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Kevin Hartz

Kevin Hartz is an American serial entrepreneur, investor, and venture capitalist best known for co-founding the international money transfer company Xoom in 2001, the event ticketing and management platform in 2006, and the advanced home security firm Sauron Systems in 2024. Born in , Hartz grew up in the and developed an early interest in technology during high school, including programming exposure while working in a research lab in in 1987. He attended in Orinda, graduating in 1988, before earning a in history and applied earth science from in 1992 and a in history from the University of Oxford in 1993. Hartz began his professional career as a at from 1995 to 1997, followed by co-founding ConnectGroup in 1998, a provider of high-speed services to hotels that was acquired by LodgeNet Entertainment for $10 million in under 10 months. He then served as a principal at the venture firm Outlook Ventures from 1999 to 2001 while acting as an angel investor in early-stage companies, including . As CEO of Xoom from 2001 to 2005, he scaled the company to serve over 30 countries before stepping down; it later went public in 2013 and was acquired by for $1.1 billion in 2015. In 2006, Hartz co-founded with his wife Julia Hartz (who serves as CEO) and Renaud Visage, revolutionizing self-service event ticketing and issuing nearly 60 million tickets worldwide by 2012; the company went public on the in 2018. Transitioning to venture capital, Hartz joined Peter Thiel's Founders Fund as a partner in 2016, where he invested in notable startups like Airbnb and Pinterest, before departing in 2018 to co-found A* Capital, a firm focused on early-stage technology investments. In addition to his angel investments in companies such as Yammer, TripIt (acquired by Concur), and Lookout, Hartz launched a SPAC called "one" in 2021 that merged with Markforged in a $2.1 billion deal. More recently, as co-founder and chairman of Sauron Systems, he has pioneered autonomous security solutions integrating AI, drones, and multi-modal sensors to address rising concerns over home safety in Silicon Valley.

Early Life and Education

Early Life

Kevin Hartz was born in Berkeley, California, and raised in Orinda, a suburb in the East Bay area near Silicon Valley. He grew up in a supportive family environment during his formative years, describing his childhood as idyllic and relatively uneventful. This middle-class upbringing in close proximity to Silicon Valley exposed Hartz to the region's early technology innovations and the emerging internet boom, fostering his initial interest in tech and entrepreneurship. During his senior year at in Orinda, Hartz gained hands-on experience with technology while working in a neurology research lab in , where he first encountered the and programming languages, an introduction he later recalled as "." His parents encouraged academic pursuits and curiosity, providing a foundation that influenced his later transition to .

Education

Hartz earned a and Sciences (B.A.S.) degree from in 1992, majoring in both and applied sciences. His focus on during his undergraduate years introduced him to analytical methods that emphasized learning from past events to inform decision-making, a perspective he later applied to business strategy. Shortly after graduating from Stanford, Hartz pursued graduate studies abroad at , where he obtained a (M.A.) degree in in 1993. This year-long immersion in an international academic environment broadened his global outlook, reinforcing his historical training by exposing him to diverse cultural and political narratives that influenced his approach to innovation and investment.

Professional Career

Early Career

Kevin Hartz began his professional career in 1995 as a product manager at (SGI), where he oversaw the development and release of Cosmo Player, a pioneering browser and plug-in for web browsers like that enabled interactive 3D graphics and content on the . In this role, Hartz managed aspects of software development for multimedia tools, coordinating cross-functional teams to enhance web-based media playback capabilities, including faster rendering through support and user interface improvements for navigating virtual worlds. During his approximately two-year tenure at SGI from 1995 to 1997, Hartz gained foundational skills in product lifecycle management, from conceptualization and engineering collaboration to market positioning, while observing the entrepreneurial dynamics of , such as key executives like departing to found . His background in history from proved instrumental, fostering analytical skills that helped him draw parallels between historical patterns and the evolving landscape of personal computing and networks. These experiences at SGI provided Hartz with a deep appreciation for the power of professional networks and innovation, motivating his transition toward entrepreneurship by 1998.

Xoom Corporation

In 2001, Kevin Hartz co-founded with Alan Braverman, establishing it as an online platform specializing in money remittances to address the inefficiencies of traditional services like . The company enabled consumers to send digitally to over 30 countries using computers or mobile devices, emphasizing speed, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility for cross-border transfers. As CEO from 2001 to 2005, Hartz led product development, including the creation of a secure online interface that integrated with major financial institutions for real-time verification and fraud prevention, while expanding market reach to serve immigrant communities and expatriates. Under Hartz's initial leadership, Xoom achieved significant growth, processing billions in annual transfers and building a user base that reached over 1.5 million active customers by late 2015, who sent approximately $7.1 billion in remittances during the prior 12 months. Key innovations included mobile-enabled transfers and advanced protocols to ensure secure transactions without physical cash handling, setting a standard for digital remittances in an era dominated by in-person services. After stepping down as CEO in 2005, Hartz transitioned to the , guiding strategic decisions through the company's (IPO) in February 2013, which raised $101 million on the under the ticker XOOM. The IPO valued Xoom at around $568 million and marked a in its evolution from startup to public entity, fueled by increasing adoption of online financial tools. Hartz remained on the board until 2015, when acquired Xoom for $890 million in cash, integrating its technology to enhance 's global payment capabilities. This acquisition, completed in November 2015, represented a successful exit for Xoom's founders and investors, underscoring the company's impact on disrupting the $70 billion annual market through scalable digital infrastructure.

