Matthew Nichols

Matthew Nichols is a General Partner at Commerce Ventures, a venture capital firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area that focuses on innovation in the retail and financial services sectors. He has over 20 years of experience as both an investor and operator in early-stage technology companies.

Professional Background

• Current Role: As a General Partner at Commerce Ventures since August 2017, Nichols leads the firm's investment team focused on commerce infrastructure and retail technology. He is also a member of the management committee and serves on the boards of several portfolio companies, including Pensa and Instock.12

• Previous Experience: Before joining Commerce Ventures, Nichols was the CEO of Gemvara, an eCommerce company specializing in customizable jewelry, which was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway. He played a crucial role in driving the company's growth and achieving profitability.12 His earlier roles include being a Principal at Highland Capital Partners and a Venture Associate at Morgan Stanley Venture Partners, where he was involved in several successful investments.123

Education

Nichols holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pomona College and an MBA with high distinction from The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.23

Notable Achievements

• Led Gemvara to profitability within 1.5 years of taking the CEO role.
• Played a part in the Google IPO while working at Morgan Stanley.
• Has a history of successful investments in various technology sectors, particularly in eCommerce and digital media.123

Personal Interests

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Nichols is noted for being a nationally-ranked badminton player.2