Michael Birch

Michael Birch is a highly influential serial entrepreneur and angel investor, best known as the co-founder of the social networking site Bebo. Alongside his wife Xochi Birch, he built Bebo into a significant player in the early social media landscape, eventually selling it to AOL in 2008 for a remarkable $850 million. This substantial exit provided him with the capital and experience to transition into a prolific career as an early-stage investor. His entrepreneurial journey took a unique turn when he repurchased Bebo in 2013 for a mere $1 million, demonstrating his deep commitment and belief in the platform's potential, even after its initial decline.

Following the initial Bebo success, Birch established Monkey Inferno, a San Francisco-based startup studio and incubator. This entity serves as his primary vehicle for developing new ventures and making strategic angel investments. Through Monkey Inferno and his personal capacity, Birch has cultivated an impressive portfolio of early-stage investments, demonstrating a keen eye for disruptive technology and market-leading companies. His notable angel investments include some of the most successful tech companies of the past decade, such as Airbnb, Pinterest, Stripe, Uber, Canva, and Coinbase, among many others. His track record underscores his ability to identify and back companies that go on to achieve unicorn status and reshape industries.

Birch's investment philosophy typically centers on backing strong founding teams tackling large, addressable markets with innovative solutions, particularly within the consumer internet and social technology sectors. He is known for his hands-on approach, often leveraging the resources and expertise of Monkey Inferno to support his portfolio companies. As a "super angel" with a significant personal fortune derived from his entrepreneurial successes, Birch is capable of writing substantial early-stage checks. He has participated in over 110 known investments, primarily at the seed or Series A stages, providing crucial early capital to promising startups. His deep operational experience, combined with his extensive network, makes him a highly sought-after investor for founders seeking more than just capital.