Where does Sophia Zhao work?

Sophia Zhao is Partner at Alumni Ventures.

What check size does Sophia Zhao write?

Sophia Zhao typically writes checks of $50K – $10M.

Where did Sophia Zhao go to school?

Sophia Zhao studied at Yale School of Management (Master of Advanced Management (MAM), Strategy); Startup School Online; UBC Sauder School of Business (Master of Business Administration (MBA)).

Sophia Zhao

Investor

Partner at Alumni Ventures

Vancouver, BC

Writes $50K – $10M checks · typically $5M

Experience

Alumni VenturesPartner, AI Fund, Blockchain Fund, Women's Fundcurrent2024 — presentVancouver, BC
Alumni VenturesSenior Principal II, AI Fund, Blockchain Fund, Women's Fund2023 — 2024
Alumni VenturesBoard Observer2023
Alumni VenturesSenior Principal, Blockchain Fund2022 — 2023Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Alumni VenturesPrincipal, Blockchain Fund2021 — 2022Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Girls Into VCMentorcurrent2025 — present
Women We AdmireMembercurrent2025 — present
Real Mamas of CryptoMembercurrent2024 — present
Blockchain Builders FundLPcurrent2023 — presentMenlo Park, California, United States
ETHGlobalHackathon Judgecurrent2021 — present
Global Women in VCMembercurrent2021 — presentVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Berkeley Blockchain XceleratorMentor2021 — 2024
Algorand Miami AcceleratorMentor2021 — 2023
HarmonyIncubator Dao Governor2021 — 2022
Solana LabsHackathon Judge2021 — 2022
Crypto.comInstitutional Manager, North America & EU2020 — 2021Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
Blue Ivy VenturesVenture Advisor2020 — 2021Boston, MA
Blue Ivy VenturesVenture Fellow2019 — 2020Boston, Massachusetts, United States
HBUSDirector Of Business Development and Operations2019 — 2020San Francisco Bay Area
Galaxy DigitalPartnership Manager (First Coin Capital - Acquired by Galaxy Digital)2018Greater New York City Area
PradaBusiness Strategy Consultant2017New Haven, Connecticut
Jing Capital CorpInvestor Relations Manager2013 — 2016Asia Pacific, North America
Opzoon Technology Co., Ltd.Director, Corporate Development2011 — 2013Beijing China, San Jose USA
TDAssociate, Commercial Banking2008 — 2010Vancouver, BC

Skills & more

Investment Strategies10Due Diligence8Strategic Planning38Business Strategy40Research8Marketing Strategy11Budgets10Investor Relations20Corporate Development38Emerging Markets9Risk Management12Project Management10

+12 more

Account ManagementBusiness DevelopmentInvestmentsStrategyVenture CapitalMergers & AcquisitionsFinancial ModelingManagementFinancial AnalysisStrategic CommunicationsData AnalysisLeadership

Languages Cantonese · English · French · Mandarin

Sophia Zhao: Most Inspirational Women of Web3 and AI 2025 — Unstoppable Women of Web3
Canadian Securities Course — Canadian Securities Institute
Derivatives Fundamentals — Canadian Securities Institute
Venture Deals — Kauffman Fellows

From Sophia's professional profile.

Colleagues at Alumni Ventures

Andy Ervin

Deputy CIO at Alumni Ventures

Beth Obermiller

Co-Founder & Board Member Emeritus at Basecamp Fund

Brian Keil

Managing Partner at Alumni Ventures

David Beazley

Managing Partner at Alumni Ventures

David Lang

Board Director Emeritus at Alumni Ventures

David Shapiro

Managing Partner at Alumni Ventures

Erin Burke

Investor at Alumni Ventures

Errik Anderson

Board Director at Basecamp Fund

Frequently asked questions

Who is Sophia Zhao?: Partner at Alumni Ventures
Where does Sophia Zhao work?: Sophia Zhao is Partner at Alumni Ventures.
What check size does Sophia Zhao write?: Sophia Zhao typically writes checks of $50K – $10M.
Where did Sophia Zhao go to school?: Sophia Zhao studied at Yale School of Management (Master of Advanced Management (MAM), Strategy); Startup School Online; UBC Sauder School of Business (Master of Business Administration (MBA)).

Same school

Also attended Yale School of Management135

Sanjot MalhiPartner at Northzone Trip HoferVenture Partner at .406 Ventures Austin KwounAnalyst at .406 Ventures Nate WangVP of Investments at Plum Alley Investments Gabby CazeauInvestor at Harlem Capital Partners Robert BettigoleManaging Partner at Elm Street Ventures

+ 129 more

Also attended Startup School Online15

Rong CaoPartner at WestWave Capital Andrés EsquivesIntern at Salkantay Ventures Rong CaoPartner, WestWave Capital at The 98 Franco TorresInvestor at FEA Angels Pavan SethiAssociate at Serena Ventures Yadgar MeraniFounder at Lezzoo

+ 9 more

Also attended Fudan University97

Mirva LaatunenSenior Investment Associate at OpenOcean Hege TollerudHead of Community & Events at Brighteye Ventures Chan Yip PangExecutive Director, Investment at Vertex Ventures Sea Management Pte. Ltd.Adam ZongEntrepreneur-In-Residence at The Innovation Space Rin HuangPartner at Fenbushi Capital Sarah ChanController at Stripes

+ 91 more

Also attended Simon Fraser University74

Kelly BennettExecutive Advisor at TCV Sophie BuonassisiSVP of Marketing at GTMfund Anastasia HambaliInvestor at Side Door Ventures Tetsu NomuraPrincipal at Sozo Ventures Jackson EunAssociate at Sora Ventures Annie LeOperations Partner at UNION Labs Ventures

+ 68 more

Shared employers

Also worked at ETHGlobal4

Kartik TalwarGeneral Partner at A.Capital Ventures Liam HorneInvestor at Liam Horne Nils EngelnInvestment Manager at w3 fund Baek KimPartner at Hashed

Also worked at Solana Labs12

Steve VassalloInvestor at Foundation Capital Catie YoungExecutive Assistant at Uncork Capital Matthew StottsCo-founder and Partner at Cerulean Ventures Kid ParchariyanonFounder and Managing Partner at SeaX Ventures Chris McCannGeneral Partner at Race Capital Hemant MohapatraPartner at Lightspeed India Partners

+ 6 more

Also worked at Crypto.com2

Antoine BlondeauManaging Partner at Alpha Intelligence Capital Kris MarszalekCo-Founder & CEO at Crypto com Capital

Also worked at Blue Ivy Ventures3

Leslie Goldman TepperFounding Partner at The Artemis Fund David ShapiroManaging Partner at Alumni Ventures Julia TofanDirector at Alloy Partners