Venture capitalist John Doerr: 'we are very sorry it is so hard for women and minorities' in tech

In an internal note obtained by the Wall Street Journal, Kleiner Perkins' general partner John Doerr apologized to people he calls "friends and partners" for the recent gender discrimination trial his firm went through.

"The litigation limited our communications with you, our friends and partners. We are sorry you had to go through it," Doerr wrote. "But most of all, we are very sorry it is so hard for women and minorities in the tech and venture industry."

The report said it wasn't clear who exactly the note was sent to, only confirming that "three people in his extended personal network" have received it.

Kleiner Perkins' spokesperson was not immediately available when we reached out for comment.

Doerr also notes that he is committed to building a "50/50 world," a point he stressed during his recent Bloomberg interview as well.

Former employee Ellen Pao sued Kleiner Perkins for gender discrimination in 2012, and the case was tried this year. Kleiner Perkins won the trial but Pao has filed a notice to appeal the ruling.

You can read the full note below:

Emily Chang of Bloomberg TV recently interviewed my partner Dr. Beth Seidenberg and me. We answered questions about the Pao trial and the outlook for Kleiner Perkins.

The litigation limited our communications with you, our friends and partners. We are sorry you had to go through it. But most of all, we are very sorry it is so hard for women and minorities in the tech and venture industry.

We talk with Emily about the good that emerged from the trial, namely a renewed focus on diversity by the tech and venture industry.

Another bright spot is the support we have felt from our community. The notes from so many of you have meant the world to us.

You can view the interview here. Beth has written a blog post about our new initiatives here.

As a father of two daughters, this is personal. I am committed to help get to a 50/50 world, one with opportunity for them and everyone. This is important for social justice, and because it is better for business. And because diversity is a core value at Kleiner, a partnership I love and am proud of.

We are very grateful for your support. We're moving on and look forward to serving you.

Onward!

John