Where does Lip-Bu Tan work?

Lip-Bu Tan is Founder of Velaura AI and Founding Managing Partner at Walden Catalyst and Board director at SambaNova Systems and Board director at Komprise and Board director at Cnex Labs.

What check size does Lip-Bu Tan write?

Lip-Bu Tan typically writes checks of $500K – $20M.

What boards does Lip-Bu Tan sit on?

Lip-Bu Tan holds tracked board seats at Cnex Labs, Credo Technology Group Holding, Movandi RFCMOS for 5G world, Quantenna Communications, Sima Technologies.

Where did Lip-Bu Tan go to school?

Lip-Bu Tan studied at Carnegie Mellon University (Honorary Doctor of Science and Technology); University of San Francisco (Honorary Doctor's Degree, Humane Letters); University of San Francisco (Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)).

Lip-Bu Tan

InvestorFounder

Founding Managing Partner at Walden Catalyst · Founding Managing Partner at Celesta Capital · Investor at Walden International · Member of the Board of Trustee at Carnegie Mellon University · Chief Executive Officer at Intel Corporation · +3 more

USA

Writes $500K – $20M checks

FoundedVelaura AI

About

Lip-Bu Tan, former Cadence CEO and long‑time semiconductor operator-investor, offers chip founders systems‑level expertise from materials through applications and deep operational credibility across the U.S., Taiwan, China and Southeast Asia.

Contact· self-published, not guessed

l•••@celesta.vcreveal

Likely email· guessed from name + firm domain, not firm-published

l•••@waldencatalyst.comreveal100% confident

Invests in

AI & Machine LearningBiotechData & InfrastructureDeep TechDefense TechHardwareNew MaterialsRoboticsSemiconductorsSpace Tech

Board director at SambaNova Systems

Intro paths

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In turn, Lip-Bu can intro founders to SambaNova Systems's investors below.

SambaNova Systems's investors · 19

Atlantic Bridge VenturesDublin · $1M – $5M checks · since 2018 Battery VenturesBoston · $500K – $100M checks Berkeley FrontierBerkeley Cambium CapitalHighland Celesta CapitalMenlo Park · $5M – $20M checks Celesta CapitalSan Francisco Felicis VenturesSan Francisco · $500K – $15M checks GV (Google Ventures)Mountain View · $250K – $50M checks · since 2021 Intel CapitalSanta Clara · $1M – $20M checks Khosla VenturesMenlo Park · $5K – $50M checks Mayfield FundCupertino · $500K – $12M checks Micron VenturesSan Jose Pointguard VenturesLos Altos · $2M – $10M checks Prime VenturesAmsterdam · $5.4M – $16.2M checks Qatar Investment AuthorityDoha Samsung Catalyst FundSan Jose SoftBank Vision FundLondon Walden CatalystSan Francisco · $550K checks Walden InternationalSan Francisco · since 2018

Co-founders at SambaNova Systems

Kunle OlukotunCo-founder & Chief Technologist

Rodrigo LiangCo-founder & CEO

Board director at Komprise

Intro paths

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In turn, Lip-Bu can intro founders to Komprise's investors below.

Komprise's investors · 4

Canaan PartnersStamford · $500K – $20M checks · since 2015 Celesta CapitalMenlo Park · $5M – $20M checks Celesta CapitalSan Francisco Multiplier CapitalWashington · $3M – $15M checks

Co-founders at Komprise

Krishna SubramanianExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter

Kumar GoswamiExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter

Mike PeercyFounder

Board director at Cnex Labs

Intro paths

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In turn, Lip-Bu can intro founders to Cnex Labs's investors below.

Cnex Labs's investors · 8

Brightstone Venture CapitalMinneapolis · $250K – $10M checks Castor Ventures (an Alumni Ventures Fund)Celesta CapitalMenlo Park · $5M – $20M checks · since 2015 Cisco InvestmentsSan Jose Dell Technologies CapitalPalo Alto · $500K – $50M checks · since 2018 M12 (Microsoft's Venture Fund)Seattle · $100K – $10M checks Sierra VenturesSan Mateo · $10M checks · since 2021 We VenturesSeoul · $743K – $19M checks

