Where does Simon Chan work?

Simon Chan is Managing Partner at FirsthandVC.

What check size does Simon Chan write?

Simon Chan typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.

Where did Simon Chan go to school?

Simon Chan studied at University of Michigan (B.S.E., Computer Science); UCL (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Machine Learning); Stanford University (Master of Science - MS (Incomplete), Management Science & Engineering).

Simon Chan

Investor

Managing Partner at FirsthandVC

New York

Writes $100K – $5M checks · typically $1.5M

Find your path to Simon

909 people in our graph share verified history with Simon — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Paul KwanunlockedSimon: together at Stanford University (2003–2004)

×6Simon: together at Salesforce

×2Simon: together at University of Michigan

×2Simon: together at Stanford University

Experience

FirsthandVCFounding Partnercurrent2022 — presentNew York City Metropolitan Area
AI Agent ConferenceChair & Foundercurrent2025 — presentNew York City Metropolitan Area
PEF CommunityPEF Chapter Lead2023 — 2026New York City Metropolitan Area
Seed and Pre-Seed StartupsAngel Investor / LP2013 — 2022
PredictionIO (Acquired by Salesforce) -> Einstein PlatformCEO and Co-founder2013 — 2019San Francisco Bay Area
Zoth.comCEO & Co-Founder2006 — 2010Beijing and Guangzhou
Crossia (Exited with profit)CEO & Founder2004 — 2006Hong Kong
Tutor123.com (Acquired)CEO & Founder2003 — 2004San Francisco Bay Area
E*TRADESoftware Engineer, Core Technology, Retail2002 — 2004San Francisco Bay Area

Skills & more

Cloud Computing14Big Data99Data Analysis6Recommender Systems19API2Entrepreneurship67Early-stage Startups7Data Mining59Social Networking5Lean Startup4Social Media6Lean Software Development3

+12 more

Mobile ApplicationsStart-upsMachine LearningDistributed SystemsAPIsProgrammingSoftware DevelopmentWeb ApplicationsSaaSHadoopScalaPython

From Simon's professional profile.

Colleagues at FirsthandVC

Akshay Sharma

Partner at FirsthandVC

Cheryl Porro

Investor at FirsthandVC

Dessie Sadrzadeh

Angel at FirsthandVC

Ludovic Ulrich

Partner at FirsthandVC

Mike Kreaden

Partner at FirsthandVC

Phil Calvin

Investor at FirsthandVC

Samuel Yuk Lai Suen

Partner at FirsthandVC

Tatyana Mamut

Partner at FirsthandVC

Network4

Aaron Skonnard

Angel

Amman Bhasin

Investment Partner at PayPal Ventures

Clint Chao

General Partner at Moment Ventures, Llc

Thomas D. Lehrman

Managing Partner at Teamworthy Ventures

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

Frequently asked questions

Who is Simon Chan?: Managing Partner at FirsthandVC
Where does Simon Chan work?: Simon Chan is Managing Partner at FirsthandVC.
What check size does Simon Chan write?: Simon Chan typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.
Where did Simon Chan go to school?: Simon Chan studied at University of Michigan (B.S.E., Computer Science); UCL (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Machine Learning); Stanford University (Master of Science - MS (Incomplete), Management Science & Engineering).

Founder mafias

Stanford University mafia1,932

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Peter ThielJ.D.Founded PayPal +1 Reid HoffmanB.S.Founded LinkedIn +2 David SacksB.A.Founded Yammer Keith RaboisB.A.Founded Opendoor Garry TanBSFounded Y Combinator +1 Joe LonsdaleBSFounded Opto +5

+ 1,925 more

University of Michigan mafia338

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Erik TorenbergBachelor of Arts (B.A.)Founded Villageglobal David R. WaltBachelor of Science - BSFounded Sherlock Biosciences +4 Eric LefkofskyFounded InnerWorkings +2 Chris VoigtBSEFounded Asimov +2 Val AgostinoB.S.E.Founded Monarch +2 Dillon ErbMaster of Architecture (M.Arch.)Founded Paperspace +2

