VC Taskforce to Honor Ann Winblad With 2013 Innova

PALO ALTO, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 11, 2013) - VC Taskforce ™, an organization committed to enhancing collaboration in the venture community, announced that software venture capitalist Ann Winblad will receive its 2013 Innovation Catalyst Award (ICA). The purpose of "The ICA" is to inspire others by highlighting excellence in innovation, leadership, collaboration, and societal benefit. Ann Winblad, founding partner and managing director of Hummer Winblad Venture Partners, has founded, funded and nurtured many of today's most innovative companies. VC Taskforce will present the award at the ICA Gala on October 23, 2013 .

With a reputation as one of the most important venture capitalists in the software industry and one of the first female entrepreneurs, Winblad has been distinguished by Upside Magazine's 100 most influential people in the digital age and one of Vanity Fair's top 50 leaders of the "New Establishment." She has also been cited by Business Week as one of its elite 25 power brokers in Silicon Valley and by Time Digital as one of its 50 Cyber Elite. Recently The San Francisco Business Times said, "Ann Winblad wears the crown as geek queen of the VC." Ann is also a frequent guest on CNBC as a CNBC 'Market Master.'

Winblad has over 30 years' experience in the software industry. She began her career as a programmer and in 1976, used a $500 investment to co-found Open Systems Inc., a top-selling accounting software company. She operated Open Systems profitably for six years and then sold it for over $15 million. She and John Hummer launched their first venture fund in 1989 with $35 million. Today, the Hummer Winblad Venture Partners manages over $1 billion in cumulative capital and has launched over 100 software companies starting as an 'A' Round investor. Winblad has served as a Director of numerous start-up and public companies and currently serves as a director of Ace Metrix , Karmasphere , MuleSoft , Sonatype , Star Analytics and Voltage Security .

In addition to her business ventures, Winblad has co-authored the book "Object-Oriented Software" and has written articles for numerous publications. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of St. Thomas , director and former chairperson of SV Forum and serves as an advisor to numerous entrepreneur groups. Her passion also includes supporting young women's educational goals within the areas of science and math.

About the Innovation Catalyst Award VC Taskforce established the ICA in 2009 with the purpose of acknowledging and celebrating the contributions made by visionary leaders in the investment community. In 2012, VC Taskforce honored the Draper Family. Over three successive generations, the Drapers invested in and grew hundreds of start-up companies, many of which have become household names, such as Activision, Hotmail and Skype. Bill Draper also established the DRK Foundation to help launch entrepreneurial-minded not-for-profit CEOs. Matt Flannery, KIVA CEO, is one of those and was a presenter last year. Winblad will be the 5 ^th recipient of this prestigious Silicon Valley award.

The 2011, 2010 and 2009 honorees were Reid Hoffman, Richard "Dick" Kramlich and Franklin "Pitch" Johnson, respectively. Hoffman is a partner at Greylock Partners and co-founder and Executive Chairman at LinkedIn and a key player in building many of today's leading consumer technology businesses. Kramlich is chairman and co-founder of New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and one of the venture community's financial architects. Johnson is founder and limited partner of Asset Management Ventures and one of the pioneers of deal-making in Silicon Valley. He was an early partner at Sutter Hill Ventures with last year's recipient, Bill Draper.

About VC Taskforce "Enhancing collaboration in the venture community" Founded in 2001, VC Taskforce is primarily an educational organization that provides forums for real-time information exchange and dialogue through a series of networking events, panels, keynote discussions, workshops and roundtable meetings conducted by investors and business and industry experts that support venture capitalists, institutional investors, angels, companies looking for funding and venture-backed company executives in managing their businesses for maximum success. Visionary thinking, uncensored questions and opinionated discussions around pressing issues that face members are hallmarks of events. Today, more than 15,000 members and participants have been actively involved in VC Taskforce. www.vctaskforce.com .