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Steve Chen

North America, California, United States, San Francisco

Description

Steve Chen, renowned as the co-founder and former Chief Technology Officer of YouTube, has transitioned his entrepreneurial prowess into a significant role within the venture capital ecosystem, primarily as an angel investor. Leveraging his deep understanding of scaling internet platforms and consumer technology, Chen has become a sought-after early-stage backer for promising startups. His investment philosophy heavily favors disruptive technology companies, often at the seed stage, where his strategic insights and operational experience can provide maximum value.

Chen's investment portfolio is a testament to his keen eye for innovation, featuring an impressive roster of companies that have gone on to achieve remarkable success. He has made over 50 angel investments, demonstrating a consistent commitment to nurturing the next generation of tech giants. Notable investments include early stakes in fintech disruptors like Robinhood and Coinbase, design software leader Figma, productivity tools such as Notion and Airtable, and logistics innovator DoorDash. These companies, among others in his portfolio, have collectively reached multi-billion dollar valuations, with Figma notably acquired by Adobe for approximately $20 billion, underscoring the foresight of his early-stage bets.

Beyond capital, Steve Chen offers invaluable mentorship and strategic guidance, drawing from his experience in building and scaling YouTube into a global phenomenon. His involvement often signals strong validation for nascent ventures, attracting further institutional funding. He typically participates in highly competitive seed rounds, often alongside top-tier venture capital firms, providing crucial early support that helps companies navigate the challenging initial phases of growth. His continued influence as an investor solidifies his legacy not just as a tech pioneer, but also as a pivotal enabler of future innovation.

Investor Profile

Steve Chen has backed more than 51 startups, with 1 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 2 rounds, about 4% of its total and boasts 11 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Angel rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United States, Canada, Singapore.
  • Strong thematic focus on E-Commerce, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Software.
  • Typical check size: $100K – $1M.

Stage Focus

  • Seed (51%)
  • Series A (22%)
  • Angel (8%)
  • Series B (8%)
  • Series Unknown (6%)
  • Pre Seed (2%)
  • Series C (2%)
  • Convertible Note (2%)

Country Focus

  • United States (78%)
  • Canada (6%)
  • Singapore (4%)
  • India (4%)
  • Taiwan (4%)
  • Finland (2%)
  • South Korea (2%)

Industry Focus

  • E-commerce
  • Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
  • Software
  • Financial Services
  • Fintech
  • Internet
  • Mobile Apps
  • Saas
  • Communities
  • Information Technology
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.

Who does Steve Chen frequently co-invest with?

Sequoia Capital
North America, California, United States, Menlo Park
Co-Investments: 3
Bling Capital
North America, California, United States, San Jose
Co-Investments: 4
SignalFire
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 4
500 Global
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 5
Felicis
North America, California, United States, Menlo Park
Co-Investments: 4
Y Combinator
North America, California, United States, Mountain View
Co-Investments: 5
Great Oaks Venture Capital
North America, New York, United States, New York
Co-Investments: 4
SV Angel
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 5
Andreessen Horowitz
North America, California, United States, Menlo Park
Co-Investments: 5
Founders Fund
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 3

Which angels does Steve Chen often collaborate with?

AA
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 3
AA
North America, California, United States, Palo Alto
Shared Deals: 3
RC
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 3
PB
North America, California, United States, Mountain View
Shared Deals: 4
KL
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 13
BL
North America, California, United States, Menlo Park
Shared Deals: 5
NJ
North America, California, United States, San Mateo
Shared Deals: 4
RT
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 3
ML
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 3
JS
North America, California, United States
Shared Deals: 3

What are some of recent deals done by Steve Chen?

E-Pal

Irvine, California, United States

E-Pal is the Best-in-class social network for gaming enthusiasts, gamers pay for skill and interest-based matching with skillful ePals.

GamingInternetOnline GamesSocial Network
Series UnknownSep 5, 2024
Amount Raised: $30,000,000
Artue

Yongsan, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, South Korea

Artue is pioneering the art industry's digital transformation.

Digital MediaService Industry
SeedMay 9, 2024
Nest Wallet

San Francisco, California, United States

Nest Wallet is a wallet specifically designed for traders.

Financial ServicesFinTechTrading Platform
SeedFeb 20, 2024
Amount Raised: $3,600,000
AppFlowy

Singapore, Central Region, Singapore

AppFlowy is an open-source no code platform for wikis, notes, tasks, and more.

Enterprise Software
SeedNov 16, 2023
Amount Raised: $6,400,000
Karat Financial

Los Angeles, California, United States

Karat Financial offers business credit cards tailored to the needs of digital creators and influencers.

Content CreatorsCredit CardsFinanceFinancial Services
Series BJul 19, 2023
Amount Raised: $40,000,000
Cityfurnish

Gurgaon, Haryana, India

Cityfurnish is an internet company that specializes in the fields of e-Commerce and online rental.

E-CommerceFurnitureHome RenovationRental
Series ANov 11, 2022
Amount Raised: $2,500,000
Jubilee Media

Los Angeles, California, United States

Jubilee Media is a media company.

Media and Entertainment
SeedSep 28, 2022
Amount Raised: $1,100,000
GGWP

San Francisco, California, United States

GGWP provides a gaming tool to help reduce toxic and disruptive in the game.

GamingInformation TechnologyProductivity Tools
SeedMar 21, 2022
Amount Raised: $12,000,000
Beaubble

New York, New York, United States

beauty + bubble = beaubble [byoo-buhl]

BeautyCommunities
Pre SeedNov 1, 2021
KiwiDrop

San Mateo, California, United States

Infrastructure for social commerce

B2BE-CommerceInternetSocial ShoppingSoftware
SeedSep 30, 2021