David Orban
InvestorManaging Partner at Network Society Ventures
New York, New York
Writes $50K – $500K checks · typically $100K
Find your path to David
173 people in our graph share verified history with David — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Kevin WangunlockedDavid: together at Thiel Fellowship (2013–2015)
David: together at AIDEN
David: together at Singularity Group
×2David: together at Thiel Fellowship
About
David Orban is Managing Director at Al Liwan Labs, where he leads the design of AI-driven systems and strategic frameworks for Al Liwan Group, a financial institution based in AbuDhabi. He founded Actioneer, an AI-powered platform for startup execution, and has spent two decades founding and advising ventures in AI, blockchain, and exponential technologies, including early investments in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital asset projects. Orban serves as Faculty and Advisor at Singularity University and is Founder and Trustee of Network Society Research, a think tank focused on decentralized systems.
Experience
- Al Liwan LabsManaging Directorcurrent2026 — presentAbu Dhabi
- davidorban.comSpeaker and Consultantcurrent1998 — present
- AIDENStrategic Advisorcurrent2026 — present
- RaiseTalks.aiStrategic Advisorcurrent2025 — present
- Singularity UniversityFaculty & Advisorcurrent2009 — presentMountain View, CA, USA
- Network Society ResearchTrusteecurrent2014 — presentLondon, United Kingdom
- Network Society VenturesFounder & Managing Partnercurrent2015 — presentGreater New York City Area
- AxeleraFoundercurrent2012 — presentMilan Area, Italy
- DotwordsFoundercurrent2014 — presentMilan Area, Italy
- The Singularity GroupAdvisorcurrent2020 — present
- The Singularity GroupMember of the Board of Directors2018 — 2020Zürich Area, Switzerland
- FuturoidFoundercurrent2014 — presentLondon, United Kingdom
- Thiel FellowshipMentorcurrent2011 — present
- Lifeboat FoundationAdvisory Board Membercurrent2007 — present
- Al Liwan GroupHead of Innovation2025 — 2026Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates
- SensayAdvisor2024 — 2026
- ActioneerChief Executive Officer2023 — 2025
- Beyond EnterprizesManaging Advisor2021 — 2025
- Emma GroupAdvisor2020 — 2025
- SingularityNETChairman of the Supervisory Council2019 — 2023
- DotsubAdvisor2015 — 2023New York, NY, USA
- DotsubCEO & Member of the Board of Directors2011 — 2015New York, NY, USA
- CheetahXAdvisor2022
- TorreCoach2021
- TorreVice President Corporate Development2020
- SingularityU ItalyFounder & President2016 — 2020Milan Area, Italy
- SingularityU Milan Chapter (powered by Axelera)Chapter Ambassador2015 — 2017Milan
- StartupbusinessCo-Founder2010 — 2015Milan Area, Italy
- QuestarFellow2009 — 2014Bergamo, Italy
- QuestarFounder & CEO1993 — 2009Bergamo, Italy
- Humanity+Member of the Board of Directors2010 — 2012
- VulcanoFounder2007 — 2012
- WideTag, Inc.Founder & Chief Evangelist2008 — 2011Redwood City, CA, USA
- SyntrustCEO1999 — 2000San Francisco, CA, USA
- AISoftwareProduct Manager1987 — 1992Milan, Italy
Skills & more
Executive ManagementMethod DevelopmentExponential Technologies2Organizational Design2Knowledge Management1Digital Assets1Corporate Advisory1Blockchain2Cryptocurrency1Contract Negotiation30Start-ups99Marketing Strategy89
+12 more
Public SpeakingWeb 2.0Internet of ThingsOnline Video StrategyTranslationSpeech RecognitionMachine TranslationArtificial IntelligenceUser ExperienceMobile DevicesVenture CapitalBusiness CaseLanguages English · Hungarian · Italian · Spanish
- SingularityU Chapter Ambassador 2022 — Singularity University
From David's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is David Orban?
- David Orban is Managing Director at Al Liwan Labs, where he leads the design of AI-driven systems and strategic frameworks for Al Liwan Group, a financial institution based in AbuDhabi. He founded Actioneer, an AI-powered platform for startup execution, and has spent two decades founding and advising ventures in AI, blockchain, and exponential technologies, including early investments in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital asset projects. Orban serves as Faculty and Advisor at Singularity University and is Founder and Trustee of Network Society Research, a think tank focused on decentralized systems.
- Where does David Orban work?
- David Orban is Managing Partner at Network Society Ventures.
- What check size does David Orban write?
- David Orban typically writes checks of $50K – $500K.
- Where did David Orban go to school?
- David Orban studied at Università degli Studi di Milano (Physics); Università degli Studi di Padova (Physics).
Founder mafias
Università degli Studi di Padova mafia21
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Fabio ZecchiniMaster's DegreeFounded MusementLucia FaccioMasterFounded GenespireSebastiano FavaroLaurea TriennaleFounded AkiflowPietro ZulloLaurea triennaleFounded ManufactGabriele PozzatoBachelor of Science - BSFounded Iron GridAndrea MambriniMaster of Science - MSFounded Exogene
+ 14 more
Università degli Studi di Milano mafia16
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Federico PomiBachelor's DegreeFounded FabricaMichele AttisaniEuropean EconomicsFounded Black DuckStefano GridelliMaster of Science (M.S.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.)Founded NetBeezGuido CaldaraLaurea triennaleFounded TablevibeCarlo GualandriNot completedFounded Carlo GualandriGianpaolo RandoPhDFounded SwissDeCode
+ 9 more
Singularity Group mafia2
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Università degli Studi di Milano49
Laura ContiOffice Assistant at P101 VenturesTanzila SharifliOperations | Marketing & Outreach at 212Niccolò MoroInvestment Analyst at ChrysalixMarta GhiglioniLead Director, Entrepreneur Experience, Growth Programs at Endeavor CatalystMina RaflaAssociate Director at Aura GroupMarco SardinaScientific Partner at Panakes Partners
+ 43 more
Also attended Università degli Studi di Padova63
Fabio ZecchiniOperating Advisor at P101 VenturesIsabelle SmithEvents Coordinator at HeavybitElena BattistelloAnalyst at Novartis Venture FundSandro EtalleAdvisor at Curiosity VCMina RaflaAssociate Director at Aura GroupAndrea FioravantiSenior Investment Officer at Friulia SpA
+ 57 more