Co-founders at Cnex Labs

Yiren HuangExecutive Officer, Director

Alan ArmstrongExecutive Officer, Director

Experience

Intel CorporationChief Executive Officercurrent2025 — present
Walden InternationalChairmancurrent1984 — present
Walden Catalyst VenturesFounding Managing Partnercurrent2020 — present
Celesta CapitalFounding Managing Partnercurrent2021 — present
Schneider Electric Energy & Sustainability ServicesBoard Membercurrent2019 — presentParis Area, France
Carnegie Mellon UniversityMember of the Board of Trusteecurrent2011 — present
Artera.aiChairman of the Boardcurrent2022 — present
Greenstone BiosciencesChairman of the Boardcurrent2022 — present
Rivos Inc.Chairman of the Boardcurrent2021 — present
Green Hills SoftwareBoard membercurrent2019 — present
SambaNovaChairman of the Boardcurrent2025 — present
SambaNovaExecutive Chairman2024 — 2025Palo Alto, California
SambaNovaChairman of the Board2017 — 2024Palo Alto, California, United States
Fuller Theological SeminaryMember of the Board of Trusteecurrent2021 — present
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMember of the School of Engineering Dean's Advisory Councilcurrent2023 — present
Intel CorporationBoard Member2022 — 2024
Cadence Design SystemsAdvisor2023 — 2024
Cadence Design SystemsExecutive Chairman2021 — 2023
Cadence Design SystemsCEO2008 — 2021
SoftBank GroupBoard Member2020 — 2022
Innovium Inc.Chairman2015 — 2021
Hewlett Packard EnterpriseBoard member2015 — 2021
AMEC (Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc.)Board Member2005 — 2020
Habana LabsDirector2016 — 2019
AquantiaLead Director2016 — 2019105 E tasman drive, San Jose
Ambarella IncLead Director2004 — 20173101 Jay Street, Santa Clara
Quantenna CommunicationsLead Director2015 — 2017
NUVIA IncChairman of the Board2008 — 2016
新浪Board Member1999 — 2015
Annapurna LabsBoard Member2012 — 2013
Inphi CorporationBoard Member2002 — 2012

Skills & more

Start-ups18Semiconductors12Product Management4Strategic Partnerships14EDA2SaaS2ASIC4Enterprise Software2Venture Capital6IC3Mergers & Acquisitions7Strategy6

From Lip-Bu's professional profile.

Deals · 5

Sima TechnologiesBoard seat

via Walden Catalyst · filed Nov 2022 · $67.8M raise

press ↗

Movandi RFCMOS for 5G worldBoard seat

via Celesta Capital · filed Aug 2020 · $35.8M raise

Credo Technology Group HoldingBoard seat

via Celesta Capital · filed Apr 2020 · $98.5M raise

Cnex LabsBoard seat

via Celesta Capital · filed Mar 2017 · $15M raise

Quantenna CommunicationsBoard seat

via Celesta Capital · filed Aug 2015 · $40.1M raise

Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.

Colleagues at Walden Catalyst

Amandine Rouillard

Global Marketing & Operations Director at Walden Catalyst

Andrew Kau

Partner at Walden Catalyst

Francis Ho

Partner at Walden Catalyst

Harriet Hamblin

Vice President, London at Northzone

Nicolas Autret

Partner at Walden Catalyst

Roni Hefetz

Partner at Walden Catalyst

Shankar Chandran

Partner at Walden Catalyst

Teresa Smith

Chief Financial Officer at Walden Catalyst

Network9

Abhinav AsthanaScout

Chief Technology Officer at Redwood Trust

Albert AzoutScout

Partner at Cota Capital

Anthony LinScout

Head of Intel Capital, Corporate Vice President at Intel Capital

Anu BharadwajScout

President, Atlassian at Operator Collective

Daniel DocterScout

Managing Director at Dell Technologies Capital

Dawn SongScout

Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences; Co-founder, Oasis Labs (Faculty Advisor) at UC Berkeley Skydeck

Eyal NivScout

Managing Partner | First at Pitango

Frank ChangScout

Managing Partner at Flying Fish Ventures

Gil GorenScout

Partner at 83North

Investors connected to Lip-Bu in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Lip-Bu Tan?: Lip-Bu Tan, former Cadence CEO and long‑time semiconductor operator-investor, offers chip founders systems‑level expertise from materials through applications and deep operational credibility across the U.S., Taiwan, China and Southeast Asia.
Where does Lip-Bu Tan work?: Lip-Bu Tan is Founder of Velaura AI and Founding Managing Partner at Walden Catalyst and Board director at SambaNova Systems and Board director at Komprise and Board director at Cnex Labs.
What does Lip-Bu Tan invest in?: Lip-Bu Tan invests in AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Data & Infrastructure, Deep Tech, Defense Tech, Hardware, New Materials, Robotics, Semiconductors, Space Tech.
What check size does Lip-Bu Tan write?: Lip-Bu Tan typically writes checks of $500K – $20M.
What companies did Lip-Bu Tan found?: Lip-Bu Tan founded Velaura AI.
What boards does Lip-Bu Tan sit on?: Lip-Bu Tan holds tracked board seats at Cnex Labs, Credo Technology Group Holding, Movandi RFCMOS for 5G world, Quantenna Communications, Sima Technologies.
Where did Lip-Bu Tan go to school?: Lip-Bu Tan studied at Carnegie Mellon University (Honorary Doctor of Science and Technology); University of San Francisco (Honorary Doctor's Degree, Humane Letters); University of San Francisco (Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)).

