500 Startups
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DATABASE (637)
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ARTICLES (477)
Mark Pincus is the US co-founder of online social game maker Zynga, known for the mobile app games Words With Friends, Mafia Wars and FarmVille. He is also the managing member and co-founder of VC firm Reinvent Capital and a prolific angel investor worth $1.6bn, with early investments in Facebook and Twitter. To date, Pincus has invested in more than 50 startups and managed numerous successful exits including the aforementioned social media giants. His most recent investments include participation in the April 2021 $10m Series A round of US gaming app Underdog Fantasy and in the April 2021 €23.1m Series B round of Finland’s Yousician, the world’s largest music edtech.
Mark Pincus is the US co-founder of online social game maker Zynga, known for the mobile app games Words With Friends, Mafia Wars and FarmVille. He is also the managing member and co-founder of VC firm Reinvent Capital and a prolific angel investor worth $1.6bn, with early investments in Facebook and Twitter. To date, Pincus has invested in more than 50 startups and managed numerous successful exits including the aforementioned social media giants. His most recent investments include participation in the April 2021 $10m Series A round of US gaming app Underdog Fantasy and in the April 2021 €23.1m Series B round of Finland’s Yousician, the world’s largest music edtech.
Charles Songhurst is a founding partner of hedge fund Katana Capital and also runs the Songhurst Group, which holds assets in a variety of private companies, besides being a prolific angel investor having invested in more than 500 companies to date across sectors and geographies. His most recent investments have included in the 2021 seed rounds of home-based eye medtech Quadrant Eye and in the $2m funding of Canadian small business logistics startup Tyltgo. Songhurst is a former general manager and former head of corporate strategy at Microsoft. He has a bachelor's in philosophy, politics and economics from Oxford University.
Charles Songhurst is a founding partner of hedge fund Katana Capital and also runs the Songhurst Group, which holds assets in a variety of private companies, besides being a prolific angel investor having invested in more than 500 companies to date across sectors and geographies. His most recent investments have included in the 2021 seed rounds of home-based eye medtech Quadrant Eye and in the $2m funding of Canadian small business logistics startup Tyltgo. Songhurst is a former general manager and former head of corporate strategy at Microsoft. He has a bachelor's in philosophy, politics and economics from Oxford University.
Zhongguancun Longmen Investment
Investing in hi-tech IT, advanced manufacturing and biotechnology sectors – key pillars of China’s innovation-focused economy since 2017 – the Beijing government-backed Beijing Zhongguancun Longmen Investment manages about RMB 10bn via its first fund of the same name. The firm is founded and led by Xu Jinghong, former Chairman of Tsinghua Holdings, the investment and tech/R&D transfer arm of China’s most prestigious science and research university, whose R&D capacity was ranked in the third place of China’s top 500 enterprises in 2018. The LPs of the fund include social security funds, Beijing’s municipal government and the Haidian District government. Its portfolio enterprises are generally ranked in the top three of their respective industries. Among them, Qi An Xin Technology, which is listed in Shanghai and one of China’s biggest cybersecurity companies; Joy Wing Mao, one of China’s major fruits supply chain companies. In October of 2020, it invested RMB 100m into Beijing Immunochina Pharmaceutical, which develops innovative gene and cell therapies for curing malignant tumors. Longmen also provides mentoring and other expertise and support to its investee startups, especially those that plan to seek public listing.
Investing in hi-tech IT, advanced manufacturing and biotechnology sectors – key pillars of China’s innovation-focused economy since 2017 – the Beijing government-backed Beijing Zhongguancun Longmen Investment manages about RMB 10bn via its first fund of the same name. The firm is founded and led by Xu Jinghong, former Chairman of Tsinghua Holdings, the investment and tech/R&D transfer arm of China’s most prestigious science and research university, whose R&D capacity was ranked in the third place of China’s top 500 enterprises in 2018. The LPs of the fund include social security funds, Beijing’s municipal government and the Haidian District government. Its portfolio enterprises are generally ranked in the top three of their respective industries. Among them, Qi An Xin Technology, which is listed in Shanghai and one of China’s biggest cybersecurity companies; Joy Wing Mao, one of China’s major fruits supply chain companies. In October of 2020, it invested RMB 100m into Beijing Immunochina Pharmaceutical, which develops innovative gene and cell therapies for curing malignant tumors. Longmen also provides mentoring and other expertise and support to its investee startups, especially those that plan to seek public listing.
