Joe Kraus

Overview

Joe Kraus is an experienced angel investor and former partner at Google Ventures, currently serving as President at Lime. He has a strong background in technology and venture capital, having co-founded Excite.com in 1993 and JotSpot in 2004, the latter of which was acquired by Google in 2006. At Google, he was a Director of Product Management and led the development of OpenSocial, an initiative to create API standards for social networking platforms. In 2009, he became a partner at Google Ventures, where he led investments in companies such as OpenCandy. In November 2018, Kraus transitioned to Lime, a transportation company, as its first Chief Operating Officer. As an angel investor, Kraus has been involved in numerous early-stage technology companies, focusing on sectors like transportation, information technology, and marketplaces. His investment strategy emphasizes the importance of team, market, and product, often prioritizing the team and market over the product. He has invested in companies such as Synapticure, Vartana, Spatial, StockX, Peerspace, and Modsy. Kraus's approach to investing is guided by unconventional rules, valuing the team's ability to adapt and the market's potential over the product's current state. Kraus's track record reflects a commitment to supporting innovative companies across various stages and industries. His philosophy centers on identifying and nurturing strong teams capable of executing in promising markets, with a focus on long-term growth and sustainability. His diverse portfolio and strategic insights have made him a respected figure in the venture capital community, contributing to the success of multiple startups and established companies alike.

Investment Focus

• Strong founding team
• Scalable business model
• Innovative product or service
• Large addressable market
• Clear path to profitability

Portfolio Companies