MDV is a leading early stage Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm. For 25 years, the firm has identified, mentored and developed entrepreneurs and young companies redefining business technology and medicine. The firm invests around three major business and science concerns: Driving the Digital World; Powering the Planet; and Personalizing Medicine. The MDV team partners with entrepreneurs and engages very early in the life of a company to impact its long-term success.

Category-leading companies funded by MDV include Agile, Brocade, Energy Innovations, Epigram (BRCM), FormFactor, Ipsilon Networks (NOK), Kalpana (CSCO), Nanosolar, NeuroMolecular Pharmaceuticals, ONI Systems (CIEN), ParAllele (AFFX), Pivotal Technologies (BRCM), Revenue Science and Shutterfly. MDV has $1.4 billion dollars under management. For more information visit http://www.mdv.com

Draper Fisher Jurvetson is a leader in start-up venture capital, having invested in over 150 high-tech companies. In the majority of cases, they are the lead investor for a company's first round of financing. The firm focuses on information technology businesses with enormous market potential, and helps entrepreneurs achieve their maximum potential through team building, partnerships, advice and support, as well as investments.

By pursuing a people-focused approach to venture capital investing, Draper Fisher Jurvetson continues to fund entrepreneurs with the energy, vision, experience and desire to build great companies. Draper Fisher Jurvetson's 40 Internet investments include HotMail, Four11, Kana, Release Software, Homestead Technologies and Tumbleweed Software. Draper Fisher Jurvetson is located in Redwood City, Calif. and can be found on the Web at www.drapervc.com

In 2006, CNN Money named Reid one of the "Top 50 People Who Matter," calling him "an angel investor with a knack for spotting young companies with big potential." Reid has invested in or provided board level support to several successful Web 2.0 companies, including Facebook, Flickr, Mozilla, Six Apart and Technorati.

As LinkedIn's founding CEO, Reid built the company to over 9 million members and profitability. He has since moved to his current role as chairman and president of products. Prior to LinkedIn, Reid was executive vice president of PayPal.

Reid graduated from Stanford University with a B.S. in symbolic systems and from Oxford University with a master's in philosophy. Photo by Douglas C. Pizac, AP

Joichi Ito (more commonly known as Joi Ito) is a venture capitalist, entrepreneur and activist. In 1997, TIME Magazine named Joi a member of the "CyberElite." In 2000, BusinessWeek ranked him among the "50 Stars of Asia." The Japanese Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications has also commended Joi for supporting the advancement of IT. Joi has founded numerous Internet companies including PSINet Japan, Digital Garage and Infoseek Japan. He is also founder and CEO of venture capital firm Neoteny Co., Ltd.

Joi is currently vice president of international and mobility development for Technorati and chairman of Six Apart Japan. He is on the board of several non-profit organizations including the Mozilla Foundation, Creative Commons and ICANN. Photo by Vern Evans