Delian Asparouhov
InvestorFounderPartner at Founders Fund · Founder/CEO at Nightingale · Founder at Manufacturing in space · Board director at Hadrian
San Francisco, CA
Writes $500K – $150M checks · typically $25M
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.
Founder/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.
Nightingale's investors · 1
Founder at Manufacturing in space
Intro paths
In turn, Delian can intro founders to Manufacturing in space's investors below.
Manufacturing in space's investors · 33
_imresizer.png)
.png)
Co-founders at Manufacturing in space
Board director at Hadrian
Intro paths
In turn, Delian can intro founders to Hadrian's investors below.
Hadrian's investors · 15
.jpeg){kind=logo}
Co-founders at Hadrian
Experience
- Founders FundPartnercurrent2023 — present
- Founders FundPrincipal2019 — 2023
- Varda Space IndustriesCo-Founder, President, Chairmancurrent2020 — present
- Khosla VenturesPrincipal2018 — 2019
- Khosla VenturesChief Of Staff2017 — 2018
- TeespringGM of Music and Entertainment2017Greater Los Angeles Area
- TeespringGM of Marketplace2016San Francisco Bay Area
- Nightingale AppCEO2013 — 2016
- SquareAndroid Developer2012San Francisco Bay Area
- Bruges Waffles And FritesWaffle Boy2010Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Skills & more
From Delian's professional profile.
Deals · 6
Lula Technologies, Inc.Board seat
via Founders Fund · filed Jul 2023 · $33.5M raise
Varda Space Industries, Inc.Board seat
via Founders Fund · filed Sep 2021 · $42.2M raise
REGENTLed round
via Founders Fund · filed Oct 2023
Eight SleepLed round
via Founders Fund · filed Sep 2019
Manufacturing in spaceLed round
via Founders Fund
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 SystemsEazeNaytevSprout TherapyTempo
Sources: the investor's own website · SEC Form D filings.
Podcasts & interviews
featuring Delian AsparouhovDelian Asparouhov: Inside the Walls of Founders Fund: What the World Does Not See | E1183
20VC with Harry Stebbings
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
INSANE: Space Factories Are Coming! | Delian Asparouhov
Anthony Pompliano
4 more appearances
- Delian Asparouhov, Co-founder of Varda, on How to Build a Space Company2022-12-01
- #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
- Delian Asparouhov, Principal at Founders Fund | Investor Intervie2021-01-14
Colleagues at Founders Fund
Network14
.avif)
▶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 Founder of Manufacturing in space and Partner at Founders Fund and Founder/CEO at Nightingale and Board director at Hadrian.
- 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 Manufacturing in space, Nightingale.
- What boards does Delian Asparouhov sit on?
- Delian Asparouhov holds tracked board seats at Hadrian, Lula Technologies, Inc., Varda Space Industries, Inc..
- What companies has Delian Asparouhov invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Balanced, Cover, Eight Sleep, Giraffe 360, Hadrian, Hgen, Hype & Vice, Lula, Magdrive, Manufacturing in space, Northwood, Nucleus, and 23 more.
- Where did Delian Asparouhov go to school?
- Delian Asparouhov studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Dropout, Computer Science).
- 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", "Inside Varda’s Space Factory | Delian Asparouhov, Founders Fund & Varda", "Unconventional Dating Wisdom | Delian Asparouhov & Nadia Asparouhova", and 7 more.
- Does Delian Asparouhov lead rounds?
- Yes — Delian Asparouhov has led 29 tracked investments.
Paths to reach Delian
People who overlapped with Delian at the same organization — a shared school or employer with one of them is a warm way in.
Together at Founders FundDelian: Partner
Together at Khosla VenturesDelian: Principal
Together at SquareDelian: Android Developer
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia8,773
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 8,766 more
Massachusetts Institute of Technology mafia546
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 539 more
Khosla Ventures mafia14
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 7 more
Founders Fund mafia12
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 5 more
Same school
Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology1,387
+ 1,381 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Founders Fund36
+ 30 more
Also worked at Khosla Ventures85
+ 79 more
