Founded in 1981, U.S. Venture Partners has established an important presence among West Coast venture capitalists. Since its founding, USVP has raised more than $1.5 billion in seven funds, most recently a $600 million fund that closed in December 1999. The firm has invested in more than 240 companies, 58 of which have gone public. These public companies have over $20 billion in annual revenues and more than $140 billion in market capitalization. U.S. Venture Partners promotes an investment style which the firm has dubbed the "USVP Approach." It revolves around active involvement, true partnership, strategic impact, high level access and specialized knowledge. In plain English, the firm's strategy includes active participation in a portfolio company's management, unanimous acceptance by the firm's partners (all must sign off on a potential deal) and utilizing the combined knowledge of partners and associates.

Investment strategy: big funds for small ventures

USVP focuses almost exclusively on early stage investments. Typical investments range between $2 and $3 million, although the firm offers seed financing in amounts as small as $25,000. The firm divides its investments into seven sectors: communications, consumer branding, e-commerce, healthcare technologies, Internet, semiconductors and software.

Portfolio: name-droppers

USVC's notable technology sector investments include Sun Microsystems, Stratacom, Internet Travel Network, and Applied Micro Circuits Corp. On the medical end, the firm splits investments between biotech companies and companies that produce medical devices. Investments of note are Amgen, CardioThoracic Systems and MicroHeart. Finally, in the retail/consumer sector, USVP has funded such companies as Cucina! Cucina!, House of Blues, Restoration Hardware, and, for another exclamatory dining experience, Una Mas!, a chain of tex-mex restaurants.

Partners: fixtures of the Bay Area VC scene

Firm co-founder Bill Bowes has had a distinguished career in venture capital, counting successes such as investments in Amgen, Cetus, Raychem, and Dymo. General partner Irwin Federman, a graduate of Brooklyn College, has also established a name in the VC world, as a board member of the National Venture Capital Association. The firm's partners also count an MD among their ranks. Dr. Jonathan Root spent nine years in clinical practice before arriving at USVP, including a stint at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center in the Big Apple.