Introduction
Artificial Intelligence and DeepTech are no longer emerging sectors; they are rapidly becoming the foundation of the global economy. From generative AI, robotics, and semiconductors to cybersecurity, climate technology, healthcare innovation, and advanced enterprise software, breakthrough technologies are reshaping industries and redefining the future of business.
Behind many of these transformative innovations are visionary venture capital leaders who identify disruptive ideas early, support ambitious founders, and help scale groundbreaking companies into global category leaders. Their investments provide more than capital. They offer strategic guidance, industry expertise, and long-term conviction that enable entrepreneurs to tackle some of the world’s most complex challenges.
The “100 Global VC Leaders Powering the Next Wave of AI & DeepTech Innovation” editorial recognizes an exceptional group of investors who are actively shaping the future of technology across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. Collectively, these leaders have backed some of the most influential companies in AI, software, robotics, fintech, healthcare, cybersecurity, climate tech, and frontier technologies, creating lasting impact across industries and societies.
As innovation accelerates and technological boundaries continue to expand, these venture capital pioneers remain at the forefront of identifying and empowering the next generation of transformative companies that will define the decades ahead.
Abdulaziz Shikh Al Sagha, Managing Partner, BECO Capital: Abdulaziz Shikh Al Sagha is a prominent venture investor driving technology and innovation across the Gulf region. As Managing Partner at BECO Capital, he leads investments in high-growth startups spanning AI, enterprise software, and deeptech. With a strong track record through BECO Capital and Oryx Ventures, he has backed transformative companies including Palantir, Cohesity, Versa Networks, and DataRobot. His investment vision continues to accelerate the growth of emerging technology ecosystems.
Abdulrahman (AIT) Tarabzouni, Founder & CEO, STV: Abdulrahman Tarabzouni is the Founder and CEO of STV, one of the Middle East’s largest technology investment firms. A former Google executive, he has played a pivotal role in advancing technology, innovation, and venture capital across the region. Through STV, he has championed investments in emerging sectors including artificial intelligence and next-generation technologies. His leadership continues to shape the future of entrepreneurship and deeptech in the Middle East.
Abhishek Sharma, Partner, Nexus Venture Partners: Abhishek Sharma leads technology and AI investments at Nexus Venture Partners, focusing on ambitious founders building category-defining companies. He has backed innovative startups across AI, enterprise software, infrastructure, and developer tools, including Apollo.io, Firecrawl, Gumloop, and Neuron7.ai. Known for his expertise in product-led growth and scaling technology businesses, he actively supports founders from inception through growth. His portfolio reflects a strong commitment to the future of AI and deeptech innovation.
Ajay Vashee, General Partner, IVP: Ajay Vashee is a General Partner at IVP, where he focuses on high-growth software, AI, and technology companies. Leveraging his experience as former CFO of Dropbox, he brings deep operational expertise to venture investing. He has helped lead investments in leading AI-driven and software innovators including Anthropic, DeepL, Glean, Jasper, and Numeric. His founder-first approach and strategic insights have made him a valued partner to the next generation of technology leaders.
Alex Bard, Managing Director, Redpoint Ventures: Alex Bard is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor with a distinguished track record in enterprise software and technology innovation. As Managing Director at Redpoint Ventures, he focuses on AI, SaaS, fintech, and B2B startups, supporting founders from the earliest stages. Having founded and successfully exited multiple technology companies, he combines operational expertise with investment acumen. His portfolio reflects a commitment to backing transformative businesses shaping the future of technology.
Alex Zhou, Managing Partner, Qiming Venture Partners: Alex Zhou is a Managing Partner at Qiming Venture Partners and one of Asia’s most active investors in AI, robotics, and frontier technologies. He has backed numerous unicorns and publicly listed companies, including Zhipu AI, Biren Technology, UBTech Robotics, and Roborock. With a strong focus on transformative innovation, he has played a key role in advancing China’s deeptech ecosystem. His investment leadership continues to drive breakthroughs across artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.
Amelia Armour, Partner, Amadeus Capital Partners: Amelia Armour is a Partner at Amadeus Capital Partners, specializing in early-stage investments in AI, machine learning, autonomous systems, and deeptech. Based in Cambridge, she actively supports scientific and university spin-outs transforming breakthrough research into scalable businesses. Her portfolio spans pioneering companies in AI hardware, quantum computing, advanced materials, and digital health. Through her work, she continues to foster innovation at the intersection of science and technology.
Amit Anand, Founding Partner & Managing Director, Jungle Ventures: Amit Anand is the Founding Partner and Managing Director of Jungle Ventures, one of Southeast Asia’s leading venture capital firms. Over the past two decades, he has played a pivotal role in developing the region’s technology and startup ecosystem, mentoring founders and supporting multiple unicorns. He has also contributed to discussions on the ethical use of artificial intelligence and data through advisory roles. His leadership continues to drive innovation across technology, software, and emerging sectors.
Anand Lunia, General Partner, India Quotient: Anand Lunia is the General Partner at India Quotient, an early-stage venture capital firm backing innovative technology startups across India. A long-time advocate of founder-led innovation, he has played a significant role in supporting entrepreneurs from the earliest stages of their journeys. With experience spanning venture investing, entrepreneurship, and successful exits, he brings a unique perspective to identifying disruptive opportunities. His contributions have helped strengthen India’s growing startup and technology ecosystem.
Andreas Unseld, Co-founder and General Partner, UVC Partners: Andreas Unseld is Co-founder and General Partner at UVC Partners, specializing in B2B software, deep tech, mobility, and industrial innovation. With more than a decade of venture capital experience, he has supported pioneering companies such as Aleph Alpha, DeepDrive, Blickfeld, and Hypatos. His investment approach focuses on solving complex technical challenges and helping startups scale from prototype to market success. Andreas is committed to strengthening Europe’s deep tech ecosystem and nurturing the next generation of technology leaders.
Andrew J Scott, Founding Partner, 7percent Ventures: Andrew J Scott is the Founding Partner of 7percent Ventures, a firm focused on deeptech and frontier technologies creating transformative impact. A serial entrepreneur turned investor, he has backed more than 150 startups across Europe and the United States. His portfolio includes pioneering companies in virtual reality, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies. Through his investments and ecosystem-building efforts, he continues to champion breakthrough innovation and long-term technological progress.
Andrew Ng, Managing General Partner, AI Fund: Andrew Ng is a globally recognized AI pioneer, entrepreneur, educator, and investor. As Managing General Partner at AI Fund, he helps build and scale AI-driven companies while advancing responsible innovation across industries. He is also the founder of DeepLearning.AI, co-founder of Coursera, and former leader of Google Brain, where he helped accelerate the adoption of deep learning worldwide. His contributions have had a profound impact on the evolution of artificial intelligence, education, and technology entrepreneurship.
