people, Innovation Community, Obituaries

Second Avenue Partners’ Keith Grinstein Dies at Age 48

Gregory T. Huang 9/29/08

Xconomy is sad to report that Keith Grinstein, a major figure in the Seattle-area innovation community, passed away suddenly last night from an apparent heart attack. He was 48. Grinstein was a founding partner in Seattle-based Second Avenue Partners, a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology deals. He was also a strategic advisor for Madrona Venture Group. We will be posting further details and reactions as we hear them.

Grinstein served as chairman of Coinstar (NASDAQ: CSTR), director of F5 Networks (NASDAQ: FFIV), and director of Labor Ready (NYSE: LRW). According to the Second Avenue Partners website, he had played a role in structuring and/or investing in numerous private companies including Amazon, aQuantive, Tegic, HouseValues, Nordstrom.com, Insitu, Neah Power, and Seattle Biodiesel. Prior to Second Avenue Partners, he had also held senior management and operating positions at Wireless Services, Nextel International, Nextel Communications, McCaw Cellular, and AT&T Wireless.

Grinstein graduated from Yale University in 1982 and received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. magna cum laude, in 1986. He was a member of the State of Washington and New York Bar Associations.

Gregory T. Huang is the Editor of Xconomy Seattle. You can e-mail him at gthuang@xconomy.com or call 206-624-2249.