Backed by Lyft CEO and the Rothschilds trust, regulated equity crowdfunding platform Seedrs opens startup investing–usually exclusive to VCs and the super rich–to retail investors.
Backed by Lyft CEO and the Rothschilds trust, regulated equity crowdfunding platform Seedrs opens startup investing–usually exclusive to VCs and the super rich–to retail investors.
Advisor, board member, co-founder of NovoNutrients
Brian Sefton has been co-founder, a board member and a part-time advisor at NovoNutrients, a San Francisco-based biotech manufacturer of alt-protein produced from fermentation and CO2 since it was founded in 2017. In 2009, he co-founded research entity Oakbio, from which NovoNutrients evolved, and was its President and CTO. Sefton was CTO and President at NovoNutrients and also co-CEO and Chief Scientist at Oakbio until 2021 when he became the CEO at San Francisco-based fermentation commercialization startup Sincarne. Between 2005 and 2011, Sefton was also CEO at pharma research company Pharmadyn, working on drugs development for Alzheimer's Disease, and, for three of those years, was also Managing Partner of Stratsyn, a consultancy specializing in creation, development, management and fund raising for not-for-profit organizations. Sefton’s earlier posts include: directing nanotechnology commercialization and investment company Nanosig for three years, CEO of Silicon Valley’s Fastlane, a high-profile pioneer in real-time network traffic and security analysis for six years; and, simultaneously, being CEO at Bluebox Communications, developing high-end network security applications and appliances for Fortune 500 companies and the US government.Sefton holds an MBA from Santa Clara University in California and a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley
Brian Sefton has been co-founder, a board member and a part-time advisor at NovoNutrients, a San Francisco-based biotech manufacturer of alt-protein produced from fermentation and CO2 since it was founded in 2017. In 2009, he co-founded research entity Oakbio, from which NovoNutrients evolved, and was its President and CTO. Sefton was CTO and President at NovoNutrients and also co-CEO and Chief Scientist at Oakbio until 2021 when he became the CEO at San Francisco-based fermentation commercialization startup Sincarne. Between 2005 and 2011, Sefton was also CEO at pharma research company Pharmadyn, working on drugs development for Alzheimer's Disease, and, for three of those years, was also Managing Partner of Stratsyn, a consultancy specializing in creation, development, management and fund raising for not-for-profit organizations. Sefton’s earlier posts include: directing nanotechnology commercialization and investment company Nanosig for three years, CEO of Silicon Valley’s Fastlane, a high-profile pioneer in real-time network traffic and security analysis for six years; and, simultaneously, being CEO at Bluebox Communications, developing high-end network security applications and appliances for Fortune 500 companies and the US government.Sefton holds an MBA from Santa Clara University in California and a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley
Founded in Silicon Valley by serial investor and founder of Google Ventures Bill Marris, Section 32 has multiple investment interests with medicine and biotech key amongst them. Marris himself has invested in over 500 companies, with over one-third resulting in IPO or M&A. Fifty of his portfolio companies have exceeded $1bn valuations, including Uber. Section 32 currently has 48 companies in its portfolio. Its most recent investments have included in Canadian remote medicine platform Cover Health’s $43m Series B round and in the $100m Series B round of US cancer detection software C2i Genomics, both in April 2021. In March 2021, it participated in the $48m Series A round of Dutch cell-based meat startup Meatable which leverages pluripotent stem cells for the first time in foodtech.
Founded in Silicon Valley by serial investor and founder of Google Ventures Bill Marris, Section 32 has multiple investment interests with medicine and biotech key amongst them. Marris himself has invested in over 500 companies, with over one-third resulting in IPO or M&A. Fifty of his portfolio companies have exceeded $1bn valuations, including Uber. Section 32 currently has 48 companies in its portfolio. Its most recent investments have included in Canadian remote medicine platform Cover Health’s $43m Series B round and in the $100m Series B round of US cancer detection software C2i Genomics, both in April 2021. In March 2021, it participated in the $48m Series A round of Dutch cell-based meat startup Meatable which leverages pluripotent stem cells for the first time in foodtech.
