Dear Reader:
Rarely does an entrepreneur have the opportunity to thank those people who have given him the ability to pursue his dream.

Here are some of the people for whom I'm grateful. And why.

For Lisa, my wife, for always encouraging me to live my questions and take entrepreneurial risks (though her father did the same and won and lost more than once), for raising two wonderful kids while I was absentee founding Good Technology and for helping me to be a better human being.

For Rhoa Whorton, my grandmother, for driving home the importance of a great education and instilling a sense that anything is possible with one.

For Chris Alden, Lars Dalgaard, Peter Relan, Kim Smith, Ram Shriram, Richard Tait and Artie Wu for believing in me as a service provider and business partner, though I was, in the cases of SuccessFactors and Cranium, just weeks on the job at TPG Ventures. To each, for being dedicated to building fundamental value and making the difference in the lives of many in your own unique way.

For John Doerr, for understanding my decision to go to Netscape instead of working with him during the summer between years at the GSB and not taking no for an answer after business school. For taking a risk on me as his first associate in years and for encouraging me to stay focused on my objective coming into KP--being a founding CEO of a high-potential company. For sharing his wisdom, his network of friends and colleagues, his approach to company building, his philosophies on great ventures, and his passion for excellence as a service provider to entrepreneurs. For sharing his and Al Gore's idea of how to catalyze change for the most under served students in our country, and in doing so igniting my passion for improving public education for all. Most of all, for his friendship and continued faith in me.

For Dave Strohm, for showing me that one can significantly tilt the odds of early-stage success in your favor through focus, high availability, firm but kind communications, attention to high-level strategy and thoughtful crafting of leadership teams, all the way down to the key operational details.

For Bruce Dunlevie, for backing me at Good Technology, embracing the new strategy and being there for me ever since. And for welcoming my raw idea of a new early-stage fund with a pointed reminder that the scarcest resource is the time and attention of proven early-stage company builders. And for making the invaluable introduction to Fred Giuffrida and Phil Horsley at Horsley Bridge.

For Vinod Khosla, for showing me how to take a raw idea or hypothesis about what could happen in the future and - through a disciplined process of discovery and experimentation -optimize the market opportunity before most even understand that the market exists.

For Craig Dauchy, for taking on Tugboat when it was just an idea, sharing his wisdom and providing timely advice and counsel throughout.

For Roger McNamee, for walking out of the room to drive home his point that I must have the courage and confidence to have a highly concentrated portfolio if I wanted to make a difference as a mentor capitalist and earn exceptional returns.

For Jim Coulter, for taking a bet on me during the nuclear winter of venture capital, and for David Bonderman for encouraging me to go do it.

For Laura Arrillaga, Brett Bullington, Irv Grousbeck, Chuck Holloway, Mark Lotke, Roger McNamee (second time), Ho Nam, Sandy Robertson, Art Shaw, Rob Shenk, Bippy Siegal, Russ Siegelman, Dave Strohm (second time), David Surrenda and Leonard Whorton, for their unwavering support and encouragement over the years.