Kelly’s Biography

Kelly Perdew is a military veteran and pioneering venture capitalist who has helped shape the modern technology landscape through early investments in companies like LinkedIn, Pandora, Scopely, Gretel and ID.me.

As Managing General Partner of Moonshots Capital, he leads a prestigious seed-stage venture firm that has backed 125 companies and boasts 27 successful exits and more than 15 unicorns (companies that have attained $1B in valuation) in its portfolio.

Known for his extraordinary leadership, Kelly rose to national prominence as the winner of NBC’s The Apprentice Season 2, where he demonstrated the same strategic acumen that has defined his later investment career. His military background – as a West Point Graduate and former Army Intelligence Officer complete both Ranger and Airborne training – has laid the foundation of his unique approach to identifying and supporting exceptional founders.

Kelly’s expertise spans multiple domains: he holds joint MBA and JD degrees from UCLA, has served in operating roles at 10 different early-stage companies, and maintains active board positions in numerous high-growth startups. His investment philosophy centers on identifying extraordinary leaders, frequently military veterans, who demonstrate the ability to build transformative companies.

He published a book on applying military leadership principles to business called, Take Command. Buy the book on Amazon or listen to it on Audible.