Social Capital (venture capital)

Social Capital is an investment firm founded in 2011 by Chamath Palihapitiya, who previously held senior roles at Facebook, the Mayfield Fund, AOL and Winamp. The firm describes its mission as identifying emerging technology trends and partnering with entrepreneurs working on difficult problems, with a focus on sectors it expects to grow into very large markets: deep tech, life sciences, the global energy transition and the creator economy. Its site notes that its earlier venture funds, referred to as the SC GP/LP Funds, are closed to new investors, while more recent activity is described as proprietary capital invested directly by Palihapitiya using his own balance sheet rather than commitments from outside limited partners. The firm publishes annual letters summarising its thinking and activity.