Founders Fund
-
DATABASE (763)
-
ARTICLES (410)
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.
Founded in 2017 in Hong Kong, Happiness Capital invests in seed to growth stage companies in the US, Europe, Israel, and China, with a focus on issues affecting global happiness within the areas of citizen trust, food, health, climate change, and reduced inequalities. It hosts its own annual contest, the Super Happiness Challenge , a global open innovation contest to fund individuals and startups with ideas and new products or services that tapped into unmet needs to achieve happiness, with a possible $1m in total investment on offer. The VC currently has 37 startups in its portfolio, around half of which are in foodtech and agtech. Its most recent investments include leading the $4.7m July 2021 seed funding round of NovoNutrients, the US-based biotech producer of alt-protein from fermentation using CO2 and other emissions, and co-leading the $29m February 2021 Series A round of Israeli 3D printed alt-meat startup Redefine Meat.
Founded in 2017 in Hong Kong, Happiness Capital invests in seed to growth stage companies in the US, Europe, Israel, and China, with a focus on issues affecting global happiness within the areas of citizen trust, food, health, climate change, and reduced inequalities. It hosts its own annual contest, the Super Happiness Challenge , a global open innovation contest to fund individuals and startups with ideas and new products or services that tapped into unmet needs to achieve happiness, with a possible $1m in total investment on offer. The VC currently has 37 startups in its portfolio, around half of which are in foodtech and agtech. Its most recent investments include leading the $4.7m July 2021 seed funding round of NovoNutrients, the US-based biotech producer of alt-protein from fermentation using CO2 and other emissions, and co-leading the $29m February 2021 Series A round of Israeli 3D printed alt-meat startup Redefine Meat.
Founded and headed by Susan Choe in 2018, Katalyst Ventures is based in San Francisco with a debut fund of $34m raised in 2018. Choe is also a partner at another Zipline investor Visionnaire Ventures (VV) also based in Silicon Valley. Katalyst invests in seed and early-stage tech startups with human-centric solutions. About 45% of the VC funds are invested in startups with women as CEO or CTO. By February 2020, the Kalatyst portfolio included 22 enterprises and three exits.The founder of Outspark was removed as CEO by the board of directors due to disagreements over the sale of Outspark. She had used her own money in 2006 to create Outspark, a data-driven publishing platform for game developers. Outspark was eventually sold to Axel Springer and Choe went left the company to join Taizo Son’s venture capital group. In 2013, VV was set up to support tech startups in the US. Choe had worked for Yahoo! and also was the COO of the public-listed holding company of South Korean search and media company NHN.
Founded and headed by Susan Choe in 2018, Katalyst Ventures is based in San Francisco with a debut fund of $34m raised in 2018. Choe is also a partner at another Zipline investor Visionnaire Ventures (VV) also based in Silicon Valley. Katalyst invests in seed and early-stage tech startups with human-centric solutions. About 45% of the VC funds are invested in startups with women as CEO or CTO. By February 2020, the Kalatyst portfolio included 22 enterprises and three exits.The founder of Outspark was removed as CEO by the board of directors due to disagreements over the sale of Outspark. She had used her own money in 2006 to create Outspark, a data-driven publishing platform for game developers. Outspark was eventually sold to Axel Springer and Choe went left the company to join Taizo Son’s venture capital group. In 2013, VV was set up to support tech startups in the US. Choe had worked for Yahoo! and also was the COO of the public-listed holding company of South Korean search and media company NHN.
The European Investment Bank is a pan-European investor based in Luxembourg, and the only bank owned by European Union member states. Founded in 1958, the banks has invested in thousands of businesses and public and private infrastructure projects. It is the largest multilateral borrower and lender by volume and also now has an SME tech focus, with recipients needing to have sustainable business model and, usually, a European focus. In December 2020, the EIB launched a new €150m co-investment fund to support startups leveraging AI across Europe to address what it called “the multibillion-euro funding gap compared with the United States and China.” Its most recent investments include a €20m investment in the €32m Series C round of Portuguese international online print store 360imprimir (BIZAY) and its first spacetech investment, €20m in venture debt investment to Luxembourg-based Spire Global that is building a satellite constellation, both in December 2020.In 4Q 2020, it also invested €10m in Spanish industrial IoT startup Worldsensing, €15m in German identity verification platform IDnow and €15 in German sportstech platform KINEXON.