Anri Samata, General Partner, ANRI: Anri Samata is the founding General Partner of ANRI, one of Japan’s leading independent venture capital firms. Since founding the firm in 2012, he has overseen investments in more than 300 startups while helping shape Japan’s startup ecosystem. He is particularly passionate about advancing frontier technologies, including deeptech sectors such as quantum computing and nuclear fusion. Through ANRI, he continues to support bold entrepreneurs building the future of innovation.
Antonio Rodriguez, General Partner, Matrix Partners: Antonio Rodriguez is a General Partner at Matrix Partners, where he invests in visionary founders building transformative technology companies. With a portfolio that includes Canva, Oculus, Suno, Owl Labs, and Markforged, he has backed businesses across AI, hardware, software, and emerging technologies. Drawing from his experience as an entrepreneur and technology executive, he helps founders scale breakthrough innovations. His investment approach focuses on supporting companies that redefine industries and create lasting impact.
Arjun Rao, General Partner, Speciale Invest: Arjun Rao is the Founding Partner at Speciale Invest, a venture capital firm dedicated to deep science and technology startups. He actively backs entrepreneurs building breakthrough solutions across AI, robotics, spacetech, climate technology, advanced materials, and infrastructure software. With over two decades of experience as an entrepreneur and product leader, he brings deep operational expertise to early-stage investing. His work has been instrumental in strengthening India’s growing deeptech ecosystem.
Asheem Chandna, Partner, Greylock Partners: Asheem Chandna is a Partner at Greylock Partners and one of the most respected investors in enterprise technology and AI-driven innovation. A Forbes Midas List investor for multiple years, he has backed category leaders including Palo Alto Networks, Rubrik, Arista Networks, Abnormal Security, and Obsidian Security. With extensive experience building companies from inception to IPO and acquisition, he has helped shape the cybersecurity, cloud, and AI landscape. His portfolio reflects a long-standing commitment to transformative deeptech ventures.
Ashish Wadhwani, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, IvyCap Ventures: Ashish Wadhwani is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of IvyCap Ventures, bringing over 25 years of experience in venture capital, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and strategy consulting. Throughout his career, he has managed investments exceeding USD 750 million and advised numerous companies across Asia and Europe. His expertise spans technology, consumer, energy, and manufacturing sectors, with a strong focus on scaling innovative businesses. Through IvyCap Ventures, he continues to support the growth of emerging technology-driven enterprises.
B. Paul Santos, Managing Partner, Wavemaker Partners: B. Paul Santos is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Wavemaker Partners, a leading venture capital firm focused on enterprise technology, deeptech, and sustainability. Under his leadership, the firm has invested in more than 200 companies across Southeast Asia and beyond. A serial entrepreneur turned investor, he has also championed climate technology innovation through Wavemaker Impact. His work continues to accelerate the development of transformative technologies addressing both commercial and global challenges.
Ben Mathias, Managing Partner, Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India: Ben Mathias is the Managing Partner at Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India, overseeing investments across India and Japan. He has led investments in enterprise technology, semiconductors, fintech, digital health, and consumer internet businesses, supporting companies such as Attentive AI, BigEndian Semiconductors, FirstCry, and Licious. With experience spanning venture capital and senior technology leadership roles in Silicon Valley, he brings both operational and investment expertise to founders. His work continues to drive innovation across high-growth technology sectors.
Bill Malloy, Co-Founder, Sway Ventures: Bill Malloy is a seasoned technology investor and entrepreneur who co-founded Sway Ventures, a firm focused on software, AI, and engineering-driven innovation. He has co-led investments in iconic companies including Uber, Lyft, Twilio, SendGrid, and Addepar. With a background spanning venture capital, product management, and business development, he has consistently backed businesses leveraging AI, data, and automation to transform industries. His portfolio reflects a strong commitment to innovation across software, robotics, logistics, and financial technology.
Charles Letourneur, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Alven Capital: Charles Letourneur is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Alven Capital, one of France’s leading early-stage venture capital firms. With over 25 years of venture investing experience, he has played a key role in supporting innovative technology startups from inception to scale. Prior to Alven, he held senior leadership positions in mergers and acquisitions at Lazard and Eurazeo. His expertise in finance, entrepreneurship, and early-stage investing has helped shape the French and European startup ecosystem.
Chase Coleman, Founder, Tiger Global: Chase Coleman is the Founder of Tiger Global, one of the world’s most influential investment firms focused on technology and innovation. Under his leadership, Tiger Global has invested in hundreds of high-growth companies across more than 30 countries, including OpenAI, Databricks, Waymo, Stripe, ByteDance, and Flipkart. Known for identifying category leaders across both public and private markets, he has helped shape the global technology landscape. His long-term investment philosophy continues to support transformative AI and deeptech companies worldwide.
Chinnu Senthilkumar, Managing Partner, Exfinity Venture Partners: Chinnu Senthilkumar is the Managing Partner at Exfinity Venture Partners, a leading early-stage VC firm focused on AI, deep tech, semiconductors, cybersecurity, SaaS, and advanced engineering. A former technology executive at Intel, Texas Instruments, and SanDisk, he brings over 30 years of experience across innovation, product development, and venture investing. He has backed numerous high-impact startups operating in AI, computer vision, autonomous systems, and enterprise technologies. His practitioner-led investment approach helps founders scale globally through strategic guidance and industry networks.
Chip Hazard, General Partner & Co-Founder, Flybridge: Chip Hazard is the Co-Founder and General Partner of Flybridge, a seed-stage venture capital firm investing in AI infrastructure, developer platforms, and agentic business applications. With over three decades in venture capital, he has backed category-leading companies such as MongoDB, Firebase, Stackdriver, and Looka. Previously a General Partner at Greylock, Chip is recognized for partnering with founders building innovative, IP-driven technology businesses. He is also a strong advocate for diversity in entrepreneurship through his work with XFactor Ventures.
Chris Farmer, Founder & CEO, SignalFire: Chris Farmer is the Founder and CEO of SignalFire, a data-driven venture capital firm that leverages AI and machine learning to identify and support high-potential startups. Under his leadership, SignalFire has grown into a multi-billion-dollar investment platform backing technology companies from pre-seed to growth stages. Prior to founding SignalFire, he held investment roles at General Catalyst and Bessemer Venture Partners, where he supported companies such as Coinbase, Discord, Stripe, and Zapier. He is widely recognized for pioneering the use of technology and data science within venture capital.
Craig Blair, General Partner & Co-Founder, AirTree Ventures: Craig Blair is a seasoned venture capitalist and entrepreneur with nearly two decades of experience backing high-growth technology companies. As Co-Founder of AirTree Ventures, he has led investments in global success stories such as Canva, Go1, Employment Hero, Pet Circle, and DroneDeploy. Drawing on his background as a founder, operator, and investor, he partners with ambitious entrepreneurs building category-defining businesses. His expertise spans venture investing, strategy, M&A, and scaling technology companies across international markets.
Dakin Sloss, Founder & General Partner, Prime Movers Lab: Dakin Sloss is the Founder and General Partner of Prime Movers Lab, a venture firm dedicated to breakthrough scientific and deep technology innovations. He has backed transformative companies across sectors including energy, space, biotechnology, advanced communications, and human augmentation. A serial entrepreneur and former CEO of Tachyus and OpenGov, Dakin combines operational experience with a passion for commercializing world-changing scientific discoveries. His work focuses on supporting visionary inventors developing technologies with the potential to impact billions of lives.
