Battery grows Silicon Valley team

Battery Ventures, a venture capital and private equity firm focused on technology, has expanded its Silicon Valley team with the hire of Matt Niehaus and Satya Patel. The office now has 12 investment professionals.

Niehaus

Niehaus, who joins the firm as a partner, was most recently the director of strategic development at digital infrastructure company VeriSign. At Battery, he will concentrate on investing in communication services and infrastructure technologies.

Patel joins the firm as an associate partner. Most recently, he was a senior product manager for Google and for digital ad firm DoubleClick. At Battery, he will focus on

Patel

software, consumer internet and digital media markets.

“Both Matt and Satya have a combination of relevant operating experience as well as VC and private equity experience,” said Ken Lawler, general partner at Battery Ventures, in a statement. “Being on both sides of the house is critical to doing this job well.”

Battery’s current investments in the communication services and infrastructure technologies sectors currently include Agito Networks, Cedar Point Communications, Netezza and MetroPCS. Its internet and digital media investments include Omniture, Spot Runner, Travelguru and World Golf Tour.

Battery was founded in 1983 and has office in Boston, Silicon Valley and Israel. The firm manages more than $2 billion (€1.5 billion) in capital.