Fundraising Fox
Delian Asparouhov
InvestorFounderPartner at Founders Fund · CEO at Nightingale · Founder at Varda Space Industries
San Francisco, CA
Writes $500K – $150M checks · typically $25M
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About
Delian Asparouhov is a partner at Founders Fund and the co-founder and chairman of Varda Space Industries, which manufactures pharmaceuticals in orbit and returns them to Earth in reentry capsules. The Bulgarian-born MIT dropout and former Khosla Ventures principal is among the most visible younger investors in venture, known for an unfiltered online presence and a focus on aerospace and hard tech.
Contact· published on Delian's own website
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningBiotechDefense TechFintechSpace Tech
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Founded a healthcare company called Nightingale. Asparouhov co-founded Varda Space Industries in 2021 with Will Bruey, a space manufacturing company. Asparouhov founded the startup Nightingale, which he developed through Y Combinator.
- Education
- Attended MIT, where he interned at Square during his freshman and sophomore years. Studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Communities
- Asparouhov created the Hill and Valley Forum, which brings together leaders from Washington and Silicon Valley on technology and national security.
- Awards
- Asparouhov is a recipient of the Thiel Fellowship.
- Hobbies
- Likes to ski.
- Family
- Asparouhov is Bulgarian-American.
- More
- Is Bulgarian.
Mentioned above: the Y Combinator mafia → · the Massachusetts Institute of Technology mafia →
From Delian's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
CEO at NightingaleYC S14
Intro paths
Delian went through Y Combinator (Summer 2014) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
In turn, Delian can intro founders to Nightingale's investors below.
Founder at Varda Space Industries
Intro paths
In turn, Delian can intro founders to Varda Space Industries's investors below.
Varda Space Industries's investors · 45
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Co-founders at Varda Space Industries
Deals · 5
Lula Technologies, Inc.Board seat
via Founders Fund · filed Jul 2023 · $33.5M raise
REGENTLed round
via Founders Fund · filed Oct 2023
Varda Space IndustriesLed round
via Founders Fund · filed Sep 2021 · $42.2M raise
Eight SleepLed round
via Founders Fund · filed Sep 2019
Sword HealthLed round
via Founders Fund
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Led
BalancedCoverGiraffe 360HadrianHgenHype & ViceLulaMagdriveNorthwoodNucleusOrbiitRamp FinancialRushdown RevoltSenraSesoStealth AerospaceStealth CPGStealth FintechStenonSwarm AeroTendTrueworkUp&UpVise AIZinite
Board seats
Investor
AirGarageAkash SystemsCorEazeEnduroSatGiraffe 360HadrianHextronicsHype and ViceLulaNaytevNominalNorthwood SpaceOrbiitPortalOneSpeakSprout TherapyTempoTrabaVardaViseWaveWavedash
Sources: the investor's own website · SEC Form D filings · curated public sources.
Podcasts & interviews
featuring Delian AsparouhovDelian Asparouhov: Inside the Walls of Founders Fund: What the World Does Not See | E1183
20VC with Harry Stebbings
Delian Asparouhov and Philip Johnston on making the case for orbital data centers
SpaceNews
Inside Varda’s Space Factory | Delian Asparouhov, Founders Fund & Varda
Sourcery with Molly O'Shea
Unconventional Dating Wisdom | Delian Asparouhov & Nadia Asparouhova
Modern Relationships with Erik Torenberg · youtube.com
Full Interview with Varda Co-Founder Delian Asparouhov
Scott O
Varda's Landing, Peter Thiel, & the Future of El Segundo, Delian Asparouhov, Founders Fund
Sourcery
6 more appearances
- Spaceman Explains to Earthman How Things Work (with Delian Asparouhov) | Newcomer podcast2023-08-15
- INSANE: Space Factories Are Coming! | Delian Asparouhov2023-03-29
- Delian Asparouhov, Co-founder of Varda, on How to Build a Space Company2022-12-01
- Delian Asparouhov - Risk, Venture Capital and Agency2022-05-23
- #16 Space 3.0 Delian Asparouhov, co-founder of Varda Space Industries and principal at Founders Fund2021-08-18
- Finding Genius: Delian Asparouhov, co-founder of Varda Industries & investor with Founders Fund2021-02-24
Colleagues at Founders Fund
Network14
▶2 more connections
Investors connected to Delian in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Delian Asparouhov?
- Delian Asparouhov is a partner at Founders Fund and the co-founder and chairman of Varda Space Industries, which manufactures pharmaceuticals in orbit and returns them to Earth in reentry capsules. The Bulgarian-born MIT dropout and former Khosla Ventures principal is among the most visible younger investors in venture, known for an unfiltered online presence and a focus on aerospace and hard tech.
- Where does Delian Asparouhov work?
- Delian Asparouhov is CEO of Nightingale and Partner at Founders Fund and Founder at Varda Space Industries.
- What does Delian Asparouhov invest in?
- Delian Asparouhov invests in AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Defense Tech, Fintech, Space Tech.
- What check size does Delian Asparouhov write?
- Delian Asparouhov typically writes checks of $500K – $150M.
- What companies did Delian Asparouhov found?
- Delian Asparouhov founded Nightingale, Varda Space Industries.
- What boards does Delian Asparouhov sit on?
- Delian Asparouhov holds tracked board seats at Hadrian, Lula Technologies, Inc., Varda Space Industries.
- What companies has Delian Asparouhov invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Balanced, Cover, Eight Sleep, Giraffe 360, Hadrian, Hgen, Hype & Vice, Lula, Magdrive, Northwood, Nucleus, Orbiit, and 42 more.
- What awards has Delian Asparouhov received?
- Asparouhov is a recipient of the Thiel Fellowship.
- What podcasts and interviews feature Delian Asparouhov?
- Tracked appearances include "Delian Asparouhov: Inside the Walls of Founders Fund: What the World Does Not See | E1183", "Delian Asparouhov and Philip Johnston on making the case for orbital data centers", "Inside Varda’s Space Factory | Delian Asparouhov, Founders Fund & Varda", and 9 more.
- Does Delian Asparouhov lead rounds?
- Yes — Delian Asparouhov has led 29 tracked investments.
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia10,594
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology mafia1,487
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Khosla Ventures mafia29
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Founders Fund mafia19
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Teespring mafia14
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
About this profile. Compiled from public sources — Founders Fund's own website, regulatory filings, press coverage and public professional profiles — and summarised by Fundraising Fox; every fact is kept with where it came from. Spotted an error, or would rather not be listed? Email privacy@fundraisingfox.com · How we build profiles · Your rights