Sam Yagan
InvestorCo-Founder & Managing Partner at Corazon Capital · Board director at Cerca Applications, Inc. · Board director at Lightning AI · Board director at StoicLane
Chicago
Writes $250K – $3M checks · typically $1.5M
About
Co-founder and Managing Partner of Corazon Capital, former CEO of ShopRunner and of Match Group (through its 2015 IPO), and co-founder of OkCupid, SparkNotes, and Excelerate Labs (now Techstars Chicago).
Contact· published on Sam's own website
Likely email· guessed from name + firm domain, not firm-published
- s•••@corazon.comreveal100% confident
Board director at Cerca Applications, Inc.
Intro paths
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In turn, Sam can intro founders to Cerca Applications, Inc.'s investors below.
Cerca Applications, Inc.'s investors · 1
Co-founders at Cerca Applications, Inc.
DA
Danial AsariaExecutive Officer
Board director at Lightning AI
Intro paths
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In turn, Sam can intro founders to Lightning AI's investors below.
Lightning AI's investors · 10
Cisco InvestmentsSan Jose · since 2025Coatue ManagementNew York · $1M – $20M checks · since 2025Corazon CapitalChicago · $150K – $500K checks · since 2026Index VenturesSan Francisco · $540K – $10.8M checks · since 2025K5 GlobalSan Francisco · $1M – $3M checks · since 2025Mantis CapitalSanta Monica · $100K – $1M checks · since 2025NVIDIASanta Clara · since 2025Sherpalo VenturesMenlo Park · since 2025SV AngelSan Francisco · since 2025Zero Prime VenturesSan Francisco · $500K – $1.5M checks · since 2025
Co-founders at Lightning AI
WF
William FalconFounder
Board director at StoicLane
Intro paths
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In turn, Sam can intro founders to StoicLane's investors below.
StoicLane's investors · 1
Experience
- Corazon CapitalCo-Founder & Managing Directorcurrent2014 — presentChicago
- Fifth Star, IncFounder & CEOcurrent2023 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
- Lightning AIChair of the Board of Directorscurrent2024 — presentBerkeley
- SpotHeroChair of the Board of Directorscurrent2013 — presentChicago
- Brilliant.orgDirectorcurrent2010 — presentSan Francisco
- O'Brien Veterinary Group OVGCo-Founder & Directorcurrent2005 — presentChicago
- Rush University Medical CenterDirectorcurrent2020 — presentChicago
- SongfinchDirectorcurrent2022 — presentChicago
- @hotelDirectorcurrent2022 — present
- Start EarlyDirectorcurrent2017 — presentChicago
- Mented CosmeticsDirector2021 — 2023
- Corazon MonocerosCo-Founder, Chair, & CEO2021 — 2023Chicago
- GrindrDirector, Audit Chair2020 — 2022Los Angeles
- The Chamberlain GroupDirector2017 — 2022Chicago
- Leaders In TechDirector2018 — 2021San Francisco
- LitChartsDirector2015 — 2021New York
- ShopRunnerCEO2016 — 2021Chicago
- ShiftgigDirector2012 — 2019Chicago
- The Match Group (NASDAQ:MTCH)GM (2011-2012) / CEO (2012 - 2016) / Vice-Chairman (2017 - 2018) / Director (2017 - 2019)2011 — 2019Dallas/Fort Worth Area
- Procter & GambleAdvisor2018 — 2019
Colleagues at Corazon Capital
Alison Stillman
Partner at Corazon Capital
Carrie Beach
Head of Operations at Corazon Capital
Christian Rudder
Venture Partner at Corazon Capital
Greg Johnston
Principal at Corazon Capital
Josh Graves
Senior Associate at Corazon Capital
Nancy Corrie
Investor at Tensility Venture Partners
Phil Schwarz
Partner at Corazon Capital
Sean Daley
Vice President at Corazon Capital
Network1
Investors connected to Sam in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Sam Yagan?
- Co-founder and Managing Partner of Corazon Capital, former CEO of ShopRunner and of Match Group (through its 2015 IPO), and co-founder of OkCupid, SparkNotes, and Excelerate Labs (now Techstars Chicago).
- Where does Sam Yagan work?
- Sam Yagan is Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Corazon Capital and Board director at Cerca Applications, Inc. and Board director at Lightning AI and Board director at StoicLane.
- What check size does Sam Yagan write?
- Sam Yagan typically writes checks of $250K – $3M.
- Where did Sam Yagan go to school?
- Sam Yagan studied at Stanford University Graduate School of Business (MBA); Harvard University (Bachelor of Arts, Applied Mathematics / Economics).
Founder mafias
Stanford University Graduate School of Business mafia472
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Steve JurvetsonMaster of Business Administration (MBA)Founded Mojo VisionTony XuMBAFounded DoorDashDavid VélezMBAFounded Nubank +1IanMaster of Business Administration (M.B.A.)Founded Apex Technology +3Matt RouifStanford Ignite (Summer Institute for Entrepreneurship)Founded Photoroom +3Mikhail KokorichStanford Executive ProgramFounded Destinus +2
+ 465 more
Leaders In Tech mafia38
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Sam HashemiFounded Felt +1Michael BabineauFellow (2022-2023)Founded Second Measure +1Michael HeinrichFounded OG Labs +1Ferhat BabacanFellowFounded Bluedot +1Ron EfroniFellowFounded Flox +1Selinay ParlakFellowFounded Bluedot +1
+ 31 more
Corazon Capital mafia6
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Brilliant mafia4
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
ShiftGig mafia3
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Stanford University Graduate School of Business1,666
Roelof BothaAdvisor & former Steward at Sequoia Capital; SpaceX board memberPeter FentonGeneral Partner at BenchmarkSteve JurvetsonCo-founder of Future VenturesDavid SzeAdvisory Partner at GreylockKatherine BoyleGeneral Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (American Dynamism)Hunter WalkCo-founder & Partner at Homebrew
+ 1,660 more
Also attended Harvard University1,961
Ron ConwayFounder of SV AngelAlfred LinPartner at Sequoia CapitalChris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen HorowitzSarah TavelVenture Partner at BenchmarkDanny RimerPartner at Index VenturesLaela SturdyManaging Partner at CapitalG
+ 1,955 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Fifth Star, Inc1
Also worked at Songfinch2
Also worked at @hotel2
Also worked at Procter & Gamble316
Ken ChenaultInvestment Team at General CatalystDavid JohnsonManaging Director at Intel Capital, North AmericaKenneth Morand, Ph.D.Life Sciences Partner at CincyTechChad SummeBoard Member at CincyTechDjoni de VosPrincipal at Keen Venture PartnersAllison KuziwGlobal Human Resources Executive at Marlin Equity Partners
+ 310 more