Bill Draper, Pioneer Venture Capitalist Who Preceded Silicon Valley, Dies at 98

Bill Draper, one of the earliest venture capitalists in American history, has died at the age of 98. He began investing in technology start-ups in the early 1960s, long before the region became known as Silicon Valley. At the time, the Santa Clara Valley in California was still largely associated with apricot orchards rather than the tech industry. Draper is widely credited as a foundational figure in shaping the venture capital landscape that would eventually fuel the modern technology boom.