SIERRA_HEADSHOTS__0003_MVPStudio-SierraVentures0392

Jim Doehrman

OPERATING PARTNER

Jim Doehrman joined Sierra Ventures in 2015 to lead the firm’s operations as well as
assist portfolio companies with back office infrastructure. Jim has a background as a
COO, CAO, and CFO at public and private technology companies, including SaaS
company Xtime (M&A – Cox (AutoTrader)) and digital media pioneer Gracenote (M&A –
Sony). He was CFO for Managing Director Tim Guleri at Octane Software and helped
engineer what was then the largest sale of a private software company ($3.2B – in
2000). Prior to joining Octane, Jim had his operational and finance training in the public
accounting, retail and media industries, including International assignments in London
and Mexico City and led the initial IPO of the publisher of “the Dummies” books (eg.
“DOS For Dummies”). Jim is a CPA and holds a BA in Accounting from SMU. Jim’s
passion outside of work is wine. Ask him about the Sierra Ventures wine label!

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Investor Relations
Contract Negotiation & Strategic Planning
Corporate Finance & Accounting Practices
International Operations
Process Improvement
Change Management
Mergers and Acquisitions
Strategic Partnerships

Insights from Jim

How did you get into Venture Capital?

As someone with Finance and Operations training, I spent years in public accounting, then with large global companies, and was CFO for two smaller public companies before joining my first startup in 2000. For the next 15 years, I interacted extensively with VCs while I was working with startups. Sierra Managing Partner Tim Guleri was the former CEO of my first startup. He had joined Sierra Ventures in 2001 and reached out to me in 2015, and, ultimately, offered me my current role. It has been a great ride over the past six years and has allowed me to use my existing experience while learning the many new and complex aspects of the VC world.

What advice do you have for entrepreneurs?

Be Persistent, curious, and paranoid. (I love Intel founder Andy Grove’s mantra: “Only the Paranoid Survive.”)

What is your best “life-hack”?

I keep lists – lots of them. I make lists of things to do – work and personal, things to read, or things to think about. The form does not matter (paper, electronic, etc.) as long as you make them. Making lists allows me to organize ideas for referral later and open my mind to new things. When I follow this practice I find that I rarely have the “did I forget something” moment.