Peter Bell

Peter Bell focuses his energy and expertise on partnering with entrepreneurs to build companies of consequence. He has spent three decades starting, building, and investing in technology businesses. His thematic areas of focus include Machine Learning, Big Data, Cybersecurity, Internet of Things, Autonomous Logistics, Data Analytics, Cloud Computing, Personal/Mobile Commerce, FinTech, and Enterprise Software. He has served on the boards of numerous technology companies over the past two decades including, most recently, Gigamon, LevelUp, Ocarina, Turbonomic, WePay, Qumulo, GameClosure, and ENJOY. Peter began his career at Price Waterhouse in Boston. In late 1986, Peter began to sense the opportunities arising in the information age of enterprise computing and joined an exciting young company in Natick, Massachusetts, EMC Corporation. He relocated to San Francisco in 1987 to help lead EMC initiatives in Silicon Valley. EMC was acquired by Dell in September 2016 for $67 billion. In 1998, Peter embarked on his own entrepreneurial journey and co-founded StorageNetworks, a pioneer in cloud computing. He led the company as its CEO and completed an IPO in 2000. After stepping down as CEO in 2003, Peter formed his own investment firm, Stowe Capital, focusing on early stage investments in enterprise software, data center infrastructure, and consumer internet companies. He was a member of the faculty at MIT Sloan School of Management from 2003 to 2006, where he taught entrepreneurship. Peter was also a Distinguished Executive in Residence and member of the faculty at Boston College from 2003 to 2010, where he taught at the Carroll School of Management. In 2006, Peter joined Highland Capital Partners, a leading global venture capital firm, where he led investments in early and growth stage technology companies, eventually becoming the Managing General Partner of the firm. He stepped down from his day-to-day responsibilities at Highland in May 2016 and continued to serve as a Senior Advisor to the firm through June 2018. Peter and his family live in the San Francisco Bay Area. He served as a Trustee at Sacred Heart Schools Atherton from 2012 through June 2018. Peter joined the Board of Trustees of Boston College in 2000 and currently serves as a Trustee Associate. He is also an advisor to the Shea Center for Entrepreneurship at Boston College. Peter holds a BS in Management from Boston College, an MBA from the Harvard Business School, and an Honorary Doctorate from Babson College.