Roger McNamee
Roger McNamee is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Elevation Partners, a leading private equity firm investing at the intersection of media, entertainment, and consumer technology. A veteran investor and venture capitalist with more than 35 years of experience in the technology sector, McNamee has co-founded several highly successful investment funds spanning venture capital, crossover, and private equity strategies. He began his career at T. Rowe Price, where he managed the top-performing Science & Technology Fund and co-managed the New Horizons Fund, establishing his reputation for identifying disruptive growth opportunities. McNamee later co-founded Integral Capital Partners, in collaboration with Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, pioneering the crossover investment model that bridged private and public technology markets. He is also the author of Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe and The New Normal, exploring the societal and economic impact of digital transformation. Beyond finance, McNamee is an accomplished musician and active philanthropist, supporting arts, culture, and technology ethics initiatives.
Roger McNamee Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
-
Co-Founder and Managing Director
-
Analyst
Academic History
-
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
-
B.A., History
TMT CAREER
Roger McNamee’s career spans over three decades of active investing in technology, media, and telecommunications, as well as private equity, venture capital, and public advocacy, making him a prominent voice at the intersection of finance, technology, and social impact.
As Co-Founder and Managing Director of Elevation Partners, McNamee worked alongside notable figures such as U2 frontman Bono and Fred Anderson, former Chief Financial Officer of Apple.
He has served as a technical advisor for HBO’s hit series Silicon Valley (seasons two through five) and played a pivotal role in raising the funding that established the Wikimedia Foundation.
McNamee was also an early investor in Facebook and mentored Mark Zuckerberg from 2006 to 2009, providing guidance during the company’s formative years.
MUSIC CAREER
In addition to his investment and advocacy work, McNamee is an accomplished musician, performing up to 100 concerts annually with his bands Moonalice and Doobie Decibel System, where he plays bass and guitar.
His band Moonalice has been recognized for pioneering the use of social media in the music industry, creating innovations such as Twittercast concerts, Moonalice Radio on Twitter, live Moontunes video streams, and the Moonalice Couch Tour.
McNamee also holds a U.S. patent related to MoonTunes and the live broadcast of video to mobile devices, underscoring his commitment to blending technology and creativity.
MEDIA PRESENCE & PUBLICATIONS
McNamee is an outspoken advocate for technology ethics and regulatory reform, frequently addressing issues surrounding big tech, data privacy, and platform accountability.
He has testified before governmental bodies on technology policy and public interest concerns.
As a respected thought leader, McNamee is a regular guest on CNBC’s “Squawk Alley” and MSNBC’s Ali Velshi show, and has been featured or quoted in leading publications including Bloomberg, Forbes, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, WIRED, and The Guardian.
He has also appeared on Real Vision, sharing insights on digital disruption, innovation, and the future of responsible technology investment.