Frank Kline founded Kline Hawkes & Co. in 1994 to manage investment capital for institutional investors. With a 26 year successful track record in venture capital, including experience as a Wall Street research analyst covering the computer and communications industries, Mr. Kline directs the company’s investments in mid and expansion-stage venture opportunities in communications, information technology and enterprise solutions.     

Since its inception, Kline Hawkes & Co. has invested in more than 35 companies and managed approximately $300 million via three funds: Kline Hawkes California, L.P.; Kline Hawkes California SBIC, L.P. and its most recent fund, Kline Hawkes Pacific, L.P. 

Prior to forming Kline Hawkes & Co., Mr. Kline was the West Coast General Manager of Lambda Funds, a private equity fund based in New York and Los Angeles.  Earlier, he was a Partner at Pacific Technology Venture Fund, which he co-founded with Patrick J. McGovern, founder of IDG and publisher of Computerworld. 

Mr. Kline has directed investments in a number of highly successful companies, including MagneTek (NYSE: MAG); Merisel Inc. (NASDAQ: MSEL) (formerly Softsel); SuperShuttle; Laserscope; Inc. (NASDAQ: LSCP); Ensoniq/Creative Technology, Ltd. (NASDAQ:CREAF); International Microelectronic Products (NASDAQ: IMPX); Transoft Networks, Inc., acquired by Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HWP); CampusLink Communications, acquired by PaeTec Communications, Inc., and AboveNet Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABOV) which was acquired by Metromedia Fiber Network (NASDAQ: MFNX). Mr. Kline is currently a member of the board of Cyalume Technologies, Inc. and Rayne Corporation.

A sought after speaker, Mr. Kline has appeared frequently at industry events, including the Los Angeles Venture Association which presented Mr. Kline with the Venture Patience Award which marked the acquisition of SuperShuttle the French transportation company Veolia, an exit that was 19 years in the making. Mr. Kline has also enjoyed a long association with the Tech Coast Alliance, and the Venture Capital Round Table at the Anderson School at UCLA. For many years, he served on the judging panel of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award Program, and as a member of the Board of Governors for the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies. (NASBIC).

Community commitments include St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, Camp Ronald McDonald For Good Times and the Harvard Westlake School in North Hollywood. 

Mr. Kline received a Bachelor’s degree from Rider College in 1972 and a Masters Degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1974.