Microsoft's acquisition of TellMe for what GigaOm is reporting to be between $800 million and $1 billion provides a respectable, if not spectacular, return to a large group of backers that patiently waited eight years for a liquidity event.

And it's a motley crew. Among the big names that poured $238 million into TellMe are Benchmark Capital and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Funds that have decided not to raise additional funds such as The Barksdale Group and the Reuters Greenhouse Fund also benefited. Secondary fund specialist Saints Capital also has a stake.

The chart below created using LinkSViewer lists additional investors. What also comes through by analyzing TellMe's network is that another capital-thirsty Kleiner Perkins and Benchmark portfolio company, Good Technology, also found a buyer a few months ago. A pattern, perhaps? I'm not sure, but other co-investments by the pair include Infinera, which has filed for an IPO, and Friendster, which is huge in the Philippines.

Tags: tellme, microsoft, vc, venture+capital