+ 331 more

UCL mafia251

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Demis HassabisPhDFounded Google Deepmind +2 Nessan BerminghamDoctor of Philosophy - PhDFounded Korro Bio +2 Kes ThygesenMSc w/distinctionFounded Rolepoint +2 Mark TrefgarneBAFounded Liverail +2 Steven RenwickPhDFounded Tilores +2 Rand HindiPhDFounded Zama +1

+ 244 more

StartX mafia86

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Jim BentonAlignment at StartXFounded Adapt +3 Edward LandoInternFounded Link +2 Andrew ScheuermannInnovator in Residence (IIR)Founded Arch Systems +1 James Lu MorrisseyBoard of AdvisorsFounded Mentor Collective +1 Lawrence GentilelloFounderFounded Optery +1 Catalin VossInnovator in ResidenceFounded Ello +1

+ 79 more

E*TRADE mafia9

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Sara LeoniDirector, Campaign ExecutionFounded GreenFig Micro Education +1 Matt SechrestVice President, Corporate Development and Venture CapitalFounded Waterfall International Benny JosephSoftware EngineerFounded GoodApril Joud Abdel MajeidSVP, Head of Strategy and Corporate DevelopmentFounded BlackRock James H. LeeBusiness Leader, Global Electronic TradingFounded TXSE Group Steve HauckDirectorFounded Boston Pickle Club

+ 2 more

Same school

Also attended University of Michigan812

Erik TorenbergGeneral Partner at Andreessen Horowitz; founder of Turpentine Glen AndersonPartner at Monta Vista Capital Alexandra FarmerPrincipal at Intel Capital, North America Scott ShawChief of Staff at Intel Capital Zach PoleyPartner and Chief Technology Officer at Clear Ventures Tom DanilekPartner, Rise of the Rest Real Estate at Revolution

+ 806 more

Also attended UCL630

Demis HassabisCo-founder & CEO of Google DeepMind André DuboisInvestor at Index Ventures Frédérique DameInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Jonas VetterleInvestor at Moonfire Ventures Marie FerriInvestor at Daphni Elena PantaziPartner & Head of Platform at Northzone

+ 624 more

Also attended Stanford University2,000

Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders Fund Reid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at Greylock David SacksCo-founder & General Partner at Craft Ventures; former White House AI & Crypto Czar Keith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla Ventures Garry TanPresident & CEO of Y Combinator Alfred LinPartner at Sequoia Capital

+ 1,994 more

Also attended Stanford StartX28

James WangGeneral Partner at Creative Ventures Tim HsiaFounder at Context Ventures Andrew RadinInvestor at Inception Studio Capital Qi WangAssociate at DCM Ventures Lawrence GentilelloFounder/Board Director at Screenleap Ivan LeeFounder at Datasaur

+ 22 more

Shared employers

Also worked at PEF Community95

Ellen RubinPartner at Glasswing Ventures Eran SavirFounder & Managing Partner at Savyon Ventures Zach PosnerManaging Partner & Co-Founder at LegalTech Greg RaizGeneral Partner at FoundersEdge Bob MasonCo-Founder and Managing Partner at Argon Dan ReichVenture Partner at Red Sea Ventures

+ 89 more

Also worked at PredictionIO (Acquired by Salesforce) -> Einstein Platform350

Mark SusterManaging Partner at Upfront Ventures Marc BenioffCo-founder, Chair & CEO of Salesforce Parker HarrisCo-founder of Salesforce Viviana FagaGeneral Partner at Felicis Ventures Job SimonVenture Partner and CTO at Monta Vista Capital Wesley BarrowPartner at Correlation Ventures

+ 344 more

Also worked at E*TRADE44

Amy ErrettVenture partner at True Ventures and founding CEO of Madison Reed Robert TomkinsonSelf at Mucker Capital Scott SpanglerManaging Partner | COO at AI Capital Bart StephensCo-Founder & GP Blockchain Capital at Blockchain Coinvestors Scott WilliamsonPortfolio Partner: Product at OSS Capital Matt MurphyGeneral Partner at Electric Feel Ventures Llc

+ 38 more