Daniel Darling
InvestorManaging Partner at Focal Ventures · Managing Partner at Darling Ventures
San Francisco, California, United States
Writes $100K – $750M checks
About
Daniel Darling, an Australian-born, San Francisco–based ex-adtech founder and VC, hosts Five Year Frontier and connects Australian investors to North American AI/software startups, advising on go-to-market and product positioning.
Contact· self-published, not guessed
Invests in
AdTechAI & Machine LearningDeveloper ToolsFintechHealthtechSaaS
Experience
- focalCo-founder & Managing Partnercurrent2020 — presentSan Francisco
- Endless Frontier LabsMentor (Deep Tech & Digital)current2020 — presentNew York
- G-Startup WorldwideMentorcurrent2016 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- 5 Year Frontier PodcastPodcast Creator2023 — 2025
- Darling VenturesFounder & Managing Partner2013 — 2020San Francisco Bay Area
- VeltiDirector, Market Strategy & Solutions2012 — 2013San Francisco Bay Area
- Mobile Interactive GroupVP, Sales & Marketing (USA)2011 — 2012Los Angeles
- Montgomery & Co., LLCMarketing & Analysis2011Los Angeles
- SuedeSocial Media & Search Strategist2009 — 2010Sydney
- The ONN AgencyCo-founder & Strategic Planner2007 — 2009Sydney
- Bates CHI&PartnersMarket Research2007Tokyo, Japan
- AbeliaLandscape Gardener2006 — 2007Sydney, Australia
Skills & more
SEM10Analytics12Social Media12Market Research8New Media2Mobile Commerce8Online Advertising6Mobile Devices31Strategic Partnerships4Lead Generation7Digital Marketing3Website Development1
+12 more
Start-upsSocial NetworkingMobile MarketingMobile TechnologyStrategySEOIntegrated MarketingBusiness StrategyDigital StrategyManagementProduct MarketingAdvertisingLanguages French · Italian
From Daniel's professional profile.
Colleagues at Focal Ventures
Network13
Amy WuScout
General Partner at Menlo Ventures
David WeisburdScout
Investor at Weisburd Capital
Ramtin NaimiScout
Founder & General Partner at Abstract Ventures
Timothy YoungScout
Co-Founder and General Partner at Eniac Ventures
Alex McIsaac
General Partner at Inovia Capital
Chris Cantino
Investor at Color Capital
David Evans
Managing Partner at Sentiero Ventures
Elyse Kent
Partner at Denver Ventures
Faran Nouri
Managing Director at Lam Capital
Gaurav Jain
Co-founder, Managing Partner at Afore Capital
Jeff Huber
General Partner at Triatomic Capital
Mallun Yen
Founder & Managing Partner at Operator Collective
▶1 more connections
Investors connected to Daniel in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Daniel Darling?
- Daniel Darling, an Australian-born, San Francisco–based ex-adtech founder and VC, hosts Five Year Frontier and connects Australian investors to North American AI/software startups, advising on go-to-market and product positioning.
- Where does Daniel Darling work?
- Daniel Darling is Managing Partner at Focal Ventures.
- What does Daniel Darling invest in?
- Daniel Darling invests in AdTech, AI & Machine Learning, Developer Tools, Fintech, Healthtech, SaaS.
- What check size does Daniel Darling write?
- Daniel Darling typically writes checks of $100K – $750M.
- Where did Daniel Darling go to school?
- Daniel Darling studied at Stanford University Graduate School of Business (Mergers & Acquisitions); Harvard Business School (Private Equity & Venture Capital); Stanford University Graduate School of Business (Executive Leadership Development: Analysis to Action).
