Ben Yu
InvestorFounderManaging Partner, Sierra Ventures Investment Team at Sierra Ventures · Board director at DeepHow · Board director at Cnex Labs · Board director at NextInput
San Francisco Bay Area
Writes $500K – $15M checks · typically $7.8M
About
Ben Yu is a Managing Partner on the Sierra Ventures investment team, focusing on emerging applications and deep tech including sensors, chips, AI, robotics, and quantum computing. Trained as an engineer with a PhD, he began his career as an inventor before joining Sierra Ventures as a Venture Partner in 1999 to build telecom and networking companies. His current interests include AI and robotics for traditional industries, crypto and blockchain infrastructure, and fintech.
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechDefense TechDeveloper ToolsEnergyEnterprise SoftwareHardwareNew MaterialsQuantum ComputingRoboticsSaaSSemiconductorsSpace Tech
Board director at DeepHow
Intro paths
In turn, Ben can intro founders to DeepHow's investors below.
DeepHow's investors · 10
Co-founders at DeepHow
Board director at Cnex Labs
Intro paths
In turn, Ben can intro founders to Cnex Labs's investors below.
Cnex Labs's investors · 8
Co-founders at Cnex Labs
Board director at NextInput
Intro paths
In turn, Ben can intro founders to NextInput's investors below.
NextInput's investors · 3
Co-founders at NextInput
Experience
- Sierra VenturesManaging Partnercurrent2000 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- KrispBoard Membercurrent2019 — present
- Podcastle Inc.Board Membercurrent2020 — presentArmenia
- 10Web.ioBoard Membercurrent2021 — present
- DeepHowBoard Membercurrent2021 — present
- Q-CTRLInvestorcurrent2019 — present
- NextInputMember Board of Directors2015 — 2021San Francisco Bay Area
- InvensenseBoard Director2008 — 2017San Francisco Bay Area
- 喜马拉雅FMInvestor2013 — 2016Shanghai, China
- AuthenTecBoard Director2003 — 2008Melbourne, Florida, United States
Education
- Princeton UniversityPh.D., Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Skills & more
+12 more
EntrepreneurshipPrivate EquityBusiness DevelopmentWirelessProduct DevelopmentICMobile DevicesCompetitive AnalysisSaaSManagementEnterprise SoftwareEmbedded SoftwareLanguages Chinese · English
From Ben's professional profile.
Deals · 2
DeepHowBoard seat
via Sierra Ventures · filed May 2025 · $5M raise
Cnex LabsBoard seat
via Sierra Ventures · filed Mar 2021 · $30M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Investor
Akasha ImagingAuthenTechEverestLabsInvenSenseInvisible AINextInputOmniexThetaZenda
Sources: SEC Form D filings · the firm's website.
Colleagues at Sierra Ventures
Network12
Investors connected to Ben in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Ben Yu?
- Ben Yu is a Managing Partner on the Sierra Ventures investment team, focusing on emerging applications and deep tech including sensors, chips, AI, robotics, and quantum computing. Trained as an engineer with a PhD, he began his career as an inventor before joining Sierra Ventures as a Venture Partner in 1999 to build telecom and networking companies. His current interests include AI and robotics for traditional industries, crypto and blockchain infrastructure, and fintech.
- Where does Ben Yu work?
- Ben Yu is Managing Partner, Sierra Ventures Investment Team at Sierra Ventures and Board director at DeepHow and Board director at Cnex Labs and Board director at NextInput.
- What does Ben Yu invest in?
- Ben Yu invests in AI & Machine Learning, Deep Tech, Defense Tech, Developer Tools, Energy, Enterprise Software, Hardware, New Materials, Quantum Computing, Robotics, SaaS, Semiconductors, Space Tech.
- What check size does Ben Yu write?
- Ben Yu typically writes checks of $500K – $15M.
- What boards does Ben Yu sit on?
- Ben Yu holds tracked board seats at Cnex Labs, DeepHow.
- What companies has Ben Yu invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Akasha Imaging, AuthenTech, EverestLabs, InvenSense, Invisible AI, NextInput, Omniex, Theta, Zenda.
- Where did Ben Yu go to school?
- Ben Yu studied at Princeton University (Ph.D., Electrical and Electronics Engineering).
Same school
Also attended Princeton University559
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+ 553 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Krisp4
Also worked at 10Web.io1
Also worked at Q-CTRL13
+ 7 more