David Cowan, Partner, Bessemer Venture Partners: David Cowan is one of the venture capital industry’s most accomplished early-stage investors, with more than 30 portfolio companies reaching IPOs. At Bessemer Venture Partners, he pioneered the firm’s investments in cloud computing, cybersecurity, gaming, space technology, and quantum computing. His notable investments include Rocket Lab, Anthropic, Twitch, LinkedIn, Twilio, Auth0, and Skybox Imaging. Known for identifying unconventional opportunities, David has played a pivotal role in shaping some of the most influential technology companies of the modern era.
David Schneider, General Partner, Coatue: David Schneider is a General Partner at Coatue and co-leads the firm’s growth investing efforts, supporting category-defining technology companies across AI, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise software. A seasoned operator and investor, he previously served as President of ServiceNow, helping scale the company into a global software leader. He currently works closely with high-growth innovators including Grafana Labs, Cyera, Glean, Airtable, and Decagon. His combination of operating expertise and investment acumen makes him a key force in the AI and deep technology ecosystem.
Dharmesh Thakker, General Partner, Battery Ventures: Dharmesh Thakker is a leading venture capitalist focused on AI, data infrastructure, cloud software, cybersecurity, and developer platforms. As General Partner at Battery Ventures, he has backed and supported category-defining companies including Databricks, Gong, ClickHouse, Arize AI, SambaNova, Collibra, and Postman. With a strong track record of successful IPOs and acquisitions across AI and enterprise technology, he is known for helping founders scale transformative businesses. His blend of operating experience and deep technical expertise has made him a prominent investor in the global AI and deep tech ecosystem.
Dongyoul Choi, Managing Partner & CIO, Stonebridge Ventures: Dongyoul Choi is a leading venture capitalist driving investments across AI, semiconductors, robotics, medical devices, and deep technology. As Managing Partner and CIO at Stonebridge Ventures, he has backed and led investments in high-growth companies such as Sualab, NOTA, Openedge Technology, and NeuReality. With a strong track record of successful IPOs and acquisitions, he has played a pivotal role in advancing AI, industrial automation, and next-generation semiconductor innovation. His expertise spans identifying breakthrough technologies and scaling deep tech startups into market leaders.
Dr. Hendrik Brandis, Co-Founder & General Partner, Earlybird Venture Capital: Dr. Hendrik Brandis is a pioneering European venture capitalist with nearly three decades of experience investing in transformative DeepTech and software infrastructure companies. As Co-Founder of Earlybird Venture Capital, he has supported breakthrough ventures including Isar Aerospace, Marvel Fusion, Aiven, SimScale, and eleQtron. With a PhD in Aerospace Engineering and a background as a Partner at McKinsey & Company, he combines technical expertise with strategic insight to help founders commercialize cutting-edge technologies. He is widely recognized for advancing innovation across aerospace, quantum computing, climate tech, and industrial software.
Dr. Vivek Mansingh, General Partner, YourNest Venture Capital: Dr. Vivek Mansingh is a seasoned technology leader, entrepreneur, and investor focused on scaling disruptive startups in AI, machine learning, IoT, robotics, and digital technologies. As General Partner at YourNest Venture Capital, he champions IP-led innovation and supports Indian entrepreneurs in building globally competitive technology businesses. His distinguished career includes leadership roles at Cisco, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Fujitsu, where he drove product innovation and business growth. Through strategic mentorship and investments, he continues to foster the next generation of deep tech and enterprise technology leaders.
Edward Lee, Managing Director (Taipei), JIF Capital Ltd. (Formerly JAFCO): Edward Lee is an accomplished venture capital leader specializing in AI infrastructure, semiconductors, cybersecurity, fintech, and emerging technology investments. As Managing Director and Country Head at JIF Capital, he focuses on identifying and scaling high-potential companies across the technology, media, and telecommunications sectors. Drawing on experience from TSMC, Hotung Venture Capital, and WANDL, he combines deep technical expertise with strong investment acumen. His strategic vision has helped support innovation in critical technology sectors shaping the future digital economy.
Eric Lagier, Founder & Managing Partner, byFounders: Eric Lagier is a successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist dedicated to supporting globally ambitious founders across the Nordic and Baltic startup ecosystem. As Founder and Managing Partner of byFounders, he leads a community-backed venture fund investing in the next generation of technology innovators. Before entering venture capital, he held senior leadership positions at Oracle, Skype, and Tradeshift, and co-founded Memolane, which was later acquired by HP. Leveraging extensive operational and startup experience, he actively helps early-stage companies scale internationally and build category-defining businesses.
Eyal Niv, Managing Partner, Pitango Venture Capital: Eyal Niv is a seasoned venture capitalist with over 25 years of experience backing transformative AI, enterprise infrastructure, and deep technology companies. As Managing General Partner at Pitango, he has played a key role in scaling successful startups including AI21 Labs, Graphcore, Optibus, Logz.io, and Lumigo. His investment track record includes notable exits to global technology leaders such as Oracle, Facebook, Intel, Sony, EMC, and RSA. Eyal continues to support the next generation of AI and enterprise innovation through active board leadership and strategic mentorship.
Filip Felician Dames, Founding Partner, Cherry Ventures: Filip Felician Dames is the Founding Partner of Cherry Ventures, one of Europe’s leading early-stage venture firms supporting ambitious technology founders. A former entrepreneur and co-founder at Zalando, he brings extensive experience in scaling global businesses and backing breakthrough startups. His investment focus spans AI, deep tech, and frontier technologies, with portfolio companies including Proxima Fusion and The Exploration Company. Filip is widely recognized as one of Europe’s top investors and a strong advocate for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Florian Heinemann, Founding Partner, Project A Ventures: Florian Heinemann is the Founding and General Partner of Project A Ventures, a leading European VC managing approximately $1.5 billion in assets. He has backed major technology companies including Trade Republic, Quantum Systems, Sennder, and Spryker. With extensive experience in scaling startups and digital businesses, Florian is also an active angel investor in over 80 companies. His focus on technology, data-driven growth, and innovation has made him a prominent figure in Europe’s venture ecosystem.
George Mathew, Managing Director, Insight Partners: George Mathew is a Managing Director at Insight Partners, where he focuses on venture-stage investments in AI, machine learning, analytics, and data infrastructure companies. A former operator and CEO, he previously led Alteryx through its IPO and served in senior leadership roles at SAP and Salesforce. He has backed and advised leading AI and data-driven companies including Databricks, CrewAI, Anaconda, Landing AI, and Jasper. George is widely respected for combining deep operational expertise with a strong vision for the AI-first future.
