Rich joined in 2001 as General Counsel, providing guidance on investments, exits, and fund structuring, while serving as counsel to the firm globally. Prior to Accel, he worked at Gunderson Dettmer, representing startups and venture capital firms. Earlier in his career, Rich worked at Telesoft Partners, Arthur Andersen, and is a certified public accountant. He grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Villanova University and the University of California, Hastings.
Get to know Rich
What’s your go-to productivity hack?
A mentor early in my career suggested using a 2x2 matrix with Urgent/Not Urgent on one axis and Important/Not Important on the other. Maximize your time in the two important boxes and minimize your time in the other two. Visualizing projects in this way, enables me to avoid being distracted by the onslaught of urgent items and to focus on the important ones.
What's something people are surprised to learn about you?
In the summer after my sophomore year in college, I ran a painting business. I bought ladders and brushes and then hired my roommates and other students to paint houses. I went door to door, giving free estimates and signing up houses to paint. Our team of 8 students painted around 20 houses that summer, and we earned close to $50,000. It gave me a framework for the startup mindset. I learned a lot about rejection, success, failure, and building something from nothing. It was life changing.
If you could master any skill instantly?
It would be really cool to be able to play the piano. Just walk up and start playing a song. It surprises me whenever people can do that, and I'd love to have that skill instantly.