The Venture Midas Canon.
1946 → today · open research

The Venture
Midas Canon

How the world’s greatest venture investors actually think — reconstructed from primary sources, forensic deal records, and the words they left behind.

Georges Doriot
001

Georges Doriot

1899–1987
Reviewed
THE EDGE
Institutional VC pioneer; ARD's patient DEC stake became the defining early power-law result.
ARD1946 · PioneerUS/FranceAdversarial review passed
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Jock Whitney
002

Jock Whitney

1904–1982
Reviewed
THE EDGE
Put private-partnership risk capital to work in 1946; helped popularize, but did not demonstrably coin, 'venture capital.'
J.H. Whitney & Co.1946 · PioneerUSAdversarial review passed
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LR
003

Laurance Rockefeller

1910–2004
Reviewed
THE EDGE
Converted family-backed aviation investing into Rockefeller Brothers, Inc. and the family-led Venrock partnership.
Rockefeller Brothers, Inc. / Venrock1946 · PioneerUSAdversarial review passed
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RD
004

Reid Dennis

1926–2024
Reviewed
THE EDGE
Invested personally in Ampex in 1952, joined the informal Group, then formed IVA and IVP.
Fireman's Fund / The Group / IVA / IVP1952 · PioneerUSAdversarial review passed
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PB
005

Peter Brooke

1929–2020
In research
THE EDGE
Built venture lending at Bank of Boston, then TA and Advent; exported VC to Europe.
TA Associates / Advent International1956 · PioneerUSResearch in progress
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