Hemant Taneja, CEO, General Catalyst: Hemant Taneja is the CEO of General Catalyst and a leading investor shaping the future of applied AI across healthcare, defense, energy, financial services, and industrial sectors. He has backed category-defining companies including Anthropic, Anduril, Applied Intuition, Stripe, Samsara, and Gusto. Beyond investing, he has co-founded transformative ventures such as Commure, Hippocratic AI, Livongo, and Transcarent. A prolific author and thought leader, Hemant is recognized for advancing AI-driven innovation that strengthens resilience and creates long-term societal impact.
Hussein Kanji, Partner, Hoxton Ventures: Hussein Kanji is the founder of Hoxton Ventures and one of Europe’s most influential early-stage investors, recognized on Forbes’ Midas List Europe 2023. With a career spanning Microsoft, Accel, and Silicon Valley startups, he has backed ambitious European technology founders from the earliest stages. His expertise combines product development, entrepreneurship, and venture investing. Hussein is known for identifying transformative startups across technology and deep innovation sectors.
Yohei Sawayama, Founding Partner, Coral Capital: Yohei Sawayama is the Founding Partner of Coral Capital, one of Japan’s leading venture capital firms managing around ¥60 billion in assets. He invests in high-growth startups across deep tech, robotics, semiconductors, aerospace, nuclear fusion, and SaaS. A former investment banker and technology researcher, he has played a pivotal role in modernizing Japan’s startup ecosystem. Yohei is widely recognized for championing innovation and supporting globally competitive founders from Japan.
Jeffrey Paine, Founding Partner, Golden Gate Ventures: Jeffrey Paine is the Founding Partner of Golden Gate Ventures, a leading Southeast Asian venture capital firm managing over $300 million in assets. He has spent more than a decade backing ambitious founders and helping shape the region’s startup ecosystem. Known for his focus on AI, data-driven investing, and predictive models, Jeffrey actively supports entrepreneurs building scalable technology businesses. His expertise spans venture development, startup mentorship, and emerging market innovation.
Jimmy Fussing Nielsen, Partner & CEO, Heartcore Capital: Jimmy Fussing Nielsen is Partner and CEO at Heartcore Capital, one of Europe’s leading venture capital firms. With more than two decades of investment experience, he has backed companies across AI, climate tech, fintech, gaming, space technology, and digital platforms. He serves on the boards of several high-growth businesses and has played a key role in scaling innovative European startups. Jimmy is recognized for supporting founders building impactful technology-driven companies.
Joe Lonsdale, Founder & Managing Partner, 8VC: Joe Lonsdale is the Founder and Managing Partner of 8VC, a venture capital firm managing over $6 billion in assets. He is also the co-founder of Palantir Technologies and founder of multiple successful companies including Addepar and OpenGov. An early investor in category-defining businesses such as Anduril, Flexport, and Joby Aviation, Joe is a leading figure in AI, defense, enterprise software, and deep technology investing. His entrepreneurial and investment track record has made him one of the most influential voices in venture capital.
Jordan Jacobs, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Radical Ventures: Jordan Jacobs is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Radical Ventures, a leading AI-focused venture capital firm. He previously co-founded Layer 6 AI, which was acquired by TD Bank, where he later served as Chief AI Officer. Jordan also helped establish the Vector Institute and contributed to Canada’s national AI strategy. His work focuses on advancing artificial intelligence, deep learning, and transformative technologies with global impact.
Josh Wolfe, Partner & Co-Founder, Lux Capital: Josh Wolfe is the Co-Founder and Partner at Lux Capital, a research-driven venture firm managing over $7 billion in assets. He has been an early investor in breakthrough companies across AI, robotics, defense, biotechnology, energy, and advanced computing. Known for backing frontier technologies before they become mainstream, Josh has helped build and support numerous category-defining startups. His deep expertise in science and emerging technologies has positioned him among the most respected investors in deep tech.
Junam Kim, Managing Director & Head of Deep Tech, DSC Investment: Junam Kim serves as Managing Director and Head of Deep Tech at DSC Investment, where he focuses on identifying and supporting next-generation technology innovators. With a background in mechanical engineering, intellectual property, and venture investing, he brings a multidisciplinary perspective to startup evaluation. Prior to DSC Investment, he worked in Hyundai Motor Company’s venture investment team. Junam is recognized for his strong focus on deep technology and innovation-driven entrepreneurship.
Jussi Salovaara, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Asia, Antler: Jussi Salovaara is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner for Asia at Antler, a global venture capital firm supporting founders from inception to growth stage. He has worked closely with hundreds of startups across AI, fintech, SaaS, deep tech, climate technology, and infrastructure. Before Antler, he held leadership roles at Nokia, McKinsey & Company, and Morgan Stanley. Jussi is dedicated to empowering ambitious entrepreneurs and building globally scalable technology companies.
Katie Rae, CEO & Managing Partner, Engine Ventures: Katie Rae is a prominent venture capitalist and ecosystem builder leading Engine Ventures, a firm focused on breakthrough Tough Tech innovations. With over 15 years of experience as an operator, investor, and startup mentor, she has backed transformative companies such as Boston Metal, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, and Form Energy. Previously, she led The Engine, Techstars Boston, and Project 11 Ventures, helping hundreds of founders scale impactful technology businesses. Her work has been instrumental in advancing deep tech innovation across climate, infrastructure, and advanced systems.
Lan Xuezhao, Founder & Managing Partner, Basis Set Ventures: Lan Xuezhao is the founder of Basis Set Ventures, one of the earliest venture firms dedicated to AI and automation. Managing over half a billion dollars in assets, she focuses on identifying exceptional founders at the earliest stages of company building. Her investments include leading AI and technology companies such as Scale AI, Quince, Path Robotics, OpenArt AI, and CuspAI. Combining expertise from Dropbox, McKinsey, and academia, she has established herself as a leading voice in AI-focused venture investing.
Lior Susan, Founder & CEO, Eclipse Ventures: Lior Susan is the founder and CEO of Eclipse Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in the digital transformation of physical industries. An entrepreneur and former technology operator, he previously helped build Intucell before its acquisition by Cisco and later led hardware investments at Flex. Through Eclipse, he has backed category-defining companies including Cerebras, Augury, Bright Machines, and VulcanForms. His investment philosophy centers on leveraging advanced technologies such as AI, manufacturing innovation, and automation to strengthen critical infrastructure and industrial systems.
Mamoon Hamid, Partner, Kleiner Perkins: Mamoon Hamid is a Partner at Kleiner Perkins and one of Silicon Valley’s most accomplished early-stage investors. Over two decades, he has backed and served on the boards of transformative companies including Figma, Slack, Rippling, Glean, Netskope, and Box. Before joining Kleiner Perkins, he co-founded Social Capital and was a Partner at USVP after beginning his career as an engineer at Xilinx. Renowned for identifying category-defining technology businesses, he continues to support the next generation of AI, cloud, and enterprise software innovators.
