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Lane Bess is the Managing Partner at Long Journey Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California. Before assuming his current leadership role, he served as a partner at Benchmark Capital and held investment positions at First Round Capital, following initial operational experience at Eventbrite. The Stanford University computer science graduate currently manages over $150 million in assets and oversees an active portfolio of more than 20 technology companies, including early investments in Cruise prior to its 2016 acquisition. His recent investment activity includes leading a $12 million Series A funding round for the startup Replicate in March 2025 and joining the corporate board of directors at Scale AI earlier that same year. Bess maintains a primary investment focus on scaling early-stage artificial intelligence, financial technology, and enterprise software startups.
Lane Bess stands as a prominent figure in the technology investment landscape, currently serving as an Operating Partner at NextEquity Partners. His role extends beyond traditional investment, as he actively leverages his profound operational experience to guide and scale portfolio companies, particularly within the high-growth sectors of cybersecurity, enterprise software, and cloud computing.
Bess's investment focus is sharply honed on disruptive technologies and companies poised for significant market impact. He seeks out innovative solutions in areas like SaaS, cloud infrastructure, and advanced cybersecurity, where his strategic insights can drive substantial value. His unique value proposition lies in his ability to combine a keen investor's eye with the practical wisdom of a seasoned operator, helping founders navigate the complexities of scaling a technology business.
Lane Bess's career background is a testament to his deep understanding of the tech industry. Before his tenure at NextEquity Partners, he held pivotal leadership roles that shaped some of today's most successful technology companies. He served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Zscaler, where he played a critical role in scaling the company and leading it through its successful initial public offering (IPO). Prior to Zscaler, Bess was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Palo Alto Networks, guiding the company through a period of explosive growth and establishing it as a leader in enterprise security.
His leadership journey also includes serving as CEO of Trend Micro's Americas operations, further solidifying his expertise in the cybersecurity domain. Beyond these executive roles, Bess has an entrepreneurial spirit, having founded and successfully exited several technology ventures, including Widevine, which was acquired by Google. This blend of entrepreneurial success, executive leadership, and strategic investment acumen makes Lane Bess an invaluable asset to the companies he supports and the broader tech ecosystem. He also contributes his expertise through board memberships at influential companies like Zscaler and CrowdStrike, reinforcing his ongoing impact on the cybersecurity industry.
Lane Bess is a highly respected investor and operating partner at NextEquity Partners, known for his deep expertise in cybersecurity and enterprise software. He has a distinguished career as a CEO and COO of major tech companies, bringing significant operational experience to his investment strategies.
Lane Bess primarily invests in companies within the cybersecurity, enterprise software, cloud computing, and SaaS sectors. He seeks out innovative companies with strong growth potential, often leveraging his operational background to guide them toward market leadership.
Lane Bess is an Operating Partner at NextEquity Partners, a venture capital firm. He also serves on the boards of several prominent technology companies, including Zscaler and CrowdStrike, contributing his strategic insights to their growth and development.
