Karim Faris is the GV partner who leads the firm's investments in enterprise software, big data, and security, with a clear thesis that next-generation winners will be companies that make data accessible, analyzable, and secure across systems. He has strong pattern recognition around modern data protection and backup, leading GV's investment in Cohesity while predicting that customers will demand platforms that manage, secure, and derive value from secondary data rather than simple backup solutions.

• Deep focus on the cybersecurity sector, particularly platforms that modernize identity security and make protection more usable for end users. He frequently highlights advancements in identity management and encryption, celebrating companies like Duo Security that simplify complex security protocols.
• Interest in utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning to solve large-scale logistical problems. He actively supports ventures that apply AI to value chain management and supply chain visibility, such as systems that help map the global economy.
• Enthusiasm for next-generation data analytics and business intelligence tools. He follows companies that help organizations process massive datasets faster by combining algorithmic processing with human insight, enabling better decision-making in complex sectors.
• Support for developer tools and infrastructure that streamline mobile application testing and deployment. He has consistently pointed out broken workflows in mobile development and championed cloud-based testing solutions that automate quality assurance for builders.
• Appreciation for unconventional economic data collection methods. He is intrigued by startups that use mobile networks and on-the-ground contributors to track global economic shifts in real-time, such as monitoring local commodity prices to gauge inflation and market health.
• Value placed on seamless user experience even within technical enterprise software. He has praised business-to-business products that offer magical or effortless interactions, such as smooth two-factor authentication integrations on wearable devices.