Fundraising Fox

Richard Tapalaga

Investor

Investor at Qualcomm Ventures

San Diego, California

About

Richard Tapalaga is a Director at Qualcomm Ventures, which he joined in 2008, where he focuses on augmented/virtual reality, Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and logistics investments. He serves as a board member or board observer for portfolio companies including Airspace Technologies, Brain Corporation, Netradyne, Survios, Tripp, and ThatGameCompany, and has had exits including HeyZap, Livescribe, Owlchemy Labs, and Earn.com. Before Qualcomm, he spent over seven years in investment banking at Merrill Lynch & Co and Société Générale, where as a Vice President he led leveraged finance deal teams across the Gaming, Lodging, Leisure, and Media & Telecom sectors. He holds an MBA from Cornell University's Johnson School of Business and a B.S. from New York University's Stern School of Business.

Contact· published on Richard's own website

Beyond investing

Education
Earned an MBA from Cornell University's Johnson School of Business. Holds a B.S. from New York University's Stern School of Business.

From Richard's own website — common ground for a warm intro.

Experience

  1. Qualcomm VenturesDirectorcurrent2008 — presentSan Diego County, California, United States
  2. Qualcomm VenturesDirectorcurrent2008 — presentSan Diego County, California, United States
  3. Airspace TechnologiesInvestorcurrent2018 — presentSan Diego County, California, United States
  4. Brain CorpInvestor and Board Membercurrent2012 — presentSan Diego County, California, United States
  5. SurviosInvestor and Board Membercurrent2023 — presentLos Angeles Metropolitan Area
  6. NetradyneInvestorcurrent2024 — presentSan Diego, California, United States
  7. NothingInvestorcurrent2025 — presentLondon Area, United Kingdom
  8. TRIPP, Inc.Investorcurrent2022 — present
  9. thatgamecompanyInvestorcurrent2014 — present
  10. RealWear, Inc.Investor2019 — 2024
  11. Magic LeapInvestor2014 — 2023
  12. Kazuhm, Inc.Investor and Advisor2019 — 2021San Diego County, California, United States
  13. Playdek Inc.Investor2013 — 2021
  14. The VOIDInvestor2018 — 2020
  15. 21, Inc. (Earn.com)Investor2015 — 2018
  16. Owlchemy Labs, LLCInvestor2016 — 2017Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area
  17. Sotera Wireless, Inc.Investor2008 — 2017
  18. HeyzapInvestor2013 — 2016
  19. Livescribe Inc.Investor2010 — 2015
  20. Societe Generale (SG Cowen)VP - Capital Markets2002 — 2005
  21. Merrill Lynch & CoAssociate - Leveraged Finance2001 — 2002
  22. Merrill Lynch & CoAnalyst - Leveraged Finance1999 — 2001

Skills & more

Strategy4Venture Capital26Financial Modeling12Valuation6Private Equity5Due Diligence11Mergers1Investment Banking3Corporate Finance2Financial Analysis4Corporate Development9Capital Markets10
+12 moreInvestmentsEquitiesLBOPortfolio ManagementAlternative InvestmentsLeveraged FinanceMergers & AcquisitionsInvestor RelationsBusiness StrategyStart-upsStrategic PartnershipsEntrepreneurship

From Richard's professional profile.

Investments

Board seats

Airspace TechnologiesBrain CorporationBrain CorporationNetradyneSurviosThatGameCompanyTripp

Investor

Earn.comHeyzapLivescribeOwlchemy Labs

Sources: the investor's own website · SEC Form D filings.