Founders Fund is a San Francisco-based VC set up in 2005 that currently has more than $3bn of assets under management. It invests across the tech, aerospace and biotechnology sectors and has been an early backer of some of the most impactful tech companies including Airbnb, Facebook, and SpaceX. It has a key interest in solving major problems such as the opioid crisis in the US.Its recent investments include in the June 2021 $85m Series C round of Portuguese home physiotherapy tech solution SWORD Health, the world’s fastest-growing musculoskeletal solution, and in the July 2021 $80m Series C round of residential real estate platform Sundae. The company has managed over 80 exits including Facebook and Spotify and has made over 500 investments, leading approximately one-third of these.
Founders Fund is a San Francisco-based VC set up in 2005 that currently has more than $3bn of assets under management. It invests across the tech, aerospace and biotechnology sectors and has been an early backer of some of the most impactful tech companies including Airbnb, Facebook, and SpaceX. It has a key interest in solving major problems such as the opioid crisis in the US.Its recent investments include in the June 2021 $85m Series C round of Portuguese home physiotherapy tech solution SWORD Health, the world’s fastest-growing musculoskeletal solution, and in the July 2021 $80m Series C round of residential real estate platform Sundae. The company has managed over 80 exits including Facebook and Spotify and has made over 500 investments, leading approximately one-third of these.
Founder of Yitu (Medimage)
Graphic design major at Dalian Nationalities University (class of 2010). Former visual designer at startups Momo (dating app), Ricebook (restaurant app) and Nice (photo app).
Graphic design major at Dalian Nationalities University (class of 2010). Former visual designer at startups Momo (dating app), Ricebook (restaurant app) and Nice (photo app).
Co-founder of eKuaisong
Serial entrepreneur with five years’ experience in O2O startups and 10 years’ experience in IT project management. Co-founded waste recycling brand Taoqibao with fellow eKuaisong co-founder Li Zhaopeng in 2015.
Serial entrepreneur with five years’ experience in O2O startups and 10 years’ experience in IT project management. Co-founded waste recycling brand Taoqibao with fellow eKuaisong co-founder Li Zhaopeng in 2015.
CTO and co-founder of Zensei
Carlos Hernando is a Spanish computer engineer with significant experience as a CTO and as a leader of technology teams in startups.He’s also an active startup mentor through the Tetuan Valley Network. Currently, Hernando is CTO and co-founder of Zensei, a virtual clinic app aimed at preventing and assisting users in their management of respiratory problems.Prior to Zensei, Hernando held CTO roles in startups in the health and travel sectors, such as Doctor24 and Smartvel, noted for his contribution as technical leader, for his customer-centric approach and for the scalability of the technology he develops
Carlos Hernando is a Spanish computer engineer with significant experience as a CTO and as a leader of technology teams in startups.He’s also an active startup mentor through the Tetuan Valley Network. Currently, Hernando is CTO and co-founder of Zensei, a virtual clinic app aimed at preventing and assisting users in their management of respiratory problems.Prior to Zensei, Hernando held CTO roles in startups in the health and travel sectors, such as Doctor24 and Smartvel, noted for his contribution as technical leader, for his customer-centric approach and for the scalability of the technology he develops
CEO and founder of Yigongli (1KMXC)
Born in 1987, Shi Hengzhi is a serial entrepreneur. Before founding Yigongli in 2013, he founded three startups including WishBird, a consultancy firm for overseas studies. He holds a master's degree in Economics from Cambridge University.
Born in 1987, Shi Hengzhi is a serial entrepreneur. Before founding Yigongli in 2013, he founded three startups including WishBird, a consultancy firm for overseas studies. He holds a master's degree in Economics from Cambridge University.
Head of Product and co-founder of Knokcare (formerly Knok Healthcare)
A serial entrepreneur who co-founded three startups, Tiago Craveiro graduated from the University of Porto with a master’s in Industrial Engineering Management. Craveiro co-founded HUUB, Iterar and Knokcare.
A serial entrepreneur who co-founded three startups, Tiago Craveiro graduated from the University of Porto with a master’s in Industrial Engineering Management. Craveiro co-founded HUUB, Iterar and Knokcare.
Founder and CEO of Idachu
A serial entrepreneur with two failed online-to-offline startups since 2011, in free parking and domestic help matching services, Xue is also a former marketing and social media specialist, having worked in the finance industry, Amazon, Baidu and CBSI.