Manish Singhal, Founding Partner, Pi Ventures: Manish Singhal is a technologist, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist dedicated to advancing India’s deep tech and AI ecosystem. As the Founding Partner of Pi Ventures, he has backed pioneering startups across AI, space tech, biotech, and material sciences, including Agnikul, Niramai, SigTuple, and Wysa. With over three decades of experience in technology innovation, he has built global-scale products, contributed to MPEG-4 standardization, and holds video technology patents. His work continues to position India as a growing force in deep technology innovation.
Martin Weber, Founding Partner, HV Capital: Martin Weber is the Founding Partner of HV Capital and a veteran venture capitalist with more than two decades of experience in European technology investing. He has played a pivotal role in building HV Capital into one of Europe’s leading venture firms, supporting high-growth companies such as Zalando, Delivery Hero, Lazada, FlixMobility, and Scalable Capital. With a strong background in finance, operations, and IPO execution, Martin has been involved in over 100 investments throughout his career. His expertise continues to drive innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe’s technology landscape.
Max Bautin, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, IQ Capital: Max Bautin is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of IQ Capital, a leading venture firm focused on deep tech innovation. With more than 25 years of experience spanning AI, advanced engineering, embedded software, and energy transition technologies, he has supported breakthrough companies including Thought Machine, Nyobolt, AccelerComm, and IONATE. Before co-founding IQ Capital, Max managed a seed fund investing in early-stage deep tech startups and helped scale a mobile operator through a successful exit. He remains a key contributor to Europe’s deep tech ecosystem through mentoring, industry leadership, and venture investing.
Mina Samaan, General Partner, MMC Ventures: Mina Samaan is a General Partner at MMC Ventures, specializing in enterprise software and AI-driven businesses. He has led investments in innovative companies such as Synthesia, Red Sift, Albatross AI, Blackwall, and SenseOn, supporting founders from early growth through scale. Combining an engineering background from the Williams Formula 1 team with experience in investment banking at Lazard, Mina brings both technical insight and strategic expertise to venture investing. His focus on AI-led, IP-rich companies continues to drive innovation across the enterprise technology landscape.
Manish Singhal, Founding Partner, Pi Ventures: Manish Singhal is a technologist, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist dedicated to advancing India’s deep tech and AI ecosystem. As the Founding Partner of Pi Ventures, he has backed pioneering startups across AI, space tech, biotech, and material sciences, including Agnikul, Niramai, SigTuple, and Wysa. With over three decades of experience in technology innovation, he has built global-scale products, contributed to MPEG-4 standardization, and holds video technology patents. His work continues to position India as a growing force in deep technology innovation.
Pejman Nozad, Founding Managing Partner, Pear VC: Pejman Nozad is the Co-Founder and Founding Managing Partner of Pear VC, one of Silicon Valley’s leading early-stage venture firms. Renowned for identifying exceptional founders early, he has backed iconic companies such as DoorDash, Dropbox, Gusto, SoundHound, and Branch. A six-time Forbes Midas List honoree and three-time No. 1 on the Forbes Midas Seed List, Pejman has built a reputation for transforming promising ideas into category-defining businesses. His founder-first approach has made him one of the most influential seed investors in the technology ecosystem.
Martin Weber, Founding Partner, HV Capital: Martin Weber is the Founding Partner of HV Capital and a veteran venture capitalist with more than two decades of experience in European technology investing. He has played a pivotal role in building HV Capital into one of Europe’s leading venture firms, supporting high-growth companies such as Zalando, Delivery Hero, Lazada, FlixMobility, and Scalable Capital. With a strong background in finance, operations, and IPO execution, Martin has been involved in over 100 investments throughout his career. His expertise continues to drive innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe’s technology landscape.
Max Bautin, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, IQ Capital: Max Bautin is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of IQ Capital, a leading venture firm focused on deep tech innovation. With more than 25 years of experience spanning AI, advanced engineering, embedded software, and energy transition technologies, he has supported breakthrough companies including Thought Machine, Nyobolt, AccelerComm, and IONATE. Before co-founding IQ Capital, Max managed a seed fund investing in early-stage deep tech startups and helped scale a mobile operator through a successful exit. He remains a key contributor to Europe’s deep tech ecosystem through mentoring, industry leadership, and venture investing.
Mina Samaan, General Partner, MMC Ventures: Mina Samaan is a General Partner at MMC Ventures, specializing in enterprise software and AI-driven businesses. He has led investments in innovative companies such as Synthesia, Red Sift, Albatross AI, Blackwall, and SenseOn, supporting founders from early growth through scale. Combining an engineering background from the Williams Formula 1 team with experience in investment banking at Lazard, Mina brings both technical insight and strategic expertise to venture investing. His focus on AI-led, IP-rich companies continues to drive innovation across the enterprise technology landscape.
Mitch Kitamura, Managing Partner and COO, DNX Ventures: With more than two decades of venture capital experience, Mitch Kitamura has played a key role in fostering cross-border innovation between the U.S. and Japan. As Managing Partner and COO at DNX Ventures, he focuses on backing B2B startups across AI enterprise services, fintech, and industrial technologies. He has led investments in companies such as Paystand, PayJoy, SafeGraph, and Roq.ad. His expertise in venture investing, international business development, and ecosystem building has helped startups successfully expand into global markets.
Mohit Bhatnagar, Managing Director, Peak XV Partners: Mohit Bhatnagar is a seasoned venture capitalist with nearly two decades of experience backing some of India’s most successful technology companies. As Managing Director at Peak XV Partners, he has invested in category leaders including Zomato, Meesho, Freshworks, OYO, Cars24, and CleverTap. With a background spanning entrepreneurship, telecom, and product management, he has played a pivotal role in shaping India’s startup ecosystem. His investment portfolio reflects a strong focus on technology-driven innovation and scalable businesses.
Mukul Arora, Co-Managing Partner, Elevation Capital: Mukul Arora is Co-Managing Partner at Elevation Capital, where he focuses on consumer technology, SaaS, and AI-driven businesses. Over the years, he has partnered with some of India’s most influential startups, including Swiggy, Meesho, Unacademy, Spinny, FirstCry, and BookMyShow. Known for his founder-first approach, Mukul actively supports entrepreneurs in building customer-centric and category-defining companies. His investment track record highlights his commitment to backing innovative businesses that are transforming India’s digital economy.
Napoleon Ta, Partner, Founders Fund: Napoleon Ta is a Partner at Founders Fund, where he leads growth-stage investments across AI, biotech, aerospace, fintech, and enterprise technology. Known for backing transformative companies, his portfolio includes industry leaders such as SpaceX, Affirm, Rippling, Cognition, and Persona. Drawing on his expertise in risk analysis and long-term technology trends, he focuses on businesses modernizing critical infrastructure and reshaping entire industries. His founder-centric investment philosophy has helped support some of the world’s most ambitious innovators.
Nathan Benaich, Founder and General Partner, Air Street Capital: Nathan Benaich is the Founder and General Partner of Air Street Capital, a venture firm dedicated to backing AI-first companies globally. He is widely recognized as the author of the influential State of AI Report and founder of Spinout.fyi, a platform supporting university spinouts. His portfolio includes leading AI, biotech, and frontier technology companies such as Synthesia, Graphcore, Poolside, Recursion, and Enveda Biosciences. Through his research, investments, and thought leadership, Nathan has become one of the most prominent voices shaping the global AI ecosystem.