Founder mafias

Massachusetts Institute of Technology mafia546

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Elad GilPhDFounded Brain Co.Nat FriedmanBachelor of ScienceFounded Xamarin Matt HuangB.S.Founded Hotspots Delian AsparouhovDropoutFounded Nightingale +1 Drew HoustonBSFounded Dropbox +1 Arash FerdowsiComputer ScienceFounded Dropbox

+ 539 more

Carnegie Mellon University mafia231

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Kai-Fu LeeResearch Computer Scientist / Assistant ProfessorFounded 01 Lucy GuoComputer ScienceFounded Passes +1 Joshua XuMaster's degreeFounded HeyGen William GuttmanDistinguished Service Professor of Economics & Special Advisor to ProvostFounded CurvePoint +3 Dr. Manu KumarBSFounded K9 Ventures +2 Rodney BrooksResearch ScientistFounded Rethink Robotics +2

+ 224 more

Intel Corporation mafia69

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Jim GoetzMember, Board of DirectorsFounded VitalSigns Rajiv KhemaniGM and Director of MarketingFounded Auradine +3 Ritik MalhotraSoftware EngineerFounded Savvy +2 Amir FaintuchSenior Vice President & General ManagerFounded Hourly +1 Kamesh RaghavendraIntern, Test TechnologiesFounded Geminus +1 Ruban KanapathippillaiSenior Design ManagerFounded Iterate AI +1

+ 62 more

Nanyang Technological University Singapore mafia42

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Mike MoradiExecutive EducationFounded Southwest Nanotechnologies +1 ZJ LinBachelor of EngineeringFounded Landeed +1 Walter PintorMaster's DegreeFounded Syncware +1 Stefan Seltz-AxmacherBusinessFounded Polymath Robotics +1 Toni RosinolVisiting StudentFounded Stack AI +1 Avishek KumarMaster of Science (M.Sc.)Founded VFlowTech +1

+ 35 more

University of San Francisco mafia11

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Rebecca GaldosBachelor of ScienceFounded Finjan Holdings Becky FlintMBAFounded Dragonboat Fay YangBachelorFounded DecorMatters Maryam TaheriBachelor of Science (B.S.)Founded Brave Care Aaron NgBSFounded Hyper Online

+ 5 more

Same school

Also attended Carnegie Mellon University443

Kai-Fu LeeChairman of Sinovation Ventures and CEO of 01.AI Lucy GuoCo-founder of Scale AI; founder & CEO of Passes Guillaume LampleCo-founder & Chief Scientist of Mistral AI Joshua XuCo-founder & CEO of HeyGen Avi BharadwajInvestment Director at Intel Capital Rasik ParikhInvestor at Madrona Venture Group

+ 437 more

Also attended University of San Francisco79

Ashley ValentineChief People Officer at Greycroft Carmen PalafoxFounder & General Partner at 2045 Ventures Eugene MalobrodskyManaging Partner at One Way Ventures Jason JudgeInvestor at Relevance Ventures Daniel ShermanInvestor at Initialized Capital Barmak MeftahGeneral Partner at Ballistic Ventures

+ 73 more

Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology1,535

Fred WilsonCo-founder & Partner at Union Square Ventures Elad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil Capital Aileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy Ventures Hemant TanejaCEO & Managing Director of General Catalyst Nat FriedmanCo-lead of Meta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDG Brad FeldCo-founder of Foundry and Techstars

+ 1,529 more

Also attended Nanyang Technological University Singapore236

Angela ToyPartner & COO at Golden Gate Ventures Karim GillaniGeneral Partner at Luge Capital A.J. AldanaHead of Ecosystem at Scale Venture Partners Mike MoradiGeneral Partner at Cortado Ventures Genping LiuGeneral Partner at Vertex Ventures Sea Management Pte. Ltd.Kelven LamInvestment Director - Water at Emerald Technology Ventures Ag

+ 230 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Green Hills Software3

Andrew LeeFounder at Firebase Nick EvansFounder at Avocado Shayan GuhaFounder at Avocado

Also worked at SambaNova8

Dave MunichielloInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Dharmesh ThakkerGeneral Partner at Battery Ventures Umesh PadvalManaging Director at Thomvest Ventures William AbecassisManaging Partner and CIO at Braven Amit LubovskyDirector, Americas at SoftBank Vision Fund Ravi VarmaVenture Partner at Tau Ventures

+ 2 more

Also worked at Fuller Theological Seminary1

Tom HsiehPartner, Capital at Futuresight

Also worked at Massachusetts Institute of Technology491

Aileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy Ventures Matt HuangCo-founder and Managing Partner at Paradigm Michael TruellCo-founder & CEO of Cursor Raquel UrtasunFounder & CEO of Waabi Colin WebbFounder & CEO of Avatar Robotics Dave JohnsonCo-founder & CEO of Dash Bio

+ 485 more