Daniel Darling
InvestorFounderManaging Partner at Focal Ventures · Founder at Focal
San Francisco, California, United States
Writes $100K – $750M checks
FoundedFocal
Find your path to Daniel
877 people in our graph share verified history with Daniel — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Elliot GeidtunlockedDaniel: together at Stanford University Graduate School of Business (2014–2018)
×4Daniel: together at Stanford University Graduate School of Business
×5Daniel: together at Montgomery & Co., LLC
×2Daniel: together at Harvard Business School
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
Founder at Focal
Intro paths
→
In turn, Daniel can intro founders to Focal's investors below.
Focal's investors · 2
Co-founders at Focal
PU
Pascal UngerFounder
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.
Investments
Investor
ArkiveBalthazar NFT GamingBeam HealthBridgefyBriqCapybaraCastCatalyzeXCohortCoworker.aiCryptoLeagueDiagraphicsDrafterFlare FSGeminus AIGleamGlide HealthHedgey FinanceJasmine EnergyKaiden AIKeragonKintsugiMasthead DataMoneyMadeNemoOn MeOrgspacePersonaboPrescient AIPumpStarkThoras.aiTrelentWitheZurp
Per curated public sources.
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 Founder of Focal and 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.
- What companies did Daniel Darling found?
- Daniel Darling founded Focal.
- What companies has Daniel Darling invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Arkive, Balthazar NFT Gaming, Beam Health, Bridgefy, Briq, Capybara, Cast, CatalyzeX, Cohort, Coworker.ai, CryptoLeague, Diagraphics, and 23 more.
- 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 mafia893
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Brad GerstnerMBAFounded AltimeterTim DraperMBAFounded Draper AssociatesMike Maples JrMBAFounded Pattern BreakersHristo BorisovOPM Class 64Founded PayhawkNoubar AfeyanVisiting LecturerFounded ProFound Therapeutics +13Wade MyersMBAFounded RealManage +6
+ 886 more
Stanford University Graduate School of Business mafia748
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Steve JurvetsonMaster of Business Administration (MBA)Founded Future Ventures +1Theresia GouwMBAFounded EarlyTony XuMBAFounded DoorDashDavid VélezMBAFounded Nubank +1IanMaster of Business Administration (M.B.A.)Founded Apex Technology +3Matt RouifStanford Ignite (Summer Institute for Entrepreneurship)Founded Photoroom +3
+ 741 more
University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business mafia265
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Ivan ZhouBachelor of Science (B.S.)Founded Decagon +2Wendy JohanssonExecutive Education: Product ManagementFounded Misaludhealth +2Jay ParrishMBAFounded ROME Therapeutics +1Raj Shekhar SinghManagement of TechnologyFounded Z21 +1Nanxi LiuFounded Nanoly Bioscience +1Kevin ChouBachelor of Science - BSFounded Superlayer +1
+ 258 more
University of Sydney mafia109
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Ryan JuneeBEFounded Ostro +2Jesse BuckinghamBachelor of Laws (LL.B.)Founded Vooma +2Alek SafarianB.Pharm.Founded Vantage Biosciences +1Chris ThomasBachelor of ArtsFounded Terrascope +1Denis MarsBachelor of Science (B.S.)Founded Proxy +1Ben SandComputer Science - 3.5 years completed.Founded Strong Compute +1
+ 102 more
Focal Ventures mafia2
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Stanford University Graduate School of Business2,000
Roelof BothaAdvisor & former Steward at Sequoia Capital; SpaceX board memberPeter FentonGeneral Partner at BenchmarkDavid SzeAdvisory Partner at GreylockKatherine BoyleGeneral Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (American Dynamism)Hunter WalkCo-founder & Partner at HomebrewScott SandellExecutive Chairman & Chief Investment Officer at NEA
+ 1,994 more
Also attended Harvard Business School2,000
Aileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesJim BreyerFounder & CEO of Breyer CapitalMike Maples JrCo-founding Partner at FloodgateNeeraj AgrawalGeneral Partner at Battery VenturesHristo BorisovCo-founder & CEO of PayhawkVictoria TreygerGeneral Partner at Felicis Ventures
+ 1,994 more
Also attended University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business968
Rishi ModiInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Yibo NianInvestment Director at Intel CapitalZhenyu TangInvestment Director at Intel CapitalDennisDirector of Trading at Pantera CapitalAnna ChenInvestor at Madrona Venture GroupJohnny HooperAssociate at March Capital Partners
+ 962 more
Also attended University of Sydney448
Clay RobbinsForward Deployed Partner at Slow VenturesClare McCartney BeerCOO & Managing Director at Burda Principal InvestmentsTony NystenPartner at OpenOceanGustav von SydowInvestor at EQT VenturesNaomi GunasekaranDeputy Chief Financial Officer, Funds - Finance at Magnetar AI VenturesAlex ChetkowskiInvestor at Riverwood Capital
+ 442 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Endless Frontier Labs33
Brannon JonesPrincipal at AlleyCorpNour ObeidallahHead of Community at AlleyCorpMaggie SprengerCo-Founder & General Partner at Audere CapitalJoshua RubnitzInvestment Analyst at TDK VenturesAndrei VrabieCOO & General Counsel at Parameter VenturesBrian GloedeHead of Business Development and Startup Partnerships at New York Life Ventures
+ 27 more
Also worked at Velti16
Pantelis PapageorgiouPartner at Elikonos Capital PartnersGeorge 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 Capital
+ 10 more
Also worked at Montgomery & Co., LLC13
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
+ 7 more
