Bill Helman co-founded Equal Opportunity Ventures with Harvard economist Roland Fryer as a data-driven experiment to back under-represented founders, combining his longtime Greylock leadership experience with academic research methods rather than relying solely on traditional industry networks. He brings an unusual perspective to venture investing through his role as a Ford Motor Company board member since 2011, where he oversees finance and governance at a major industrial company while simultaneously investing in early-stage startups.