Early Life and Education
Walter Kortschak was born in Canada to an Austrian father and an American mother and spent much of his childhood in Geneva, Switzerland. He initially aspired to be a software engineer, earning a Bachelor's degree from Oregon State University and a Master's degree from Caltech. He furthered his education with an MBA from UCLA.
Rise to Success
Kortschak's career began in the computer graphics field, but he soon transitioned into the world of venture capital. He joined Crosspoint Venture Partners in 1986. In 1989, he moved to Summit Partners, where he spent two decades and played a crucial role in the firm's success. His expertise earned him a spot on Forbes' Midas List from 2005 to 2009. In 2010, he became a Senior Advisor at Summit Partners and transitioned back to early-stage investing.
Key Business Strategies
Kortschak's key strategy involves a focus on long-term investments, persistence, and a keen ability to identify promising early-stage companies. He has invested in a diverse portfolio of companies, including E-Tek Dynamics (40x return), Xylan (127x return), McAfee, Lyft, Twitter, and OpenAI. He is known for his hands-on approach, serving as an advisor and board member to many of his portfolio companies.
Philanthropy
Kortschak, along with his wife Marcia, is actively involved in philanthropy. They established the Kortschak Scholars Program for Ph.D. students in computer science at Caltech and the USC Kortschak Center for Learning and Creativity. They have also endowed the Division Chair in Film and Television Production at USC Cinematic Arts.