In 1976, Ann Winblad started a software company, Open Systems, 
which she sold "for a pile of money." She then went ot work as a 
consultant for Microsoft, Apple and I.B.M..; wrote a book on 
object-oriented programming and co-founded Hummer Winblad Venture 
Partners, a $95 million software-only fund, headquarted in Emeryville. 

While she will probably be forever known as the one who once dated Bill 
Gates, Winblad is also known as one of the toughtest and most savvy 
investors in Silicon Valley. She serves as director of, among 
many companies, Arbor Software, Berkeley Systems and Net 
Perceptions. She is also an advisor to The Software Forum, the San Jose 
Center for Software Development and the Stanford/MIT Venture Forum.