Spencer Maughan

Investor

Managing Partner at DYDX Capital

Palo Alto, California

Writes $250K – $8M checks · typically $2.5M

About

Spencer Maughan is the Founder and Managing Partner of DYDX, leading its Silicon Valley office. He previously worked as an entrepreneur-in-residence at KPCB with its Green Growth Fund and as an investor at Venrock, where his team backed companies including Nest Labs, Lucid Motors, and Phononic Devices. He holds a BSc and PhD in Genetics from the University of Melbourne, was a Marie Curie fellow at the University of Cambridge, and earned an MBA from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. His investment work centers on data-driven technology companies.

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Invests in

Data & Infrastructure

Experience

DYDX CapitalFounder & Managing Partnercurrent2021 — presentSilicon Valley
University of MelbourneVisiting Fellowcurrent2025 — present
Cime TherapeuticsInvestorcurrent2025 — present
Citrine InformaticsInvestorcurrent2023 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
MatterworksInvestorcurrent2023 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Apparo Inc.Investorcurrent2022 — presentMinnesota, United States
Applied CarbonInvestorcurrent2022 — presentSilicon Valley, California, United States
MarketDialDirectorcurrent2021 — presentSalt Lake City, Utah, United States
Drip CapitalInvestorcurrent2021 — presentPalo Alto, California, United States
Berkeley YeastInvestorcurrent2021 — presentBerkeley, California, United States
ClimateAIBoard Observercurrent2021 — present
Territory FoodsInvestorcurrent2021 — present
ProducePayInvestorcurrent2021 — presentLos Angeles, California, United States
EnkoDirectorcurrent2020 — presentMassachusetts, United States
TovalaDirectorcurrent2020 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
American Australian AssociationAmerican Australian Business Council - Membercurrent2018 — presentNew York City Metropolitan Area
InnitInvestorcurrent2018 — present
PRIME CoalitionInvestment Advisory Committee Membercurrent2016 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
Duke UniversityVisiting Professor2018 — 2025Durham, North Carolina, United States
Good EggsInvestor2020 — 2024San Francisco Bay Area

Education

Stanford University Graduate School of BusinessMBA2007 — 2009
University of MelbournePhD, Genetics
University of MelbourneBSc (Hons), Genetics and Biochemistry

Skills & more

Strategy16Energy2Lifesciences17Venture Capital48Private Equity12Entrepreneurship35Due Diligence5Financial Modeling5Valuation4Start-ups36Corporate Development14Mergers

+9 more

InvestmentsStrategic PartnershipsFinancial ServicesProduct ManagementBusiness DevelopmentMobile DevicesInvestor RelationsFinancial AnalysisBiotechnology

From Spencer's professional profile.