of the 15 companies he’s backed, five have reached unicorn status, and three have returned over 10x the firm’s initial investment—a track record few can match.

Joe is known for being the first call for entrepreneurs when the going gets tough. Whether answering late-night calls or offering candid advice during a crisis, he is a trusted advisor who thrives on the interpersonal side of venture. Founders often credit him for making their fundraising journeys smoother—Joe brings in connections, refines pitches, scrutinizes deal terms, and even rehearses presentations with founders in front of Emergence’s partners to ensure they succeed. 

His “Secret Playbook for Enterprise Entrepreneurs” has been viewed tens of thousands of times, a testament to his commitment to helping entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of scaling a business. One of Joe’s focus areas for more than a decade has been AI infrastructure, leading to his 2024 investment in Small Language Model pioneer Arcee.ai. And this year Joe led the creation of “Beyond Benchmarks,” the firm’s new annual survey on Gen AI trends, the VC fundraising environment, and company performance metrics. This report has also been viewed thousands of times, and a followup report on GTM trends is in the works.

But numbers only tell part of Joe’s story. A second-generation immigrant, Joe takes immense pride in backing founders from underrepresented backgrounds—nine of his investments have supported such entrepreneurs, including eight who are first-generation immigrants. Inspired by his mother, a Chinese immigrant who built a successful medical practice after fleeing the Cultural Revolution, Joe understands the grit it takes to succeed against the odds. That personal connection fuels his passion for supporting founders through their most challenging moments.

Before Emergence, Joe was a Senior Associate at American Capital, where he contributed to investments in HomeAway (NASDAQ: AWAY) and PeopleMedia (acquired by IAC). He holds an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and earned dual degrees in Economics and Business Administration from UC Berkeley.

For Joe, venture capital isn’t just about returns; it’s about helping founders build companies they’re proud of—businesses that reflect their values and create a lasting impact for generations to come.