The European Investment Bank is a pan-European investor based in Luxembourg, and the only bank owned by European Union member states. Founded in 1958, the banks has invested in thousands of businesses and public and private infrastructure projects. It is the largest multilateral borrower and lender by volume and also now has an SME tech focus, with recipients needing to have sustainable business model and, usually, a European focus. In December 2020, the EIB launched a new €150m co-investment fund to support startups leveraging AI across Europe to address what it called “the multibillion-euro funding gap compared with the United States and China.” Its most recent investments include a €20m investment in the €32m Series C round of Portuguese international online print store 360imprimir (BIZAY) and its first spacetech investment, €20m in venture debt investment to Luxembourg-based Spire Global that is building a satellite constellation, both in December 2020.In 4Q 2020, it also invested €10m in Spanish industrial IoT startup Worldsensing, €15m in German identity verification platform IDnow and €15 in German sportstech platform KINEXON.
With currently over $21bn of AUM, Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) was started in Hong Kong in 1997 by Jean Eric Salata, as the regional Asian PE investment arm of UK-based Baring Private Equity Partners. With $300m in its first fund, it focused on riding China’s economic rise spurred by the country’s market liberalization. In 2000, Salata led a management buyout of BPEA and continues to head the firm today as CEO and Founding Partner. BPEA has invested in more than 100 companies, across healthcare, logistics, IT services, media, education, financial services and retail. It is one of the largest independent PE firms in Asia and has eight offices across the continent.With offices in China, India, Japan, Australia, and Singapore, it currently has around 43 portfolio companies, almost all Asia-based, across multiple business segments in tech and non-tech startups, especially in bricks-and-mortar education establishments. It also makes acquisitions, including most recently of US outsourcing services company Virtusa in February 2021.Other 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 November 2020 $198m Series D round of Chinese computer coding for kids edtech Codemao.
With currently over $21bn of AUM, Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) was started in Hong Kong in 1997 by Jean Eric Salata, as the regional Asian PE investment arm of UK-based Baring Private Equity Partners. With $300m in its first fund, it focused on riding China’s economic rise spurred by the country’s market liberalization. In 2000, Salata led a management buyout of BPEA and continues to head the firm today as CEO and Founding Partner. BPEA has invested in more than 100 companies, across healthcare, logistics, IT services, media, education, financial services and retail. It is one of the largest independent PE firms in Asia and has eight offices across the continent.With offices in China, India, Japan, Australia, and Singapore, it currently has around 43 portfolio companies, almost all Asia-based, across multiple business segments in tech and non-tech startups, especially in bricks-and-mortar education establishments. It also makes acquisitions, including most recently of US outsourcing services company Virtusa in February 2021.Other 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 November 2020 $198m Series D round of Chinese computer coding for kids edtech Codemao.
Pioneering crowdfunding company lets individuals invest as little as €500 in renewable energy projects, previously open only to energy companies and financial entities.
Pioneering crowdfunding company lets individuals invest as little as €500 in renewable energy projects, previously open only to energy companies and financial entities.
Co-founder and Co-CEO of Dianrong
Former private equity partner and intellectual property lawyer with over a decade of experience, whose clients included Google, Microsoft, and venture capital funds. A councilor of the Shanghai branch of the All-China Youth Federation, Guo holds an EMBA from PBC School of Finance, Tsinghua University.
Former private equity partner and intellectual property lawyer with over a decade of experience, whose clients included Google, Microsoft, and venture capital funds. A councilor of the Shanghai branch of the All-China Youth Federation, Guo holds an EMBA from PBC School of Finance, Tsinghua University.
Co-Founder and COO of IDNtimes
Magna cum laude University of Southern California (USC) graduate, William Utomo, financed his studies through the A. Robert DeHart Memorial Scholarship and the Joseph Drown Foundation Scholarship. He co-founded IDNtimes with his brother, Winston Utomo, and became the COO of IDN Media group in June 2014. He had also worked as a Portfolio Manager at the USC Marshall Undergraduate Student Investment Funds and as an investment analyst at Cabrera Capital Markets LLC and AIA during 2013 and early 2014.
Magna cum laude University of Southern California (USC) graduate, William Utomo, financed his studies through the A. Robert DeHart Memorial Scholarship and the Joseph Drown Foundation Scholarship. He co-founded IDNtimes with his brother, Winston Utomo, and became the COO of IDN Media group in June 2014. He had also worked as a Portfolio Manager at the USC Marshall Undergraduate Student Investment Funds and as an investment analyst at Cabrera Capital Markets LLC and AIA during 2013 and early 2014.