Founder mafias
Harvard Business School mafia323
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Mike Maples JrMBAFounded Pattern BreakersHristo BorisovOPM Class 64Founded PayhawkNoubar AfeyanVisiting LecturerFounded ProFound Therapeutics +12Wade MyersMBAFounded RealManage +5Harry GrunerFounded Hilos +2Ellen RubinMBAFounded ClearSky Data +2
+ 316 more
Stanford University Graduate School of Business mafia267
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Steve JurvetsonMaster of Business Administration (MBA)Founded Mojo VisionTony XuMBAFounded DoorDashDavid VélezMBAFounded NubankMatt RouifStanford Ignite (Summer Institute for Entrepreneurship)Founded Photoroom +3IanMaster of Business Administration (M.B.A.)Founded Immunity Project +2Mikhail KokorichStanford Executive ProgramFounded Destinus +2
+ 260 more
University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business mafia117
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Ivan ZhouBachelor of Science (B.S.)Founded Decagon +2Keith LendenMBAFounded Boundless Bio +2Jay ParrishMBAFounded ROME Therapeutics +1Nanxi LiuFounded Nanoly Bioscience +1Patrick SigristVenture Capital Executive ProgramFounded IORQ +1Victor HoBachelor of Science (BS)Founded Fivestars +1
+ 110 more
University of Sydney mafia35
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Jesse BuckinghamBachelor of EconomicsFounded Vooma +2Alek SafarianB.Pharm.Founded Vantage Biosciences +1Ryan JuneeBComFounded Parsable +1Ben SandComputer Science - 3.5 years completed.Founded Strong Compute +1Paul HunyorLLB / EconFounded OpenSCHenry InnisBachelor of Arts (B.A.)Founded Mutinex
+ 28 more
Focal Ventures mafia2
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Stanford University Graduate School of Business1,384
Roelof BothaAdvisor & former Steward at Sequoia Capital; SpaceX board memberPeter FentonGeneral Partner at BenchmarkSteve JurvetsonCo-founder of Future VenturesDavid SzeAdvisory Partner at GreylockKatherine BoyleGeneral Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (American Dynamism)Hunter WalkCo-founder & Partner at Homebrew
+ 1,378 more
Also attended Harvard Business School2,000
Brad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter CapitalAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesTim DraperFounder of Draper AssociatesMamoon HamidPartner at Kleiner PerkinsNeeraj AgrawalGeneral Partner at Battery VenturesHristo BorisovCo-founder & CEO of Payhawk
+ 1,994 more
Also attended University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business616
Mark FiorentinoInvestor at Index VenturesRishi ModiInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Yibo NianInvestment Director at Intel CapitalZhenyu TangInvestment Director at Intel CapitalHariFellow at Clear VenturesDennisDirector of Trading at Pantera Capital
+ 610 more
Also attended University of Sydney255
Clay RobbinsForward Deployed Partner at Slow VenturesClare McCartney BeerCOO & Managing Director at Burda Principal InvestmentsTony NystenPartner at OpenOceanNaomi GunasekaranDeputy Chief Financial Officer, Funds - Finance at Magnetar AI VenturesJethro CohenPrincipal at Square Peg CapitalOsh JayasuriyaInvestment Operations Manager at Square Peg Capital
+ 249 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Endless Frontier Labs20
Brannon JonesPrincipal at AlleyCorpNour ObeidallahHead of Community at AlleyCorpMaggie SprengerCo-Founder & General Partner at Audere CapitalJoshua RubnitzInvestment Analyst at TDK VenturesBrian GloedeHead of Business Development and Startup Partnerships at New York Life VenturesNealFounder at Zoic Capital
+ 14 more
Also worked at Velti7
George KarantonisPartner at Metavallon VCSunil VermaPartner at Unanimous CapitalKrishna SubramanianPartner at Unanimous CapitalEmanuele De LeonardisPartner, Head of Business Development & Ecosystem at Cathay InnovationVishal GurbuxaniVenture Partner at Unanimous CapitalJohnExecutive at QUBIC Labs
+ 1 more
Also worked at Montgomery & Co., LLC9
John TorreyVenture Partner at Madrona Venture GroupJamie MontgomeryCo-Founder & Managing Partner at March Capital PartnersHyun KooPartner at March Capital PartnersAlex NiehenkePartner at Scale Venture PartnersCack WilhelmInvestor at IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)Kevin CovertCo-Founder & Managing Director at BTECH CONSORTIUM
+ 3 more
