The firm specializes in seed and early stage investments in software and information technology companies, as well as growth capital investments. It focuses on entrepreneurial companies located in Southern California and provides additional funds for follow-on financings. Mission Ventures partners with other venture capital firms and offers value-added capital, experience, management talent, and guidance to help build successful enterprises in the region. However, it does not consider investments in the healthcare sector. Founded by Douglas F. Wall in 1996, the firm aims to create superior returns on investment for its investors by investing in the most promising early-stage companies in high growth, emerging markets.