Estimated Value $300 million

Last Year's Rank  Valuation NA

Business Technology incubator

Location Pasadena, California

CEO Bill Gross

Investors NA

Analysis Back in 1996, Bill Gross put together an incubation company for Internet start-ups. The company raised $1 billion at the height of the Internet bubble in 2000 at a valuation of $8 billion. The company has changed radically since then, however, and now focuses on renewable energy as well as digital businesses.

Since inception, Idealab has invested in nearly 80 companies, with 6 currently in residence, 8 IPOs and 28 merger and acquisition deals. The company's average first round investment is between $2-20 million.

A source close to idealab puts the value of its stakes in its companies at $275-$300 million.