Neal Dempsey

Senior Partner, Bay Partners

Neal is Senior Partner at Bay, responsible for driving the company’s investment towards liquidity, together with his partners. He sits on 9 boards including Eloqua, Enphase Energy and Guidewire Software. Founded in 1976, Bay Partners has invested in over 200 companies and is currently in its 11th fund with over $1 billion under the firm’s management. Neal’s focus includes SaaS, Enterprise, Internet and eCommerce companies. 

Through cycles of change, Neal’s investment approach has remained constant – the best investment is the entrepreneur with passion and perseverance and who understands the art of listening. His eye for passion, perseverance and listening has served him well, as evidenced by his investment in industry-changing companies like Brocade, Exodus, and Informatica.

When he is not advising companies and entrepreneurs at Bay Partners, Neal volunteers his time as an advisor to non-profit organizations. He created the Dempsey Foundation to focus on his three areas of interest: higher education, children and the environment. Through his foundation and volunteer time, he has served organizations for children such as Families First. His commitment to higher education led him to found the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Washington Foster School of Business. The foundation also funds scholarships for students, athletes, and junior faculty.