Danny Rimer

I wasn’t able to confirm an American businessman named Danny Rimer born September 28, 1970. However, there is a well-known venture capitalist named Danny Rimer who is closely associated with Index Ventures. Below is a profile based on verified sources; if this is someone else (or if you meant “American” but he is Canadian/European), we can adjust.

Danny Rimer – Life, Career, and Impact

Learn about Danny Rimer, Index Ventures partner and leading global venture capitalist—his background, investments, philosophies, and influence on the tech and startup ecosystems.

Introduction

Danny Rimer is a prominent venture capitalist and partner at Index Ventures, a global VC firm. He is best known for backing companies such as Skype, Dropbox, Etsy, Figma, and Discord, and for establishing Index’s key offices in London and San Francisco. Rimer is widely regarded as one of the leading venture investors in both Europe and Silicon Valley.

Early Life and Education

• Danny Rimer was born on September 28, 1970.

• Though born in Canada, he grew up in Geneva, Switzerland.

• He attended Harvard University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in literature and fine arts.

• After graduation, he relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area to pursue opportunities in technology and finance.

Career and Achievements

Early Career & First Ventures

• After moving to California, Rimer and collaborators tried launching a startup to digitize high-art images from museums (e.g. the Louvre, Uffizi) for download/licensing. The idea didn’t ultimately scale, but it shows his early interest in digital culture and marketplace models.

• He joined Hambrecht & Quist, a boutique investment bank, where he led the Internet sector equity research group, and worked on underwriting and IPOs for companies like Netscape, Amazon, and VeriSign.

• Later, he became a general partner at The Barksdale Group (circa 1999–2002), investing in early stage Internet infrastructure and services companies (e.g. Crossgain, Ofoto, Tellme Networks).

Index Ventures & Major Investments

• In 2002 Rimer joined Index Ventures and helped open its London office.

• In 2012, he also helped launch the San Francisco office of Index Ventures.

• Over his career at Index, Rimer has led and overseen investments in numerous high-profile companies including:
    • Skype (Index was an early investor)   • MySQL   • Last.fm   • Dropbox (he led the Series B investment)   • Etsy and King   • More recent investments include Figma, Discord, Glossier, GOAT, Patreon

• He has served as a board member or director in many of these portfolio companies.

Recognition & Roles

• Rimer has repeatedly appeared on the Forbes Midas List of top global venture capitalists.

• He was honored with the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2017 for services to business and philanthropy.

• He also holds trustee and board roles outside investing: for example, he is on the Board of Tate (UK art institution) and is a trustee or involved with Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres.

Philosophy & Approach

Danny Rimer is known for having a global vision in venture capital—bridging European and U.S. tech ecosystems. In public commentary, he has expressed skepticism of status quo business models, and interest in backing companies that challenge traditional norms (e.g. giving away services, disruptive marketplaces).

For example, in a 2006 profile, he said, “The best companies are the ones that offer their products for free.”

He also emphasizes that opportunity is abundant: that early-stage capital can be efficiently deployed across geographies and sectors, and that innovation can emerge outside traditional tech hubs.

His investment style combines deep domain insight, willingness to long-hold, and cross-border confidence.

Legacy & Influence

Danny Rimer is widely considered one of the architects of bridging European and Silicon Valley venture capital. His work has helped raise global profiles for European startups and shown that high return exits can come from outside the U.S.

His leadership in Index Ventures has contributed to defining what a “global VC” can do: operate across continents, spot cross-pollinating trends, and invest in both consumer and infrastructure businesses.

Because he is still active, his full legacy is still being written—but his influence is already felt in transatlantic tech finance and portfolio building.

Quotes & Insights

Here are a few known statements attributed to Rimer (or paraphrased):

• “The best companies are the ones that offer their products for free.”

• “Everything is up for grabs again. Is Amazon truly the best online buying experience? Absolutely not. … Are dating sites like really a reflection of the way people date? Probably not.”

• On Europe’s startup culture: he has remarked that in Europe, there is sometimes a cultural hesitation toward entrepreneurship, and that the label of “small shopkeeper” can overshadow ambition.

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