Niklas Zennström, CEO and Founding Partner, Atomico: Niklas Zennström is the CEO and Founding Partner of Atomico and the co-founder of Skype, one of the most successful technology companies in Europe. Since founding Atomico in 2006, he has helped build one of Europe’s leading venture capital firms, backing high-growth companies such as Klarna, DeepL, Stripe, Supercell, and Hinge Health. He focuses on frontier technologies, enterprise AI, digital health, and climate-focused innovation. A visionary entrepreneur and investor, Niklas continues to champion founders using technology to solve global challenges.
Noor Sweid, Founder & Managing Partner, Global Ventures: Noor Sweid is a leading venture capitalist driving innovation across the Middle East and Africa through Global Ventures. With a strong focus on technology, AI, fintech, healthtech, and digital transformation, she has backed high-growth startups that are reshaping emerging markets. Prior to venture capital, she successfully scaled and exited multiple businesses, including leading Depa to a billion-dollar IPO. Noor is widely recognized as one of the region’s most influential voices in entrepreneurship, innovation, and venture investing.
Omar A. Almajdouie, Founding Partner, Raed Ventures: Omar A. Almajdouie is one of the Middle East’s pioneering venture capital investors, with over a decade of experience backing high-growth technology startups across the region. Through Raed Ventures, he has supported leading companies in fintech, logistics, AI, edtech, and digital services, including Lean Technologies, Mozn, Noon Academy, and Trella. A seasoned business leader, he combines operational expertise with a strong commitment to advancing the startup ecosystem in Saudi Arabia and the broader MENA region. His board leadership and early-stage investments continue to shape the next generation of technology innovators.
Pär-Jörgen Pärson, General Partner, Northzone: Pär-Jörgen Pärson is a veteran venture capitalist with more than two decades of experience investing in transformative technology companies across AI, healthtech, energy transition, and consumer technology. As a General Partner at Northzone, he has led investments in globally recognized companies including Spotify, iZettle, Avito, Spring Health, and Tandem Health. Known for identifying category-defining businesses early, he has earned multiple appearances on the Forbes Midas List and remains one of Europe’s most influential technology investors. His portfolio reflects a strong track record of backing innovative founders building global market leaders.
Pauline Roux, Managing Partner, Elaia Partners: Pauline Roux is a Managing Partner at Elaia Partners, a leading European venture capital firm focused on deep tech and B2B innovation. She specializes in AI, SaaS, AdTech, HR Tech, and AgTech, backing groundbreaking startups from pre-seed to Series B stages. Her portfolio includes high-growth companies such as FlexAI, SESAMm, Vibe.co, and Agriconomie, alongside several successful exits. With a background in technology investment banking and equity research, Pauline combines financial expertise with a deep understanding of emerging technologies and entrepreneurship.
Pejman Nozad, Founding Managing Partner, Pear VC: Pejman Nozad is the Co-Founder and Founding Managing Partner of Pear VC, one of Silicon Valley’s leading early-stage venture firms. Renowned for identifying exceptional founders early, he has backed iconic companies such as DoorDash, Dropbox, Gusto, SoundHound, and Branch. A six-time Forbes Midas List honoree and three-time No. 1 on the Forbes Midas Seed List, Pejman has built a reputation for transforming promising ideas into category-defining businesses. His founder-first approach has made him one of the most influential seed investors in the technology ecosystem.
Peter Barrett, Founder and General Partner, Playground Global: Peter Barrett is the Founder and General Partner of Playground Global, where he invests in frontier technologies spanning artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum computing, optical computing, and advanced science. A renowned technologist and inventor with over 100 patents, he has played a pivotal role in developing transformative technologies throughout his career. His portfolio includes pioneering companies such as PsiQuantum, NextSilicon, Artificial, and NVision Imaging. Peter is widely recognized for backing ambitious founders tackling some of the world’s most complex scientific and technological challenges.
Peter Levine, General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z): Peter Levine is a seasoned venture capitalist focused on AI infrastructure, enterprise software, and data technologies. At Andreessen Horowitz, he has led investments in category-defining companies such as GitHub, Figma, DigitalOcean, Pinecone, and Shield AI. With decades of experience as an operator, entrepreneur, and investor, he has consistently backed the foundational technologies powering the next generation of software. His investment thesis centers on building the infrastructure that enables transformative AI innovation.
Peter Wagner, Founding Partner, Wing Venture Capital: Peter Wagner is the Founding Partner of Wing Venture Capital, investing in the AI-first technology stack powered by data, intelligence, and autonomous applications. Over his distinguished venture capital career, he has led early investments in category-defining companies including Snowflake, Gong, Pinecone, and numerous billion-dollar technology businesses. Previously a Managing Partner at Accel, he helped build one of Silicon Valley’s most successful investment franchises. His expertise in enterprise software, cloud infrastructure, and AI-driven innovation has made him a highly respected figure in the global venture capital ecosystem.
Pranav Pai, Managing Partner & Chief Investment Officer, 3one4 Capital: Pranav Pai is the Managing Partner and CIO of 3one4 Capital, overseeing a portfolio of more than 90 startups across AI, deep tech, fintech, advanced manufacturing, and enterprise software. He has played a key role in backing category-defining companies such as Darwinbox, Licious, Dozee, Exponent Energy, and Agnit Semiconductors. Under his leadership, 3one4 Capital has delivered multiple unicorns and successful exits. He is also actively involved in shaping India’s deep tech ecosystem through industry and policy initiatives.
Ravi Mhatre, Partner & Co-Founder, Lightspeed Venture Partners: Ravi Mhatre is a Partner and Co-Founder of Lightspeed Venture Partners, where he has spent over two decades backing pioneering technology companies. A highly respected enterprise investor, he has supported industry leaders including Anduril, AppDynamics, Nutanix, Rubrik, ThoughtSpot, and Zscaler. His investment focus spans AI, cloud computing, enterprise software, and next-generation IT infrastructure. Through his founder-first approach, he has helped numerous startups scale from early-stage ventures to successful IPOs and acquisitions.
Rich Wong, General Partner, Accel: Rich Wong is a General Partner at Accel, where he invests in early and growth-stage companies across AI, SaaS, and enterprise technology. With experience as both an operator and investor, he has spent nearly two decades supporting innovative technology companies through scaling and market expansion. Prior to Accel, he held leadership roles at Openwave Systems and Covad Communications. Rich is widely recognized for his founder-first approach and long-term commitment to building category-leading businesses.
Richard Socher, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, AIX Ventures: Richard Socher is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of AIX Ventures, as well as Founder and CEO of You.com. A globally recognized AI researcher, he is among the most-cited experts in natural language processing and previously founded MetaMind, which was acquired by Salesforce. He has invested in more than 30 AI startups, including Hugging Face, Athelas, and Weights & Biases. Richard combines world-class AI research expertise with a strong track record of building and backing transformative AI companies.
