Hillspire LLC is the family office of Eric Schmidt, who served as CEO of Google from 2001 to 2011 and subsequently as Executive Chairman of Alphabet until 2018. The office manages an estimated $15 billion, primarily derived from Schmidt’s Alphabet holdings and subsequent investment returns.
Investment Strategy
Hillspire’s investment strategy reflects Schmidt’s deep expertise in technology and his extensive network across Silicon Valley, government, and academia. The portfolio is heavily weighted toward technology-related investments, with significant allocations to artificial intelligence, defense technology, biotechnology, and climate technology.
Schmidt has been one of the most prominent technology investors in frontier areas. His investments span Innovation Endeavors (a venture firm he co-founded), direct investments in AI companies, defense technology startups, and biotechnology ventures. Schmidt’s involvement in government advisory roles, including the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, has informed the office’s investment thesis around dual-use technology and national security-adjacent opportunities.
Beyond technology, Hillspire maintains diversified holdings in real estate, public equities, and fixed income. The office also supports Schmidt’s philanthropic activities through Schmidt Futures, which funds scientific research, talent development, and technology policy initiatives.
Private Markets Approach
Hillspire’s private markets portfolio is concentrated in venture capital and growth equity, with a strong emphasis on companies developing transformative technologies. The office has been an early investor in numerous AI and machine learning companies, and Schmidt’s personal brand as a technology visionary creates substantial inbound deal flow.
Through Innovation Endeavors, the venture firm Schmidt co-founded, the office has exposure to early-stage technology companies across enterprise software, data infrastructure, robotics, and sustainability. Innovation Endeavors operates independently but represents a significant component of Schmidt’s overall private markets exposure.
Hillspire also commits to external venture capital and private equity funds, typically those with technology-focused mandates. The office favors managers who bring genuine technical diligence capabilities and access to differentiated deal flow in deep-tech sectors.
Fund managers approaching Hillspire should be prepared to demonstrate deep technical understanding of their investment domains. The office evaluates managers not only on financial track records but on the quality of their technical diligence processes and the defensibility of the technology advantages in their portfolio companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hillspire's primary investment focus?
Hillspire focuses heavily on technology-related investments, reflecting Eric Schmidt's background as former CEO of Google. The office invests across venture capital, growth equity, and direct investments in artificial intelligence, defense technology, biotechnology, and climate technology.
Does Hillspire invest in external fund managers?
Hillspire maintains a portfolio that includes both direct investments and commitments to external venture capital and private equity managers. The office is known to be an LP in technology-focused venture funds while also conducting significant direct investment activity through Schmidt's personal network.
How does Hillspire approach emerging technology investments?
Hillspire has been one of the most active family offices in frontier technology, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, defense technology, and biotechnology. Eric Schmidt's technical expertise and relationships across Silicon Valley, academia, and government provide the office with differentiated deal flow in deep-tech sectors.
