Jay Zhao

Jay's story isn't just about venture capital; it's a tale of an immigrant's relentless pursuit of a dream. His venture capital journey began at Granite Ventures, a tech-savvy yet unassuming fund, where Jay honed his VC skills. It was here, amidst the hustle of backing future unicorns like Anaplan, Marqeta, Workboard, and Airbnb, that he grasped the essence of venture capital: insatiable curiosity and formidable intellectual horsepower. The mantra was clear – to succeed, a VC must think independently, dare to defy consensus, and be right.

After a transformative stint at Granite, Jay ventured to Walden, a venerable fund with roots stretching back to the 1970s. Afterwards, he went on to co-found a strategic venture fund during the pandemic, backed by the global giant TCL. But neither of these chapters fully resonated with his vision of venture investing.

Deep down, Jay always harbored the spirit of an entrepreneur. His first venture into business began in college, where he launched a company and rode the entrepreneurial rollercoaster from fundraising and sales to an eventual exit. These experiences solidified his ambition – to be more than a passive investor, to be a partner who has strong opinions about the future and who add real value in company creation.