About
Venture partner at First Circle Capital who sources early investment opportunities and contributes to due diligence.
Experience
- Expand HealthFounder & CEOcurrent2023 — presentLondon Area, United Kingdom
- AI Systems LabIndependent Buildercurrent2025 — presentLondon Area, United Kingdom
- Self-Employed / IndependentAngel Investor & Advisor, Longevity/Healthtech Venturescurrent2019 — presentLondon Area, United Kingdom
- Expand Health Cape TownCo-Foundercurrent2023 — presentCity of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
- Expand LabsCo-Foundercurrent2023 — presentBucharest, Romania
- Ilara HealthFounder & CEO2019 — 2023Nairobi, Kenya
- SwvlBoard Observer + Strategic Advisor2018Cairo, Nairobi
- DiGAME Investment CompanyPrincipal2015 — 2018London, Dubai, Cape Town, Nairobi, Cairo, Lagos
- Chilivery.comCo-Founder2015Tehran Province, Iran
- Groupon South AfricaCEO2014 — 2015City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
- Naspers LimitedCEO and Founder - Africa Internet Accelerator2012 — 2014City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
- Rocket Internet SEManaging Director2010 — 2012Lagos, Cape Town, Moscow, Beijing, Delhi
- TwangooCo-founder2010 — 2011Cape Town
- AGIP KCOCost Control Consultant2008 — 2010Russia, Norway and Kazakhstan
- Ernst & YoungSenior to Manager2001 — 2008
- PublicisAccount Executive1998 — 2001
Skills & more
Team Building2Healthcare InnovationGo-to-Market StrategyStartup DevelopmentFundraisingDue DiligenceLongevity1Artificial Intelligence1Healthcare Technology1Raising Venture Capital6Start-ups87Venture Capital35
+12 more
EntrepreneurshipE-commerceManagement ConsultingBusiness StrategyOnline MarketingProject ManagementBusiness PlanningBusiness DevelopmentGenerative AIAI for HealthcareAI HealthcarePreventive CareLanguages Dutch · English · French · Persian · Romanian · Russian · Spanish
From Emilian's professional profile.
Colleagues at First Circle
Agnes Aistleitner Kisuule
Co-Founder & Managing Partner at First Circle
Andi Dervishi
Strategic Advisor & Independent IC Member at First Circle
Anis Kallel
Investor at First Circle
Dare Okoudjou
Investor at First Circle
Emeka Ajene
Investor at First Circle
Hana Zaghloul
Investor at First Circle
Jack Knellinger
Strategic Advisor & Independent IC Member at First Circle
Julie Neogy
Investor at First Circle
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Emilian Popa?
- Venture partner at First Circle Capital who sources early investment opportunities and contributes to due diligence.
- Where does Emilian Popa work?
- Emilian Popa is at First Circle.
- Where did Emilian Popa go to school?
- Emilian Popa studied at Columbia Business School (MBA, Business); Mindvalley Academy (AI Mastery, Artificial Intelligence); London Business School (MBA, Management).
