Demonstrating consistent revenue growth and profits takes most such companies five to eight years, says Stephan Dolezalek, a managing director at VantagePoint Venture Partners.

FORBES: Seeing Green In Cleantech

Also realizing Tesla IPO windfalls are the elite of Silicon Valley venture capital: the Westly Group (whose principal, Steve Westly, is an Obama campaign bundler), Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and VantagePoint Venture Partners.

WSJ: Review & Outlook: The Other Government Motors

Investors in Widevine include Constellation Ventures , Cisco Systems , Charter Ventures , Dai Nippon Printing , Pacesetter Capital Group , The Phoenix Partners , TELUS (TU) and VantagePoint Venture Partners .

FORBES: Google Buys Widevine