updated
Chris Sacca, the head of special initiatives at Google who led Google’s efforts to open up the wireless spectrum to more competition, is leaving Google to invest in early-stage technology companies.
Sacca wielded significant clout at Google. He pushed hard on a free WiFi initiative in San Francisco, but that effort got caught up in a regulatory quagmire, and flagged. However, he succeeded in rolling out free WiFi in Mountain View. Other efforts have been much more significant: He led Google’s effort to lobby for more open standards on the 700MHz wireless spectrum. Wireless spectrum has long been dominated by an oligopoly of players. Verizon, one of those major carriers, responded by opening up its network to use by other companies and devices — a move widely viewed as reactive to Google’s efforts to press for change.
No replacement for Sacca has been named.
Sacca is known for speaking his mind, sometimes to the consternation of his employer. Last year, he caused a ruckus when he criticized the powerful wireless carriers for stopping users from downloading Google applications on their phones (see his account here). Sacca also made waves by criticizing the bureaucracy in San Francisco.
He’ll be leaving Google at the end of this month. He has forged relationships with Ev Williams, of Obvious (owner of messaging company Twitter) and Paul Graham (head of incubator company Y Combinator), though he hasn’t made any formal arrangements for co-investing. He’ll invest from a small fund for seed investing, though he’s still mulling options on partnerships with other angel investors down the road. He has invested in companies such as Twitter and Photobucket (see our coverage), and has advised several others, including Auctomatic, a YCombinator company.
This is an about-face from last year, when he appeared to dismiss the idea of launching an angel career. At the time, he wistfully remarked to us that he didn’t have the financial firepower of earlier employees Georges Harik or Aydin Senkut. Arriving much later at Google, he received less stock. What a difference a year can make, though. His stock value has risen by 75 percent since that time last year.
He’d considered becoming a venture capitalist, but is more interested in the early stages of entrepreneurship, and angel investing is thus more appealing.
Tags: people:Chris-Sacca16 Comments
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Gubatron said:
He should talk (or may already know him) to Martin from fon.com
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Ron Thompson said:
How can Chris Sacca be contacted about collaborating on Angel investing ?
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some guy said:
Attention Mr Sacca: we would like your money. Preferably lots or all of it. Thank you.
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SOME OTHER GUY said:
A fool and his money are soon…
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Jon Kulz said:
I for one saw this coming. Sacca has been more investor than Google in the past year or so.
Btw Matt: this Sezwho thing shits all over itself in Safari / Mac. Does anyone use this garbage?
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Jitendra said:
Jon,
Which version of Safari are you using? We will double check the Mac/Safari combination to be sure…
-Jitendra
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Skeptic on Sacca said:
This departure from Google should be no surprise. While great arrogance may fetch headlines, it rarely bears fruit in practice. Case in point — Sacca ruffled many feathers with few tangible results in SFO Wi-Fi, 700 MHz, and the broken Verizon relations. I welcome anyone to suggest one of Sacca’s initiatives at Google that was successful.
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Poor skeptic said:
Skeptic’s comments sound like jealousy. The 700MHz activities forced Verizon to declare that they would make their service open. Sounds like a success to me. Broken Verizon relations? Verizon has gone from not being a Google partner to saying they will use Android. How is that broken?
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vladi said:
A man gotta do what he gotta do! wish him all the luck.
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Googler said:
Sacca will be missed when he goes. He was one of the only old school guys left who was willing to cut through the politics to get stuff done. He was never 100% popular because he stepped on the toes of big company executives who were too slow but he was fun to work with and very well liked.
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franchiseinvestment said:
Knowing about a great people like Chris Sacca who is working in Google want to become a angle investor is a unbelievable and sharing his experience is a great thing to know and by this I got to know that people like Chris are how interested in Business. Thanks for sharing this article.
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MIKE HEALEY said:
Message for Mr. Sacca New company making large green yachts with computer controlled kites (skysails) run by an american in france seeks interested investors.
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13 Trackbacks
12:00 pm
Chris Sacca leaves Google, continues do-nothing plan [Toogle Many Googlers] »TechAddress said:
[...] moving into a new career where he can continue to talk a lot and let others do the work: He’s becoming an angel investor, working with Evan Williams’s Obvious, the company which spun off Twitter, and Paul Graham, [...]
