Pete Higgins
Mr. Higgins is a founding partner of Second Avenue Partners, one of Seattle’s most experienced teams providing management, strategy and capital to early-stage companies.
Prior to founding Second Avenue Partners, Mr. Higgins spent 16 years at Microsoft Corporation. Mr. Higgins was a member of the Office of the President, reporting to CEO Bill Gates. He was group vice president of the Interactive Media Group at Microsoft from 1996 to 1998. As head of the Interactive Media Group, he was responsible for Microsoft’s online and consumer software businesses, including MSN, MSNBC, Expedia, Carpoint, Slate, Internet Gaming Zone, Encarta, multimedia games, desktop finance product, and hardware products such as the Microsoft Mouse.
Mr. Higgins joined Microsoft in 1983. From 1995 to 1996, he was group vice president of Applications and Content, responsible for Microsoft Office consumer and online applications, desktop finance, hardware and Microsoft Research. From 1992 to 1995, he was senior vice president of the Desktop Applications division, where he was responsible for developing, marketing and localizing Microsoft Office. From 1988 to 1992, he was general manager and then vice president of the Analysis Business Unit, leading the rise of Microsoft Excel to the leadership position in the personal computer spreadsheet market.
Mr. Higgins serves on the board of directors of Bocada Inc., Insitu Group, and Advanced Digital Information Corporation. He is an executive advisor for the private equity firm Hellman Friedman, Housevalues, and is a strategic director of the venture capital group, Madrona Investments, LLC.
Mr. Higgins also serves on the Board of Trustees for Stanford University and Long Live the Kings. He is a past board member of the Washington Software Association and the Software Publishers Association.
Mr. Higgins holds an MBA and an undergraduate degree in economics and history from Stanford University.