Founder mafias
Columbia Business School mafia66
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Ryan PetersenMBAFounded FlexportMartin VarsavskyMBAFounded Certuma +3Thomas HendrixMBAFounded Decisive Point +1Drew PattersonMBAFounded Walkway +1Neal GoldmanMaster of Business Administration (MBA)Founded FindCenter +1Nimish ShahMBAFounded Apogee Therapeutics +1
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+ 59 more
London Business School mafia59
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Val AgostinoMaster of Business Administration - MBAFounded Monarch +2Key ComptonMBAFounded Mimeo +1Gustavo GorensteinMBA ElectivesFounded bxblue +1Nodar DaneliyaFounded Shuttle +1Beenu AroraMaster of Business Administration - MBAFounded Cyble +1Dhruv TandonMaster of Business Administration - MBAFounded Decisional AI +1
+ 52 more
Sciences Po mafia35
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Alexandre AzoulayMaster in Applied Finance and EconomicsFounded Sghcapital +1Paul Sanglé-FerrièreFounded Workflow +1David KleinPolitical ScienceFounded INSPECTORIOFabien MendezMaster's degree in Finance & StrategyFounded LoggiVirginie MorgonEconomics & FinanceFounded EurazeoFleur PellerinSection Service PublicFounded Korelyacapital
+ 28 more
Rocket Internet SE mafia30
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Manar AlkassarMD and Head of New VenturesFounded Helpling +2Aziz JaouhariBusiness Analyst / PO / BO - AfricaFounded WaystoCap +1Tommaso TombaManaging Director LATAM and EuropeFounded Moons +1Lorcan O CathainGlobal Venture Development ManagerFounded Lua Global Inc +1Jevan NagarajahHead of Business Development (UK & Ireland) - PaylevenFounded Better Dairy +1Michael K. AmbrosEntrepreneur In ResidenceFounded Medici Group
+ 23 more
First Circle mafia8
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Michael StröckCo-FounderFounded Allocator +1Samantha GhiottiStrategic Advisor & Independent IC MemberFounded HabittoHana ZaghloulVenture PartnerFounded DayraMejero KunuVenture PartnerFounded Pennee TechnologiesSeif AmrFounded ThndrDare OkoudjouFounded Onafriq
+ 1 more
Same school
Also attended Columbia Business School668
Ryan PetersenFounder & CEO of FlexportAryo TehranianManaging Director at Mayfair Equity PartnersYibo NianInvestment Director at Intel CapitalKesha CashFounder & General Partner at Impact America FundMahati SridharPartner, Rise of the Rest at RevolutionGiuseppe IademarcoHead of Global Partnership at P101 Ventures
+ 662 more
Also attended London Business School541
Patrick ClaessenPartner at Cottonwood Technology FundDominic JacquessonInvestor at Index VenturesSandra SchwarzerInvestor at Index VenturesMatt CherianVenture Partner at Monta Vista CapitalAkshat GoenkaInvestor at Moonfire VenturesGiuseppe IademarcoHead of Global Partnership at P101 Ventures
+ 535 more
Also attended Sciences Po241
Martin MignotInvestor at Index VenturesSandra SchwarzerInvestor at Index VenturesSofia DolfeInvestor at Index VenturesErica DelamareInvestor at DaphniFrançois VéronGeneral Partner at Newfund CapitalHenri DeshaysGeneral Partner at Newfund Capital
+ 235 more
Also attended Academia de Studii Economice din București24
Florin MihocVenture Partner at Ff Venture CapitalGiorgiana SologonGroup Financial Controller at FunFair VenturesDragos CioacaHead of Luxembourg Fund Finance at Harbert Growth PartnersAnna DinescuExecutive Team at Hilbert GroupLotte WitbreukInvestment Associate at KPN VenturesAlina GeorgescuInvestment Manager at Catalyst Romania
+ 18 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Naspers Limited15
Louis DussartVP, Europe at RTP GlobalLarry IllgAdvisor at Delin VenturesRomero RodriguesInvestor at HeadlineEmil JerslingSenior Growth Manager at Orbit StartupsRussell DreisenstockManaging Partner at Tanglin Venture PartnersAnderson TheesManaging Partner at Redpoint eventures
+ 9 more
Also worked at Rocket Internet SE161
Ian MarshInvestor at DN CapitalGuy Ward ThomasInvestor at DN CapitalPauline BoucherInvestor at DaphniJohn GregerCPO & Portfolio Partner at Burda Principal InvestmentsMichel GlezerDirector at Qualcomm VenturesBenjamin AuschitzkyScaleup Success Manager at Partech Ventures
+ 155 more
Also worked at Ernst & Young1,168
Tyler WilsonSenior Accountant at Felicis VenturesSandra SchwarzerInvestor at Index VenturesLinn Hege AuneInvestor at InvestinorTorjusInvestor at InvestinorAngela ToyPartner & COO at Golden Gate VenturesMahesha SubramaniamHead of Client Relations at Golden Gate Ventures
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+ 1,162 more