Team

Tim Barrows is a general partner at Matrix, where he has invested in technology start-ups for twenty-five years. In his role as a lead investor and board member, Tim has assisted entrepreneurs in ushering ventures from their earliest stages through to successful outcomes. More than fifteen of the companies he helped establish and grow have gone onto successful acquisitions or initial public offerings.

Tim has advised and supported entrepreneurs across a range of technology sectors, including enterprise software, SMB-focused business services, communications and semiconductors. He has counseled entrepreneurs through multiple economic cycles and various technology booms, and has mentored many first-time CEOs.

Under Tim’s stewardship, Matrix Partners has delivered some of the highest performing funds of all time and expanded into international markets.

Prior to Matrix Partners, Tim worked in investment banking at Merrill Lynch White Weld, splitting his time between the technology group in corporate finance and the mergers and acquisitions group. He also assisted several early stage technology companies with raising seed capital.

Tim joined Matrix Partners in 1984. Among the companies he has worked with over the years are Tivoli Systems, the leading provider of system management solutions for distributed systems (one of the top two IPOs in 1995, later sold to IBM); OnDisplay, a provider of Web infrastructure software (IPO and later acquired by Vignette for $1.7 billion), Sycamore Networks, a provider of multiservice network solutions (Nasdaq: SCMR), and Starent Networks, the leading provider of infrastructure solutions for mobile carriers (Nasdaq: STAR).

While continuing to support entrepreneurs starting companies in the U.S., Tim leads the firm’s international efforts, which have included recruiting founding partners and establishing two new funds in Mumbai, India and Beijing, China.

Tim and Matrix were very helpful to me in my first role as CEO. Tim provided the guidance and support that were essential in a challenging situation. He was always candid and constructive in our interactions, which is something I value highly. I would absolutely work with Matrix again if I had the opportunity.

Bob Brennan, CEO, Iron Mountain