Silicon Valley Laureate

Nomination Criteria

Nominees should demonstrate several of the following characteristics:

Ecosystem Builder: have played a significant role in building or shaping the entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports innovation. This may include venture capitalists, financiers, lawyers, educators, or other leaders who enabled innovation beyond founding a single company.

Enduring Impact: have made a lasting contribution to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, influencing how companies are built, funded, scaled, or supported.

Mentorship and Community: have shown a commitment to mentoring entrepreneurs and other participants in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Achievements: has reached a significant level of success, including a substantial body of work and professional accomplishments. While the award generally recognizes lifetime achievement, exceptional individuals earlier in their careers may also be considered.

Selection Criteria and Process

Each year, a selection committee composed of CHM staff, trustees, historians, and leaders in the entrepreneurial ecosystem review the nominations. The committee evaluates nominees based on the criteria below and produces a ranked list of recommended candidates. The final selection is made by the CHM CEO.

Selection Criteria

In selecting the final laureate, the committee considers the following factors:

• The award recognizes individuals who helped build and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem—as distinguished from the technologists already likely to be honored as CHM Fellows. While technologists may also be founders or company leaders, this award recognizes business success rather than technological achievement.
• The scale, reach, and lasting significance of the nominee’s contributions to the entrepreneurial ecosystem—their overall impact.
• The individual(s) should be a widely respected leader whose contributions are broadly recognized within one or more entrepreneurial communities.
• The award focuses on individuals whose work significantly shaped the Silicon Valley entrepreneurial ecosystem, though their influence/impact may have extended globally.