Joy co-founded Sun Microsystems in 1982 and was its long-time chief scientist. At Sun, he helped design the Solaris operating system, Sparc processor, chip architectures and Java software.
Bill Joy
co-founder,
Sun Microsystems
He is credited with inventing several Internet technologies and also set up the first citywide Wi-Fi network. He left Sun in fall 2003.
"The pace of innovation is accelerating--making this the best of times for entrepreneurs, and for me to become a KPCB partner," Joy said in a statement. "I will continue to help entrepreneurs advance the Internet, develop wireless innovations, and find new ways of using large piles of computers to solve difficult problems. I'm also particularly interested in discoveries and inventions that solve energy and resource problems."
Menlo Park, Calif.-based Kleiner Perkins has backed some of the biggest names in technology, including America Online, Amazon.com, Compaq Computer, Google, Juniper Networks, Netscape Communications, Symantec and VeriSign.