A serial entrepreneur with two failed online-to-offline startups since 2011, in free parking and domestic help matching services, Xue is also a former marketing and social media specialist, having worked in the finance industry, Amazon, Baidu and CBSI.
Founder and CEO of Zhinanmao
Former partner, Mount Venture Capital; vice president, Power Capital. The economics graduate from Jiangsu University is an avid backpacker and certified tour guide. A serial entrepreneur too (with previous startups in bicycle rental, education and training, e-commerce, F&B).
Former partner, Mount Venture Capital; vice president, Power Capital. The economics graduate from Jiangsu University is an avid backpacker and certified tour guide. A serial entrepreneur too (with previous startups in bicycle rental, education and training, e-commerce, F&B).
Co-founder and CEO of Farmlink
A former computer programmer turned investment banker, Liu Yuan spent two years on Wall Street before returning to China, where he founded two startups, zhekouwang (a discount information site) and ximi.com (online store selling snacks to office workers). Both ventures folded up; Farmlink is his latest undertaking.
A former computer programmer turned investment banker, Liu Yuan spent two years on Wall Street before returning to China, where he founded two startups, zhekouwang (a discount information site) and ximi.com (online store selling snacks to office workers). Both ventures folded up; Farmlink is his latest undertaking.
Portugal's Prodsmart takes AI, IoT-based manufacturing to US factories
Smart factories can cut wastage by 80% and improve inventory, production and supply chains, tackling US$200 billion worth of losses
Ricult: Providing smallholder farmers easier access to capital
Based in Pakistan and Thailand, Ricult’s mobile app platform provides advanced weather forecasting, easy loan applications and direct market access to help farmers increase productivity and profits
Forward Fooding: Ranking the world's agrifood startups on success and sustainability
The collaborative platform has opened applications for its FoodTech500 global ranking of agrifood startups; counts over 7,000 startups and scaleups mapped so far
Ciweishixi: HR startup helps Chinese youth pursue rewarding careers
Ciweishixi uses the Western internship model to help young people discover their true passion, online and offline
Alodokter wants personalised healthcare on tap
The Indonesian healthcare startup recently got a US$9 million Series B funding for expansion.
Xu Jinghong: Champion of young entrepreneurs and high-tech startups
Under Xu Jinghong’s leadership, Tsinghua Holdings grew its assets sevenfold and incubated over 10,000 businesses. In his new role as VC investor, Xu wants to nurture startups into future global leaders
Renewable energy crowdfunding platform Fundeen eyes 2019 profit amid sector boom
The young Spanish startup is eyeing projects worth €220 million by 2023, while cutting CO2 emissions equivalent to 1.3 million Madrid-New York flights
Inspired by rowdy teenagers: the Musical.ly story
Now better known as TikTok, the original Musical.ly was the only Chinese social app to have cracked the Western market – before it got snapped up by Bytedance and joined its stable of short video apps
Will China ride into a car-sharing future?
Chinese car-sharing startups face reckoning as more than 500 players crowd into a fast-growing, but young, market
KK Fund, GK Plug and Play Indonesia set up online meets between VCs and startups amid Covid-19
VCs like Sequoia Capital, EV Growth, Monk's Hill Ventures and MDI Ventures are onboard to spot potential investments despite Covid-19 downturn
Carlos Melo Brito: Driving force behind Porto's innovation boom
The professor has overseen the creation and growth of the University of Porto-based UPTEC incubator, birthplace of many of Portugal's most successful startups
SWITCH Singapore: Investors highlight Vietnam startup ecosystem's potential and resilience
The quality of Vietnam’s local talent remains one of its biggest strengths, but foreign investors also need to be patient and be familiar with the local regulatory landscape
This Chinese café startup aims to best Starbucks with “new retail” strategy
Luckin Coffee has gone from scratch to China’s first coffee shop unicorn in less than a year, pouring more than 5 million cups of coffee along the way
Cristina Fonseca: On a one-woman mission to make Portugal more innovative
The co-founder of Portugal's third unicorn, Talkdesk, is now an influential investor and AI authority
How Sequoia Capital China is helping its portfolio startups get through the Covid-19 crisis
The renowned investor is also making big bets on the opportunities that lie head
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