Rather like the venture capitalists behind the American software industry, Mr Gates is a venture philanthropist: he backs schemes, assesses them and dumps failures.

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Stroum, a Seattle philanthropist, venture capitalist and a major Democratic fundraiser selected by President Barack Obama to be the face of the U.S. in the speck European nation of just under 500, 000, has left her post before a scathing report about her was made public, according to N.

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He is a venture partner at Gen Y Capital and an avid philanthropist.

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