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Susan Akbarpour

Investor

Managing Partner at Candou Ventures

Atherton, California, United States

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About

Susan Akbarpour is an entrepreneur and investor who has founded several technology and media startups over a 30-year career. She holds an MSc in Management from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and focuses on consumer-centric technologies. At Candou Ventures she sources, develops, and supports early-stage startups in SaaS, AI, blockchain, and consumer internet.

Contact· published on Susan's own website

Invests in

AI & Machine LearningConsumerCrypto & Web3SaaS

Experience

  1. Candou VenturesManaging Partnercurrent2019 — presentPalo Alto, California, United States
  2. Candou VenturesVenture Partner2016 — 2019San Francisco Bay Area
  3. MARKITPLACE, INCFounder & Chaircurrent2025 — presentMenlo Park, California, United States
  4. KQEDMember Board of Directorscurrent2021 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
  5. Democracy 3.0Foundercurrent2023 — presentUnited States
  6. Stanford University Graduate School of BusinessStanford GSB -The Akbarpour Aalaei Fellowshipcurrent2021 — present
  7. CIMAInvestor, Board Director & Product Visionarycurrent2024 — presentMenlo Park, California, United States
  8. National Retail FederationNRF Innovation Advisory Committeecurrent2026 — present
  9. DEG: The Digital Entertainment GroupCommittee Member | Shoppable Video – D2C Alliance (DEG)current2026 — present
  10. Oii.aiDirector Board of Directorscurrent2023 — present
  11. EntropyBoard Observercurrent2024 — present
  12. EntropyBoard Chair2021 — 2024
  13. NasdaqMember, Nasdaq Center for Board Excellencecurrent2024 — presentUnited States
  14. NYSEFellow, NYSE Board Diversity Initiativecurrent2022 — presentNew York, New York, United States
  15. HARBOUR.SPACEVisiting Facultycurrent2023 — presentBarcelona, Catalonia, Spain
  16. How Women LeadMember of SV Executive Board of Advisorscurrent2019 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
  17. Above The LineExecutive Producercurrent2025 — present
  18. How Women InvestFounding LP + Fund Advisorcurrent2020 — presentSilicon Valley, California, United States
  19. ApplyBoardInvestorcurrent2017 — presentGreater Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo Metropolitan Area
  20. Stanford Women on BoardsTech/SaaS Bench Candidatecurrent2021 — presentStanford, California, United States
  21. National Renewable Energy LaboratoryCleantech & Climate Tech Investment Committeecurrent2020 — present
  22. Moms Against Poverty (MAP)Member Board Of Trusteescurrent2021 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
  23. Practical Venture CapitalLimited Partnercurrent2020 — present
  24. VU Venture PartnersLimited Partnercurrent2019 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
  25. Movellus Inc.Investorcurrent2018 — presentSan Jose, California
  26. Griffin Capital Company, LLCLimited Partnercurrent2019 — present
  27. Forbes Agency CouncilForbes Contributing Writercurrent2017 — present
  28. FacenoteMember Board of Directors2020 — 2024Delaware, United States
  29. Algopix (Acquired)Member Board of Directors2021 — 2023
  30. Bolt MobilityInvestor2019 — 2022Miami Beach, FL
  31. MAVATAR TECHNOLOGIES INCBoard Director, Co-Founder & CEO2010 — 2020Menlo Park, CA
  32. TrustrootMember Of The Board Of Advisors2018 — 2019San Francisco Bay Area
  33. Internet Marketing AssociationMember of the Founding Board/ IEC- IMA2017 — 2019Orange County, California, United States
  34. VOmax, Inc.Member, Board of Directors2010 — 2017Northampton, MA
  35. Stanford SloanSloan Endowment Chair2009 — 2010
  36. Teksia, Inc.Founder, CEO2000 — 2009
  37. Linkore, LLC.CEO, co-founder2004 — 2008

Skills & more

Investments16Emerging Markets11Business Strategy46Product Management29Product Development68Start-ups99New Business Development19Online Marketing8Public Relations30Fundraising20Entrepreneurship99Entrepreneur6
+12 moreStrategic PartnershipsMarketing StrategySocial MediaCoachingProduct StrategyTeam BuildingE-commerceMarket ResearchStrategic PlanningStrategy DevelopmentProblem SolvingNegotiation

Languages English · Farsi · French

From Susan's professional profile.

Investments

Board seats

AlgopixFacenote

Per the firm's website.

Colleagues at Candou Ventures

Faraj Aalaei
Founding General Partner at Candou Ventures
Laleh Masnavi
Operating Partner at Candou Ventures
Leela Najafi
Associate at Candou Ventures
Linda Reddick
CFO at Candou Ventures
Mehdi Maghsoodnia
Venture Partner at Candou Ventures
Mehdi Maghsoudnia
Investor at Candou Ventures
Nader Vaseghi
Investor at Candou Ventures
Nader Vasseghi
Venture Partner at Candou Ventures

Network1

Dave McClure
General Partner at Practical Venture Capital

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

Frequently asked questions

Who is Susan Akbarpour?
Susan Akbarpour is an entrepreneur and investor who has founded several technology and media startups over a 30-year career. She holds an MSc in Management from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and focuses on consumer-centric technologies. At Candou Ventures she sources, develops, and supports early-stage startups in SaaS, AI, blockchain, and consumer internet.
Where does Susan Akbarpour work?
Susan Akbarpour is Managing Partner at Candou Ventures.
What does Susan Akbarpour invest in?
Susan Akbarpour invests in AI & Machine Learning, Consumer, Crypto & Web3, SaaS.
What boards does Susan Akbarpour sit on?
Susan Akbarpour holds tracked board seats at Algopix, Facenote.
Where did Susan Akbarpour go to school?
Susan Akbarpour studied at Stanford University Graduate School of Business (Master of Science (MSc), Management at Stanford University | Graduate School of Business, MS in Management).

Same school

Shared employers

Also worked at Stanford Women on Boards1

Liz O'DonnellCo-Founder (formerly COO) at Wisetack