Colleagues at Qualcomm Ventures

Adam Schwenker
Vice President at Qualcomm Ventures
Albert Wang
Senior Director at Qualcomm Ventures
Anirvan Chowdhury
Director at Qualcomm Ventures
Boaz Peer
Managing Director, Israel & Europe at Qualcomm Ventures
Carlos Kokron
Vice President at Qualcomm Ventures
Charles Curran
Investor at Qualcomm Ventures
Christopher West
Senior Legal Counsel at Qualcomm Ventures
David Koppe
Finance Manager at Qualcomm Ventures

Frequently asked questions

Who is Richard Tapalaga?
Richard Tapalaga is a Director at Qualcomm Ventures, which he joined in 2008, where he focuses on augmented/virtual reality, Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and logistics investments. He serves as a board member or board observer for portfolio companies including Airspace Technologies, Brain Corporation, Netradyne, Survios, Tripp, and ThatGameCompany, and has had exits including HeyZap, Livescribe, Owlchemy Labs, and Earn.com. Before Qualcomm, he spent over seven years in investment banking at Merrill Lynch & Co and Société Générale, where as a Vice President he led leveraged finance deal teams across the Gaming, Lodging, Leisure, and Media & Telecom sectors. He holds an MBA from Cornell University's Johnson School of Business and a B.S. from New York University's Stern School of Business.
Where does Richard Tapalaga work?
Richard Tapalaga is Investor at Qualcomm Ventures.
What boards does Richard Tapalaga sit on?
Richard Tapalaga holds tracked board seats at Airspace Technologies, Brain Corporation, Brain Corporation, Netradyne, Survios, ThatGameCompany, Tripp.
What companies has Richard Tapalaga invested in?
Investments tracked here include Earn.com, Heyzap, Livescribe, Owlchemy Labs.
Where did Richard Tapalaga go to school?
Richard Tapalaga studied at Cornell University (MBA); Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management (Master of Business Administration (MBA)); NYU Stern School of Business (BS, Finance & International Business).

Same school

Also attended Cornell University750

Doug LeonePartner at Sequoia Capital; former Global Managing PartnerJenny LeeSenior Managing Partner at Granite AsiaNeeraj AgrawalGeneral Partner at Battery VenturesJohn ZimmerCo-founder of LyftMichelle FernandesInvestor at Index VenturesMicah RosenbloomGeneral Partner at Founder Collective

+ 744 more

Also attended Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management96

Mary MeekerFounder & General Partner at BONDDavid JohnsonManaging Director at Intel Capital, North AmericaZack SchildhornVenture Partner at Lux CapitalQuinn LiSenior Vice President & Global Head of Qualcomm Ventures at Qualcomm VenturesJustin FreehVenture Partner at IronGate Capital AdvisorsRyan ChouManaging Director of Investments at SKY VC

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Also attended NYU Stern School of Business430

Luna SchmidInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Kaz TeradaVenture Advisor at Monta Vista CapitalNeil FongManaging Director Asia at Burda Principal InvestmentsAlex TosoliniAdvisor at CincyTechMax WechterSenior Director of AI at Lerer HippeauKrupa VankayalaPartner, People & HR at Sapphire Ventures

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Shared employers

Also worked at Airspace Technologies6

Stacey BishopPartner at Scale Venture PartnersIra EhrenpreisFounder and Managing Partner at DBL PartnersMark ShermanManaging Partner at Titanium VenturesBreton BirkhoferPrincipal at DivcoWestNoah GrossSenior Associate at Scale Venture PartnersKyle ReaganCo-founder and CEO at chrt

Also worked at thatgamecompany2

Mitch LaskyGaming operator and Benchmark investor behind Riot Games, Snap and DiscordAndrea YangVenture Partner at Makers Fund

Also worked at RealWear, Inc.1

Olivier LaplaceManaging Partner at VI Partners

Also worked at Societe Generale (SG Cowen)106

Sandra SchwarzerInvestor at Index VenturesThomas RubensInvestor at DN CapitalFlorence LiaigreInvestor at MedicxiBenjamin ChongPartner at Right Click CapitalSabrine ChahrourSenior Associate at Partech VenturesAriadne Lemieux-CumberlegeSenior Associate at Partech Ventures

+ 100 more