12:08 pm
Another Google Executive Says “Farewell” said:
[...] the company behind Twitter, and Paul Graham, who heads incubator organization Y Combinator, reports Venturebeat. While no formal arrangements have been made, Sacca has indicated that he’ll be investing in [...]
2:24 am
Between the Lines mobile edition said:
[...] VentureBeat: Google’s wireless chief leaves to become angel investor. [...]
5:31 am
Private Equity HUB - peHUB First Read said:
[...] Chris Sacca is leaving Google, where he had been in charge of special initiatives (including that wireless spectrum buy). Next [...]
11:47 am
December 14, 2007 | next media update said:
[...] Google’s Wireless Chief, Sacca, Leaves to Become Angel Investor VENTUREBEAT Chris Sacca, the head of special initiatives at Google who led Google’s efforts to open up the wireless spectrum to more competition, is leaving Google to invest in early-stage technology companies. He led Google’s effort to lobby for more open standards on the 700MHz wireless spectrum, among other wireless initiatives. No replacement has been named. Source> [...]
7:43 am
Here Comes The Google Mafia said:
[...] Paul Buchheit, Georges Harik, Satya Patel, Salman Ullah, Sean Dempsey, and Andrea Zurek. Sacca just left his post as head of Google’s bid for wireless spectrum and WiFi initiatives to become a full-time [...]
12:47 am
TechCrunch Japanese アーカイブ » Googleマフィアが行く said:
[...] Saccaはグーグルの無線周波数帯域競売・WiFi推進事業総括のポストを辞め、フルタイムのエンジェル投資家に転身した。グーグル在任当時から既にTwitterやPhotobucketに投資は行っていたようだ。 AdWords元マネージャーZurekもエンジェル。 Patelもグーグル広告部門元エグゼキュティブだが、今はBattery Ventures勤務だし、元ディールメーカーのUllahとDempseyの2人は独自のベンチャーファンド創設に向け資金集めに奔走中と報じられている。 [...]
2:07 pm
Here Comes The Google Mafia : New Web 2.0 Magazine said:
[...] Paul Buchheit, Georges Harik, Satya Patel, Salman Ullah, Sean Dempsey, and Andrea Zurek. Sacca just left his post as head of Google’s bid for wireless spectrum and WiFi initiatives to become a full-time [...]
2:23 am
Here Comes The Google Mafia: tech product reviews, tech news, daily videos, free downloads, and podcasts, tech, products, computer, mp3 players, cell phones, digital cameras said:
[...] Paul Buchheit, Georges Harik, Satya Patel, Salman Ullah, Sean Dempsey, and Andrea Zurek. Sacca just left his post as head of Google’s bid for wireless spectrum and WiFi initiatives to become a full-time [...]
12:47 pm
The Burningsoul’s Blog » Blog Archive » Here Comes The Google Mafia said:
[...] Paul Buchheit, Georges Harik, Satya Patel, Salman Ullah, Sean Dempsey, and Andrea Zurek. Sacca just left his post as head of Google’s bid for wireless spectrum and WiFi initiatives to become a full-time [...]
11:46 pm
Here Comes The Google Mafia — ibiz.at steht zum Verkauf said:
[...] Paul Buchheit, Georges Harik, Satya Patel, Salman Ullah, Sean Dempsey, and Andrea Zurek. Sacca just left his post as head of Google’s bid for wireless spectrum and WiFi initiatives to become a full-time [...]
8:38 am
WebProNews » Blog Archive » Chris Sacca Dumps Google For Investing Career said:
[...] picking early-stage companies and offering them funding to develop their business. Matt Marshall at Venture Beat suggested Google’s uptick in stock put Sacca in position to strike out on his own: This is an [...]
3:57 pm
The Search Insider » Blog Archive » Google Loses Top Talent. said:
[...] on board for the pending DoubleClick acquisition. Former “head of special initiatives” Chris Sacca left the company last December, after playing a large and somewhat controversial role in making Google’s presence known in [...]