Co-founder and CTO of Dekoruma
Despite his young age, Aruna Harsa has dabbled in developing various apps while still at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He exited a SaaS apps building solutions startup Dashell after two years in 2014.The Mathematics and Economics graduate then went on to develop an on-demand beauty services app Vanitee, but left the startup after only eight months when its Series A funding closed in 2015. Based in Singapore, the serial techpreneur is now co-founder and CTO of home decor and furniture e-commerce site Dekoruma.
Despite his young age, Aruna Harsa has dabbled in developing various apps while still at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He exited a SaaS apps building solutions startup Dashell after two years in 2014.The Mathematics and Economics graduate then went on to develop an on-demand beauty services app Vanitee, but left the startup after only eight months when its Series A funding closed in 2015. Based in Singapore, the serial techpreneur is now co-founder and CTO of home decor and furniture e-commerce site Dekoruma.
Co-founder and Chief Design Officer of Fabelio
With a master’s in Commerce and Finance, Marshall Utoyo quickly founded a financial services firm Utoyo & Partners in November 2010. An entrepreneur at heart, he left the firm in January 2013. He had already co-founded a furniture business FASA Works and a coworking hub Conclave in 2012. He exited both in March 2015. The Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) graduate returned to the furniture business as a co-founder of Fabelio. Launched in June 2015 with seed funding of US$500,000, the e-commerce furniture company has also secured US$2 million in Series A funds in 2016.
With a master’s in Commerce and Finance, Marshall Utoyo quickly founded a financial services firm Utoyo & Partners in November 2010. An entrepreneur at heart, he left the firm in January 2013. He had already co-founded a furniture business FASA Works and a coworking hub Conclave in 2012. He exited both in March 2015. The Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) graduate returned to the furniture business as a co-founder of Fabelio. Launched in June 2015 with seed funding of US$500,000, the e-commerce furniture company has also secured US$2 million in Series A funds in 2016.
Founder and CEO of Fresh Market (Shihang Shengxian)
With the innovative C2B2F (Customer to Business to Farm) business model he came up with, Fresh Market survived the winter for venture capital funding in China in 2016, and is today the leading fresh food e-commerce platform in East China.Zhang Hongliang (b. 1975) embarked on his journey as a serial entrepreneur after five years in the financial management sector and six years in the automobile industry. The persistent Suzhou native founded Fresh Market (Shihang Shengxian) in 2011 at aged 36, after several tries in three years.
With the innovative C2B2F (Customer to Business to Farm) business model he came up with, Fresh Market survived the winter for venture capital funding in China in 2016, and is today the leading fresh food e-commerce platform in East China.Zhang Hongliang (b. 1975) embarked on his journey as a serial entrepreneur after five years in the financial management sector and six years in the automobile industry. The persistent Suzhou native founded Fresh Market (Shihang Shengxian) in 2011 at aged 36, after several tries in three years.
Co-founder of Xiaoming Bike
Deng Yonghao founded his first bike store in Guagzhou, China in 1993, when bicycle was the dominant transportation tool in China. He agented Wuyang Bike and made profit by earning RMB200 from each bike. In 1995, he established first firm and shifted interest to European market.In 2008, Cronus the brand was born in France and Deng brought it bacto Guanghzhou in 2010 as sport bike industry was striving in China. In 2016, Deng Yonghao invested RMB100 million, up to US$ 14million, to Xiaoming Bike in series A round funding and joined as cofounder. CRONUS is now responsible for full production of Xiaoming Bike.
Deng Yonghao founded his first bike store in Guagzhou, China in 1993, when bicycle was the dominant transportation tool in China. He agented Wuyang Bike and made profit by earning RMB200 from each bike. In 1995, he established first firm and shifted interest to European market.In 2008, Cronus the brand was born in France and Deng brought it bacto Guanghzhou in 2010 as sport bike industry was striving in China. In 2016, Deng Yonghao invested RMB100 million, up to US$ 14million, to Xiaoming Bike in series A round funding and joined as cofounder. CRONUS is now responsible for full production of Xiaoming Bike.
Co-founder and CEO of Xiaoming Bike
Chen Yuying majored in Japanese and tourism in the university. After graduation, she began her startup career by establishing a review website with her team. However, her first startup failed due to the immature internet business environment. But the startup experience helped her held a post in internet business department of Alibaba Group and Tencent. In 2014,She joined Tujia website, an online booking website that connects travelers and hosts, as COO and helped it gain funding twice. In 2017, Chen Yuying joined Xiaoming Bike as CEO and began differentiated marketing strategies, focusing on strong supplement chain and operation in three tier city.
