Steve Oskoui
InvestorCo-Founder & Managing Partner at Gigafund · Board director at Othram · Board director at B&Z Homes, Inc. · Board director at Sana Benefits
Stanford / Burbank area (as stated on the site)
Writes $1M – $5M checks · typically $2.8M
About
Stephen Oskoui built this personal website while a student at Stanford, where he studied under Prof. Tom Kosnik and lived as an RA in Burbank. His entrepreneurial track record began in high school with High-Tech Gaming, a 1993 online videogame magazine that reached more than 15,000 readers and struck deals with AOL and CompuServe. He co-developed BidSmart, a comparison shopping agent for online auctions in 1998, later co-founded Universal Digital Media, LLC (described as the first legal mp3 website) with David Weekly, and worked as a summer product manager at chipshot.com. As a high school student he did laser fusion research at the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics, producing a design used in the OMEGA laser system and becoming a Westinghouse Science Talent Search finalist. Note: this is an archival site he states has not been updated since 2000.
Contact· published on Steve's own website
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep TechHardwareMobility & TransportationSpace Tech
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Founded High-Tech Gaming, a 1993 online videogame magazine that reached more than 15,000 readers and signed deals with AOL and CompuServe. Co-developed BidSmart, a 1998 comparison shopping agent for online auctions, later spun toward Booksmart for college textbooks. Co-founded Universal Digital Media, LLC with David Weekly, describing it as the first legal mp3 website.
- Education
- Studied at Stanford and highlighted MSE 271, taught by his mentor Prof. Tom Kosnik.
- Communities
- Served as a resident assistant (RA) in Burbank at Stanford.
- Awards
- Was named one of 40 finalists in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search.
- Hobbies
- Was an avid videogame fan in high school, which sparked his entrepreneurial start. Took golf lessons from a former PGA pro during a summer job.
- More
- Did laser fusion research at the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics and co-authored a paper published in the Optical Society of America's Optics Letters.
From Steve's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Board director at Othram
Intro paths
In turn, Steve can intro founders to Othram's investors below.
Othram's investors · 4
Co-founders at Othram
Board director at B&Z Homes, Inc.
Intro paths
In turn, Steve can intro founders to B&Z Homes, Inc.'s investors below.
B&Z Homes, Inc.'s investors · 1
Co-founders at B&Z Homes, Inc.
Board director at Sana Benefits
Intro paths
In turn, Steve can intro founders to Sana Benefits's investors below.
Sana Benefits's investors · 7
Co-founders at Sana Benefits
Experience
- GigafundManaging Partnercurrent2017 — present
- Emerald Cloud LabInvestor / Board Membercurrent2022 — present
- Angel StudiosInvestor / Board Membercurrent2022 — present
- Cover Technologies Inc.Investor / Board Membercurrent2021 — present
- Othram IncInvestor / Board Membercurrent2021 — present
- VeryableInvestor / Board Membercurrent2021 — present
- Lambda SchoolInvestor / Board Membercurrent2020 — present
- Sana BenefitsInvestor / Board Membercurrent2019 — presentAustin, Texas Area
- The Boring CompanyInvestorcurrent2019 — present
- Sunroom RentalsInvestor / Board Membercurrent2017 — presentAustin, Texas Area
- SpaceXInvestorcurrent2017 — present
- Founders FundVenture Partnercurrent2015 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Hutch AppInvestor / Board Membercurrent2015 — presentGreater Los Angeles Area
- RealSavvyInvestor / Board Member2016 — 2019Austin, Texas Area
- Rover (formerly known as Flipora/Infoaxe; acquired by RevContent)Investor / Board Member2010 — 2017Sunnyvale, CA
- Smiley MediaFounder/CEO2001 — 2015Austin, Texas Area
- Endorse LibertyExecutive Director2011 — 2014Austin, TX
- chipshot.comintern1999
Skills & more
+9 more
Mobile AdvertisingAnalyticsOnline MarketingLead GenerationCustomer AcquisitionStart-upsGeneral AwesomenessAwesomenessPay Per Click (PPC)From Steve's professional profile.
Deals · 4
B&Z Homes, Inc.Board seat
via Gigafund · filed Apr 2025 · $7.1M raise
BloomTech Inc.Board seat
via Gigafund · filed Feb 2024 · $23.6M raise
Angel Studios, Inc.Board seat
via Gigafund · filed Aug 2023 · $17M raise
Homee InteriorsBoard seat
via Gigafund · filed Jul 2016 · $7.1M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Board seats
Per SEC Form D filings.
Colleagues at Gigafund
Network1
Investors connected to Steve in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Steve Oskoui?
- Stephen Oskoui built this personal website while a student at Stanford, where he studied under Prof. Tom Kosnik and lived as an RA in Burbank. His entrepreneurial track record began in high school with High-Tech Gaming, a 1993 online videogame magazine that reached more than 15,000 readers and struck deals with AOL and CompuServe. He co-developed BidSmart, a comparison shopping agent for online auctions in 1998, later co-founded Universal Digital Media, LLC (described as the first legal mp3 website) with David Weekly, and worked as a summer product manager at chipshot.com. As a high school student he did laser fusion research at the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics, producing a design used in the OMEGA laser system and becoming a Westinghouse Science Talent Search finalist. Note: this is an archival site he states has not been updated since 2000.
- Where does Steve Oskoui work?
- Steve Oskoui is Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Gigafund and Board director at Othram and Board director at B&Z Homes, Inc. and Board director at Sana Benefits.
- What does Steve Oskoui invest in?
- Steve Oskoui invests in AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Deep Tech, Hardware, Mobility & Transportation, Space Tech.
- What check size does Steve Oskoui write?
- Steve Oskoui typically writes checks of $1M – $5M.
- What boards does Steve Oskoui sit on?
- Steve Oskoui holds tracked board seats at Angel Studios, Inc., B&Z Homes, Inc., BloomTech Inc., Homee Interiors, Othram, Sana Benefits.
- Where did Steve Oskoui go to school?
- Steve Oskoui studied at Stanford University (Computer Science; Science, Technology, and Society).
- What awards has Steve Oskoui received?
- Was named one of 40 finalists in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search.
Same school
Also attended Stanford University2,000
+ 1,994 more
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