# CapitalG

CapitalG (formerly Google Capital) is Alphabet's independent growth fund investing in late-stage technology companies, including AI firms like CrowdStrike and UiPath.

CapitalG Management Company LLC, formerly known as Google Capital, is the independent growth fund under Alphabet Inc. that invests in growth-stage technology companies. Unlike Alphabet's corporate development group, which focuses on acquisitions aligned with Google's products, CapitalG operates with a mandate of financial return, while also providing portfolio companies access to Google's expertise and resources. The fund is known for its investments in artificial intelligence companies, including CrowdStrike and UiPath.

CapitalG was founded in 2013 and officially unveiled on February 19, 2014. It operates out of the Ferry Building in San Francisco. Following the Alphabet restructuring, the firm was renamed from Google Capital to CapitalG on November 4, 2016. Alphabet serves as the sole limited partner, allocating capital through annual funds.

## History

The fund began operations in 2013, with its public launch occurring on February 19, 2014. Initially branded as Google Capital, it was created to invest in later-stage technology companies, complementing Google Ventures (GV), which focuses on earlier-stage startups. The firm's early investments included companies such as [Intuitive Surgical](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/intuitive-surgical) and [TomTom](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/tomtom). In 2016, as part of Alphabet's corporate restructuring, the fund was renamed CapitalG, reflecting its independent status within the conglomerate.

## Team

CapitalG is led by managing partner Laela Sturdy, who joined the firm at its inception. The fund was founded by David Lawee, formerly Google's Vice President of Corporate Development and earlier its first Vice President of Marketing. Lawee was joined by partners Gene Frantz (formerly of private equity firm TPG), Laela Sturdy (previously a Managing Director of Emerging Businesses at Google), Derek Zanutto (formerly at TPG, Hellman & Friedman, and GIC), and Jesse Wedler (who joined in 2013 from Stanford business school).

CapitalG also comprises over 50 advisors drawn from senior positions within Google, who offer portfolio companies guidance in areas such as data science, engineering, marketing, and product management. This advisory network is a key differentiator, providing startups with access to [machine learning](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/machine-learning) expertise and other technical resources.

## Investments

CapitalG focuses on growth-stage investments, typically in companies that have proven their business models and are scaling. Notable investments include cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which went public in 2019, and robotic process automation company UiPath, which listed in 2021. The fund has also backed [Waymo](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/waymo), Alphabet's autonomous driving subsidiary, and [Sanctuary AI](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/sanctuary-ai), a company developing humanoid robots. In the [artificial intelligence](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/artificial-intelligence) sector, CapitalG has invested in [AI21 Labs](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/ai21-labs), a generative AI startup, and [Inflection AI](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/inflection-ai), which focuses on conversational AI. The fund's approach combines capital with strategic support, leveraging Google's [cloud](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/google-cloud) infrastructure and [large language model](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/large-language-model) research to help portfolio companies scale.

## Relationship to GV

CapitalG focuses on later-stage and growth equity investments, while GV invests in companies across all stages and industries. Another corporate division, Google's Corporate Development group, handles acquisitions and investments that are strategic for Google's products and business. This separation allows CapitalG to pursue financial returns independently, without the constraint of strategic alignment with Google's core operations. The fund's portfolio includes companies in sectors ranging from healthcare to transportation, reflecting its broad mandate.

## References

1. CapitalG official website
2. Alphabet Inc. annual reports
3. Press releases and news articles from 2014-2023

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Source: https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/capitalg
License: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
Last updated: 2026-09-09T01:53:46.426851+00:00