Chen Yuying majored in Japanese and tourism in the university. After graduation, she began her startup career by establishing a review website with her team. However, her first startup failed due to the immature internet business environment. But the startup experience helped her held a post in internet business department of Alibaba Group and Tencent. In 2014,She joined Tujia website, an online booking website that connects travelers and hosts, as COO and helped it gain funding twice. In 2017, Chen Yuying joined Xiaoming Bike as CEO and began differentiated marketing strategies, focusing on strong supplement chain and operation in three tier city.
Co-founder and CEO of Konserku (by Konsaato)
National University of Singapore graduate Danny Widodo is a veteran in the entertainment industry. Besides working at JP Morgan as a credit risk analyst, he also had extracurricular interests at Give.sg and the National Arts Council. He left JP Morgan in 2011 to work as a production manager at Resorts World Sentosa for three years. Danny also co-founded an indie music production firm iamLOCALIZED in 2012 that was funded by the NUS Entrepreneurship Centre Innovation/Entrepreneurship Practicum Grant. In 2015, Danny returned to Indonesia and established a concert crowdfunding platform Konsaato that was transformed into Konserku in 2017.
National University of Singapore graduate Danny Widodo is a veteran in the entertainment industry. Besides working at JP Morgan as a credit risk analyst, he also had extracurricular interests at Give.sg and the National Arts Council. He left JP Morgan in 2011 to work as a production manager at Resorts World Sentosa for three years. Danny also co-founded an indie music production firm iamLOCALIZED in 2012 that was funded by the NUS Entrepreneurship Centre Innovation/Entrepreneurship Practicum Grant. In 2015, Danny returned to Indonesia and established a concert crowdfunding platform Konsaato that was transformed into Konserku in 2017.
Ruangguru, Amartha founders made aides to Indonesian President
Seven young leaders appointed to assist President Joko Widodo in non-ministerial tasks, with an emphasis on innovation
Analysing and leveraging data: Interview with Datanest co-founders
From credit scoring to demand forecasting, Datanest has built many machine-learning products and looks to raise new funding, expand beyond Indonesia
TheVentures founders launch Singapore VC to drive deals in Southeast Asia
The Korean Viki co-founders return to Singapore as venture builders and investors, offering South Korean partnerships and “CTO-as-a-service” in Southeast Asia
Sequoia China Seed Fund: Growing an era of deep-tech startups
Managing Partner Neil Shen wants to help deep-tech and enterprise tech startups get investments more easily, across quantum computing, semiconductors, synthetic biology and more
Raising $50m second fund, Indogen Capital seeks more international partners and exits
Cooperation is key to Indogen's investment thesis, as it looks to help more foreign VCs and their portfolio startups find success in Southeast Asia's biggest market
Intudo Ventures: Grooming returning overseas talent for an Indonesia-only bet
Combining the experience and networks of foreign-educated Indonesians with local distribution channels, Intudo’s hyperlocal strategy has attracted $200m in managed assets
Indogen Capital eyes new growth fund of $100m as foreign tech investors stay keen on Indonesia
With its Japanese investment partner Striders, Indogen plans to boost growth-stage funding in Indonesia and open doors for portfolio companies to new markets in East Asia
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
4YFN: Investment booms across Europe during pandemic
Speaking at the recent 4YFN conference, prolific European startup investor Mattias Ljungman provided a highly optimistic assessment of the continent's current ecosystem strength and climate for seed funding
Exclusive: Patamar Capital to raise US$150 million, eyes Series B investments
The impact investment VC recently scored an exit at Indonesian online-to-offline group buying startup Mapan, when it was bought over by Go-Jek
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
Patamar Capital’s impact investing: On preferred business model, backing women, Mapan
The pioneer in impact investing in Asia gives us the lowdown on its investment criteria, its new focus on women entrepreneurs and related sectors, how it helps its portfolio companies and more
Indexa Capital: Investment opportunities for the everyman
Spanish startup Indexa Capital has created an automated wealth manager that delivers a higher return on investment than Spanish banks
US non-profit investor New Energy Nexus seeks to kickstart Indonesia’s clean energy sectors
With a “patient capital” approach to investments and a variety of programs, New Energy Nexus hopes to show that startups can lead the way in renewables and smart energy
Alpha JWC Ventures bets on Indonesian fintech, analytics startups for big impact
A commitment to mentoring and supporting its portfolio companies also lies at the core of its business
Sorry, we couldn’t find any matches for “Founders Fund”.