Rob Theis, General Partner & Chief Investment Officer, WiL (World Innovation Lab): Rob Theis is the General Partner and Chief Investment Officer at WiL, bringing over 25 years of venture capital experience. He has invested in numerous market-leading technology companies, including Automation Anywhere, DeepL, Canva, DataRobot, Rippling, Auth0, and Aisera. With more than 25 investments and eight IPOs to his name, Rob has consistently backed high-growth businesses at the forefront of enterprise software and AI innovation. His investment philosophy centers on supporting entrepreneurs using technology to drive meaningful global impact.
Robin Klein, Co-Founder & General Partner, LocalGlobe: Robin Klein is one of the UK’s most respected early-stage technology investors and the Co-Founder of LocalGlobe. Over his career, he has backed more than 100 startups, including Wise, Monzo, Robinhood, Figma, Zoopla, and Citymapper. A serial entrepreneur himself, Robin brings deep operational experience and a founder-first mindset to investing. He has played a pivotal role in shaping the UK and European startup ecosystem through decades of successful technology investments.
Roelof Botha, Partner, Sequoia Capital: Roelof Botha is a Partner at Sequoia Capital and one of the most influential venture capitalists in the technology industry. A former PayPal executive, he has backed several iconic companies, including YouTube, Instagram, and MongoDB, helping them scale into global leaders. Known for identifying unconventional founders and breakthrough ideas, he has built a reputation for spotting transformative opportunities early. His investment philosophy centers on original thinking, innovation, and long-term value creation.
Romain Lavault, General Partner, Partech: Romain Lavault is a General Partner at Partech and a pioneer in early-stage AI and deep tech investing across Europe and beyond. A former rocket scientist and tech entrepreneur, he built Partech’s seed investment platform into one of Europe’s largest, backing over 150 startups across 28 countries. His portfolio spans AI, semiconductors, autonomous systems, enterprise software, and frontier technologies. Notable investments include Alan, FlexAI, Pydantic, V7 Labs, and The Exploration Company.
Ryan Seunghwan Kim, Head of Global Investment, KB Investment: Ryan Seunghwan Kim leads global investment activities at KB Investment, one of South Korea’s leading venture capital firms. With prior experience at Samsung Electronics and Samsung Venture Investment, he brings deep expertise in technology, innovation, and global venture investing. He focuses on identifying high-growth startups across AI, enterprise technology, and emerging deep tech sectors. His international perspective and cross-border investment experience make him a key contributor to the global innovation ecosystem.
Samantha Wong, General Partner, Blackbird Ventures: Samantha Wong is a General Partner at Blackbird Ventures, one of Australia and New Zealand’s leading venture capital firms. She established Blackbird’s New Zealand office and has helped back ambitious founders across AI, robotics, enterprise software, digital healthcare, and marketplaces. Her portfolio includes innovative companies such as Harrison AI, Halter, Vow, and Partly. With a background spanning entrepreneurship, product strategy, and law, Samantha brings a multidisciplinary approach to supporting high-growth technology startups.
Vani Kola, Founder & Managing Director, Kalaari Capital: Vani Kola is the Founder and Managing Director of Kalaari Capital and a pioneering force in India’s venture capital ecosystem. A two-time entrepreneur in Silicon Valley, she has led investments in some of India’s most successful startups, including Dream11, Myntra, Cure.fit, and Snapdeal. Known for backing ambitious first-time founders, she combines entrepreneurial experience with a strong commitment to mentorship and value creation. Vani continues to champion innovation and the growth of India’s next generation of technology leaders.
Sanjay Nath, Co-Founder & Partner, Blume Ventures: Sanjay Nath is the Co-Founder and Partner at Blume Ventures, where he focuses on cross-border AI, SaaS, and deep tech investments. He has backed several high-impact startups, including Atomicwork, Pixxel, GreyOrange Robotics, LambdaTest, Locus, and Sprinto. With experience spanning Silicon Valley, India, and early-stage venture investing, he brings a global perspective to company building. Sanjay also leads Blume’s go-to-market initiatives and supports founders scaling internationally.
Scott Sandell, Executive Chairman & Chief Investment Officer, New Enterprise Associates (NEA): Scott Sandell is the Executive Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of NEA, one of the world’s largest venture capital firms. Since joining NEA in 1996, he has led investments in transformative companies such as Cloudflare, Robinhood, Salesforce, Tableau, Workday, and Bloom Energy. He is widely recognized for backing category-defining technology businesses from early growth through scale. Beyond investing, Scott is an advocate for principled entrepreneurship and teaches at Stanford University.
Shardul Shah, Partner, Index Ventures: Shardul Shah is a Partner at Index Ventures, where he focuses on cybersecurity, AI, enterprise software, and cloud infrastructure investments. Since joining the firm in 2008, he has led early investments in category-defining companies such as Datadog, Wiz, Simile, and Parallel. Recognized multiple times on the Forbes Midas List, he has helped founders build and scale successful businesses that were later acquired by industry leaders including Google, Microsoft, Cisco, and F5. Known for his founder-first mindset and high-conviction investing approach, Shardul is regarded as one of the leading investors in cloud and enterprise technology.
Shawn Carolan, Partner, Menlo Ventures: Shawn Carolan is a Partner at Menlo Ventures, where he focuses on AI, fintech, robotics, consumer technology, and next-generation platforms. An early investor in iconic companies such as Uber, Roku, Chime, Siri, and ShipBob, he has built a reputation for identifying transformative technologies before they reach mainstream adoption. With a background in engineering, software development, and entrepreneurship, Shawn brings deep technical insight and founder empathy to his investment approach. He is committed to helping entrepreneurs solve meaningful problems at global scale.
Shlomo Dovrat, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Viola Ventures: Shlomo Dovrat is a pioneering technology entrepreneur and investor with over four decades of experience in building and scaling innovation-led businesses. As Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Viola Ventures, he has helped establish one of Israel’s leading technology investment platforms, backing more than 200 companies. Prior to venture investing, he founded and led multiple successful technology companies through IPOs and acquisitions. His expertise in company building, combined with his commitment to innovation and economic development, has made him a key figure in the global venture capital ecosystem.
Staffan Helgesson, Partner, Creandum: Staffan Helgesson is a seasoned venture capitalist and Partner at Creandum, with more than two decades of experience backing early-stage technology companies. He has invested in globally recognized startups including Spotify, Bolt, Trade Republic, Neo4j, Pleo, and Kahoot. Known for identifying category-defining businesses, he actively supports founders building disruptive, high-growth companies across Europe and beyond. His portfolio spans AI, fintech, mobility, SaaS, and deep technology ventures.
Stephen Chandler, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Notion Capital: Stephen Chandler is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Notion Capital, a leading European B2B SaaS and cloud technology investor. A former CFO and founding executive at MessageLabs, he played a key role in the company’s $700 million acquisition by Symantec. At Notion, he combines operational expertise with venture investing to support high-growth software companies. His portfolio includes leading technology businesses such as GoCardless, Paddle, Panaseer, Griffin, and Tradeshift.
