Ann Winblad (American Venture Capitalist) Biography

Quick Info

Profession	Venture Capitalist
Nationality	American
Date of Birth	01/11/1950
Age	75 years
Birthplace	Red Wing, Minnesota, US

Latest News about Ann Winblad

01/01/2025

Ann Winblad was named to the National Venture Capital Association Venture Vanguard in 2025. The recognition highlights her influence and enduring role in the venture capital industry.

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Bio/Wiki

Full name	Ann L Winblad

Physical Stats & More

Height	159 cm (5' 2.75")
Eye Color	Blue
Hair Color	Blonde

Educational Qualification(s)

BA in Mathematics and Business Administration	College of St. Catherine, Saint Paul, Minnesota, US
MA Education in Economics	University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, Minnesota, US (1973-1975)
Honorary Doctorate of Law	University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, Minnesota, US (2001)
MA in Education and International Economics	University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, Minnesota, US (1975)

Personal Life

Ethnicity	Swedish descent
Hobbies	Traveling Biking Fly Fishing

Relationships & More

Marital Status	Married
Affairs/Boyfriends	High school boyfriend Bill Gates (1984-87) Alex Kline (San Francisco-based private investigator) Bill Gates (1984-1987)
Marriage Date	16/12/2015
Spouse	Alex Kline

Family

Father	Wilbur Winblad (dedicated educator and coach)
Mother	Elizabeth Stark (Nurse)
Siblings	Dave Winblad Mary Regenscheid Susan Shields Patty Jorgenson Kathy Winblad-Polk
Spouse	Alex Kline

Career

Awards & Achievements	1998: Ranked 24th in Fortune's 50 Most Powerful Women in American Business 1998: Ranked 22nd in Time's Cyber Elite 50 1999: Ranked 64th in Upside Elite 100 list 2000: Inducted into the Fortune Small Business Hall of Fame 2013: Innovation Catalyst Award 2017: Exemplary Women honoree at 4th Annual Global Women in STEM Conference (WiSTEM) SVForum Visionary Award 1997: John F. Cade Award for outstanding entrepreneurship 2007: Financial Woman of the Year by the San Francisco Financial Women’s Association 2024: Inducted into the Bay Area Business Hall of Fame 2025: Named to the National Venture Capital Association Venture Vanguard 2001: Honorary Doctorate of Laws from University of St. Thomas 2003: Distinguished Alumna Award from University of St. Thomas
Career Milestones	1973: Systems programmer at the Federal Reserve Bank 1976: Co-founded Open Systems, Inc. 1983: Open Systems, Inc. sold for $15 million 1984: Tech consultant for IBM and Microsoft, invested in Microsoft 1989: Co-founded Hummer Winblad Venture Partners Served as Director for companies including MuleSoft, Hyperion, Sonatype, The Knot, Liquid Audio, Net Perceptions, and Ace Metrix 1984: Moved to California; served as strategy consultant for IBM, Microsoft, and Price Waterhouse Over 30 years as venture capitalist; firm launched over 160 enterprise software companies Member of Board of Trustees of University of St. Thomas Board member of Richard Schulze Family Foundation Member of CNBC's Platinum Group

Awards & Achievements

1998: Ranked 24th in Fortune's 50 Most Powerful Women in American Business
1998: Ranked 22nd in Time's Cyber Elite 50
1999: Ranked 64th in Upside Elite 100 list
2000: Inducted into the Fortune Small Business Hall of Fame
2013: Innovation Catalyst Award
2017: Exemplary Women honoree at 4th Annual Global Women in STEM Conference (WiSTEM)
SVForum Visionary Award
1997: John F. Cade Award for outstanding entrepreneurship
2007: Financial Woman of the Year by the San Francisco Financial Women’s Association
2024: Inducted into the Bay Area Business Hall of Fame
2025: Named to the National Venture Capital Association Venture Vanguard
2001: Honorary Doctorate of Laws from University of St. Thomas
2003: Distinguished Alumna Award from University of St. Thomas

Career Milestones

1973: Systems programmer at the Federal Reserve Bank
1976: Co-founded Open Systems, Inc.
1983: Open Systems, Inc. sold for $15 million
1984: Tech consultant for IBM and Microsoft, invested in Microsoft
1989: Co-founded Hummer Winblad Venture Partners
Served as Director for companies including MuleSoft, Hyperion, Sonatype, The Knot, Liquid Audio, Net Perceptions, and Ace Metrix
1984: Moved to California; served as strategy consultant for IBM, Microsoft, and Price Waterhouse
Over 30 years as venture capitalist; firm launched over 160 enterprise software companies
Member of Board of Trustees of University of St. Thomas
Board member of Richard Schulze Family Foundation
Member of CNBC's Platinum Group

Favourites

Dessert	Cinnamon roll
Drink	Kool-Aid
Film	This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
TV Shows	Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)

Social Media

LinkedIn	https://www.linkedin.com/in/annwinblad/

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Raised in Rushford and Farmington, Minnesota.
2. Commenced working at the age of seven by picking strawberries.
3. Was a cheerleader and valedictorian in high school.
4. Managed three jobs during college.
5. Established Open Systems, Inc. in 1976.
6. Co-founded Hummer Winblad Venture Partners in 1989 alongside John Hummer.
7. Co-authored a book called 'Object-Oriented Software' in 1990.
8. First child in her family to attend college.
9. First woman to receive a master's degree in international economics and education from St. Thomas (1975).
10. Worked as a waitress at Pudge's Cocktail Lounge in Highland Park, Saint Paul.
11. Open Systems grew to over 120 employees before being sold.
12. Dubbed 'the woman who built Silicon Valley' for pioneering the first venture firm focused exclusively on software.
13. Has written articles for numerous publications.

Ann Winblad Venture Capitalist American Red Wing, Minnesota, US