<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000917124
<NAME> FIRSTHAND FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 04
<NAME> FIRSTHAND COMMUNICATIONS FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-01-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 648213837
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 631796644
<RECEIVABLES> 2280242
<ASSETS-OTHER> 3520771
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 637597657
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 5632275
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2587650
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 8219925
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 646699195
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 38188450
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 12436188
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (3467156)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 2562886
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (16417193)
<NET-ASSETS> 629377732
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 305807
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1809804
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 5582767
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (3467156)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 2562886
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (49112731)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (50017001)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 42752119
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (16999857)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 447222388
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 4395000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 5583000
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 588197000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.65
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.09)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.92
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 16.48
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.91
</TABLE>
