On the last day of February, we have the great fortune to meet with Gerry Langeler of OVP Venture Partners in the Pacific Northwest.  Gerry has been with OVP almost 20 years, joining in 1992 after founding Mentor Graphics Corporation (NASDAQ: MENT) and leading that company through its IPO.  Today Gerry focuses his investments on digital energy, software, imaging and digital biology.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Carbonflow, Collaborative Software Initiative, CradlePoint, EnerG2 and Max-Viz and is a Board Observer to DataSphere, Serus, Tigo Energy and Viral Logic Systems Technology (VLST).

Gerry Langeler, Managing Director, OVP Venture Partners

Q. From which industry sector do you think we will see the most innovation in the next 2 years? 

A. Clean tech – energy storage

Q. 2011 is the year of the...

A.  ...venture firm – returns start to flow again.

Q.  The biggest threat to the US venture capital industry is...

A.  ... lack of returns that discourages new, young VCs from entering the field.

Q.  What is your favorite book of the last year?

A.  The Big Short

Q.  Name a venture-backed company you are are not invested in but wish you were. 

A.  Facebook

Q.  Name a practicing VC from another firm who you admire and why? 

A.  Dave Anderson, Sutter Hill.  Has been doing this for over 30 years, and still has the drive and passion for the entrepreneur