Steve Jurvetson, Founder & Managing Director, Future Ventures: Steve Jurvetson is the Founder and Managing Director of Future Ventures and one of the most renowned investors in disruptive technologies. He led early investments in iconic companies such as SpaceX, Tesla, and Planet Labs, contributing to over $1.7 trillion in aggregate value creation. With a background in engineering, product development, and venture capital, Steve has spent decades backing mission-driven founders at the forefront of innovation. He is widely recognized for his impact on emerging industries and breakthrough technologies.
Suneel Gokhale, Co-Founder & General Partner, VentureSouq: Suneel Gokhale is the Co-Founder and General Partner at VentureSouq, a venture investment platform focused on early-stage technology startups. Drawing on his experience advising the Abu Dhabi Investment Council on venture, private equity, and global investment transactions, he brings deep expertise in capital markets and technology investing. He helped build VentureSouq’s unique deal-by-deal investment model, enabling institutional and family office access to curated startup opportunities. Suneel is actively involved in supporting high-growth founders across global technology ecosystems.
Sunil Dhaliwal, Founder & General Partner, Amplify Partners: Sunil Dhaliwal is a veteran venture capitalist focused on machine learning, IT infrastructure, and deep technology startups. As Founder and General Partner of Amplify Partners, he has backed category-defining companies such as Datadog, Fastly, Runway, Covariant, and Enlitic. With a track record spanning multiple IPOs and acquisitions, he is known for partnering with highly technical founders building transformative technologies. His investments have helped shape advancements across AI, cloud infrastructure, robotics, and enterprise software.
Suranga Chandratillake, General Partner, Balderton Capital: Suranga Chandratillake is a technology entrepreneur turned investor with deep expertise in AI, search, and software innovation. Before joining Balderton Capital, he founded blinkx, a pioneering video search platform that grew into a publicly listed billion-dollar company. At Balderton, he supports ambitious founders building next-generation technology businesses across Europe. His distinguished career includes recognition as an OBE recipient, Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and former member of the UK Government’s Council for Science and Technology.
Teymour Boutros-Ghali, Managing Partner, Bold Capital Partners: Teymour Boutros-Ghali is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with more than three decades of experience backing disruptive technologies. As Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Bold Capital Partners, he focuses on breakthrough innovations at the intersection of software, biology, and emerging technologies. Previously, he held leadership roles at Monitor Ventures and Time Inc. Ventures, investing in high-growth technology companies. His strong technical foundation, including a PhD from MIT, has shaped his commitment to supporting visionary founders and transformative ventures.
Tim Porter, Managing Director, Madrona Ventures: Tim Porter is a Managing Director at Madrona Ventures, where he focuses on AI-native applications, enterprise software, cybersecurity, developer tools, robotics, and deep tech innovation. Since joining the firm in 2006, he has partnered with early-stage founders building next-generation technology companies across the Pacific Northwest. Prior to venture capital, Tim led strategic acquisitions and investments at Microsoft, completing multiple enterprise software and security transactions. His combination of engineering expertise and operational experience makes him a trusted advisor to emerging technology leaders.
Tony Holt, Co-Founder & Partner, Square Peg Capital: Tony Holt is Co-Founder and Partner at Square Peg Capital, where he supports mission-driven technology founders building global businesses. With more than three decades of experience across venture investing, finance, and strategic advisory roles, he brings deep expertise in scaling innovative companies. At Square Peg, he focuses on backing entrepreneurs creating meaningful change through technology. His global perspective, developed across major financial hubs, has helped establish Square Peg as a leading venture capital firm.
Venkatesh Peddi, Managing Director, Chiratae Ventures: Venkatesh Peddi is Managing Director at Chiratae Ventures and a leading investor in SaaS, cloud, and enterprise technology. With over two decades of experience across venture capital, investment banking, and startup leadership, he has played a key role in shaping India’s SaaS ecosystem. He has led investments in companies such as Deepfence, Hevo Data, Pixis, HealthPlix, and GetVantage. Venkatesh is also widely recognized for authoring the influential “Indian SaaS Revolution” report and supporting founders through their early growth journeys.
Will Fraser-Allen, Managing Partner, AlbionVC: Will Fraser-Allen is a seasoned venture capital investor with a strong track record of backing successful technology businesses across AI, data, fintech, healthtech, and deeptech. An early supporter of the founders behind Booking.com, he has spent decades helping entrepreneurs scale and navigate growth. His experience in corporate finance and board leadership enables him to provide valuable strategic guidance to founders. Will is widely respected for his founder-centric approach and long-term investment perspective.
Xavier Lorphelin, Managing Partner, Serena Capital: Xavier Lorphelin is a veteran technology investor and entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience in the startup ecosystem. As Managing Partner at Serena Capital, he has built a strong reputation for backing innovative SaaS and AI-driven companies, including successes such as Dataiku, Launchmetrics, and Alkemics. Having worked in Silicon Valley during the early internet era, he brings a global perspective to venture investing. Xavier is deeply committed to supporting entrepreneurs and helping them scale category-defining businesses.
Yi Cao (Charlie Cao), Founding & Managing Partner, Source Code Capital: Yi Cao is the Founding and Managing Partner of Source Code Capital and one of China’s most accomplished venture investors. With nearly two decades of experience, he has led investments in industry giants including ByteDance, Meituan, KE Holdings, and Li Auto. Recognized on the Forbes Midas List for eight consecutive years, he is known for identifying transformative technology companies at an early stage. His background in computer science and entrepreneurship enables him to work closely with founders building market-leading businesses.
Yoav Tzruya, General Partner, Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP): Yoav Tzruya is a seasoned technology investor with more than 30 years of experience across enterprise software, cybersecurity, AI, and fintech. As General Partner at JVP, he has played a key role in building and scaling category-leading companies, while leading numerous successful exits to global technology leaders including PayPal, Intel, Honeywell, and ServiceNow. He is known for his hands-on approach to company creation, growth strategy, and market expansion. Yoav has also been instrumental in strengthening Israel’s cybersecurity and innovation ecosystem.
Conclusion
The future of AI and DeepTech will be built by bold founders, but it will also be shaped by the investors who recognize potential before the rest of the world sees it. The leaders featured in this editorial have consistently demonstrated the vision, expertise, and commitment required to support breakthrough technologies from concept to global scale.
Through their investments, mentorship, and unwavering belief in innovation, they have helped create some of the world’s most influential technology companies while fostering ecosystems that encourage entrepreneurship and scientific advancement. Their collective contributions extend far beyond financial returns, driving progress in industries that impact businesses, governments, and everyday lives.
As the world enters a new era of intelligent systems, automation, advanced computing, and frontier innovation, these 100 global VC leaders continue to play a critical role in enabling the next wave of technological breakthroughs. Their work today is helping shape a smarter, more connected, and more innovative future for generations to come.
– Researched & Edited By Shivani Solanki