Eventbrite

Kevin Hartz co-founded Eventbrite in 2006 alongside his wife Julia Hartz and Renaud Visage, launching it as a self-service online platform designed to simplify event creation, ticketing, and promotion for organizers worldwide. The company addressed a key pain point in the events industry by enabling users to manage everything from small gatherings to large-scale productions without relying on traditional ticketing intermediaries. Drawing from his prior experience at Xoom Corporation, where an acquisition by PayPal highlighted the risks of premature funding rounds, Hartz advocated for a cautious approach to growth. In the early years, Hartz served as CEO, overseeing product development and operations while the trio bootstrapped the venture using personal savings, avoiding external investment for nearly four years to focus on achieving product-market fit. Under his leadership, Eventbrite processed millions of tickets organically, reaching projected gross ticket sales of $200 million by 2010 before securing its first major funding round of $20 million in Series D from investors including Sequoia Capital and DAG Ventures. This period emphasized sustainable scaling, with Hartz contributing to core features like social discovery and event management tools that drove user adoption. Eventbrite expanded globally, establishing operations in nearly 180 countries and processing over 284 million tickets across diverse markets by the early 2020s. A pivotal milestone came in 2018 when the company went public on the under the ticker symbol EB, raising approximately $232 million in its priced at $23 per share. The IPO valued Eventbrite at approximately $1.8 billion and provided capital for further international growth and platform enhancements. The in severely disrupted live events, leading to pivot rapidly toward experiences; the platform hosted nearly 20,000 events daily and issued tickets for over 1 million gatherings that year, with half focused on seminars, workshops, and . This adaptation sustained revenue amid widespread cancellations of in-person activities and positioned to support hybrid formats post-pandemic. As of 2025, Hartz remains Chairman of 's board, providing strategic oversight while Julia Hartz serves as CEO, guiding the company's evolution in a recovering events landscape.

Venture Capital and Investments

Following his tenure as CEO of , Kevin Hartz transitioned into , leveraging his experience in scaling technology platforms to inform his investment decisions. In September 2016, he joined as a , where he focused on early-stage investments in technology startups, including and , until stepping down in June 2018. In 2020, Hartz co-founded alongside Bennett and , serving as a with a primary emphasis on and Series A rounds in companies. The firm has completed over 50 investments to date, with notable portfolio companies including Vigil Labs, an AI-driven security firm that received funding in August 2025. Hartz's investment philosophy centers on founder-market fit, prioritizing entrepreneurs with deep domain expertise and the drive to innovate rapidly in emerging trends. As of October 2025, this approach has led A* Capital to allocate nearly 20% of its fund to startups led by teenage founders, such as Aaru, an AI prediction engine developed by a founder too young to drive. Additionally, Hartz co-founded Sauron Systems in 2024, a company building autonomous AI-powered home security systems to address threats in real time within the innovative consumer technology sector. Among the successes in Hartz's broader portfolio are several notable exits, including Chairish, an for luxury furniture that was acquired in August 2025, and Liquid I.V., a product company that achieved significant growth and valuation milestones.

Personal Life

Family

Kevin Hartz met his future wife, Julia Hartz (née Sutton), in 2003 at a mutual friend's , where they were seated next to each other during the ceremony. The couple became engaged in April 2005 and married on June 3, 2006. Together, and Hartz have four daughters, with the first two born in the late 2000s and early 2010s, and the latter two arriving more recently. They have emphasized co-parenting amid demanding entrepreneurial schedules, often sharing responsibilities like morning routines and family travel to maintain balance between home life and professional commitments. Julia Hartz assumed the role of Eventbrite's CEO in 2016, while Kevin transitioned to , yet the couple continues to collaborate on joint decision-making that spans both dynamics and overlapping business interests. Their partnership has fostered a environment immersed in , where the children have grown up surrounded by discussions of and startup culture in the Hartzes' home.

Philanthropy and Interests

Kevin Hartz has demonstrated a commitment to philanthropy through targeted giving that supports community revitalization and educational institutions. In 2023, he and his wife Julia contributed to the Civic Joy Fund, a $2 million initiative launched by the Civic Space Foundation to fund arts- and volunteer-based projects aimed at injecting positivity into San Francisco's commercial districts amid economic challenges. The fund supported efforts like street cleanups and community events to foster civic engagement and counter urban decline. Additionally, Hartz serves as a trustee on the Board of Trustees of the California Academy of Sciences, where he contributes to the governance of the institution focused on natural history education and scientific research. Beyond charitable contributions, Hartz emphasizes personal interests centered on family time and self-improvement as key to maintaining work-life balance. He has publicly discussed prioritizing these elements alongside his professional endeavors, viewing them as essential for sustained well-being. In interviews and speaking engagements, Hartz often highlights the integration of family priorities with entrepreneurial pursuits, drawing from his experiences building companies while nurturing personal growth. This approach includes dedicating time to non-professional activities that promote reflection and community involvement, reflecting a broader dedication to holistic life practices.

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