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
- Candou VenturesManaging Partnercurrent2019 — presentPalo Alto, California, United States
- Candou VenturesVenture Partner2016 — 2019San Francisco Bay Area
- MARKITPLACE, INCFounder & Chaircurrent2025 — presentMenlo Park, California, United States
- KQEDMember Board of Directorscurrent2021 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Democracy 3.0Foundercurrent2023 — presentUnited States
- Stanford University Graduate School of BusinessStanford GSB -The Akbarpour Aalaei Fellowshipcurrent2021 — present
- CIMAInvestor, Board Director & Product Visionarycurrent2024 — presentMenlo Park, California, United States
- National Retail FederationNRF Innovation Advisory Committeecurrent2026 — present
- DEG: The Digital Entertainment GroupCommittee Member | Shoppable Video – D2C Alliance (DEG)current2026 — present
- Oii.aiDirector Board of Directorscurrent2023 — present
- EntropyBoard Observercurrent2024 — present
- EntropyBoard Chair2021 — 2024
- NasdaqMember, Nasdaq Center for Board Excellencecurrent2024 — presentUnited States
- NYSEFellow, NYSE Board Diversity Initiativecurrent2022 — presentNew York, New York, United States
- HARBOUR.SPACEVisiting Facultycurrent2023 — presentBarcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- How Women LeadMember of SV Executive Board of Advisorscurrent2019 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Above The LineExecutive Producercurrent2025 — present
- How Women InvestFounding LP + Fund Advisorcurrent2020 — presentSilicon Valley, California, United States
- ApplyBoardInvestorcurrent2017 — presentGreater Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo Metropolitan Area
- Stanford Women on BoardsTech/SaaS Bench Candidatecurrent2021 — presentStanford, California, United States
- National Renewable Energy LaboratoryCleantech & Climate Tech Investment Committeecurrent2020 — present
- Moms Against Poverty (MAP)Member Board Of Trusteescurrent2021 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- Practical Venture CapitalLimited Partnercurrent2020 — present
- VU Venture PartnersLimited Partnercurrent2019 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Movellus Inc.Investorcurrent2018 — presentSan Jose, California
- Griffin Capital Company, LLCLimited Partnercurrent2019 — present
- Forbes Agency CouncilForbes Contributing Writercurrent2017 — present
- FacenoteMember Board of Directors2020 — 2024Delaware, United States
- Algopix (Acquired)Member Board of Directors2021 — 2023
- Bolt MobilityInvestor2019 — 2022Miami Beach, FL
- MAVATAR TECHNOLOGIES INCBoard Director, Co-Founder & CEO2010 — 2020Menlo Park, CA
- TrustrootMember Of The Board Of Advisors2018 — 2019San Francisco Bay Area
- Internet Marketing AssociationMember of the Founding Board/ IEC- IMA2017 — 2019Orange County, California, United States
- VOmax, Inc.Member, Board of Directors2010 — 2017Northampton, MA
- Stanford SloanSloan Endowment Chair2009 — 2010
- Teksia, Inc.Founder, CEO2000 — 2009
- Linkore, LLC.CEO, co-founder2004 — 2008
Skills & more
Investments16Emerging Markets11Business Strategy46Product Management29Product Development68Start-ups99New Business Development19Online Marketing8Public Relations30Fundraising20Entrepreneurship99Entrepreneur6
+12 more
Strategic PartnershipsMarketing StrategySocial MediaCoachingProduct StrategyTeam BuildingE-commerceMarket ResearchStrategic PlanningStrategy DevelopmentProblem SolvingNegotiationLanguages 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
Faraj Aalaei
Founder at Cognichip
Laleh Masnavi
Operating Partner at Candou Ventures
Linda Reddick
CFO at Candou Ventures
Mehdi Maghsoodnia
Venture Partner at Candou Ventures
Nader Vasseghi
Venture Partner at Candou Ventures
Sallee Hartbeck
Administrative Lead at Candou Ventures
Shahin Hedayat
Founding General Partner at Candou Ventures
Network1
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
Also attended Stanford University Graduate School of Business1,384
Roelof BothaAdvisor & former Steward at Sequoia Capital; SpaceX board memberPeter FentonGeneral Partner at BenchmarkSteve JurvetsonCo-founder of Future VenturesDavid SzeAdvisory Partner at GreylockKatherine BoyleGeneral Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (American Dynamism)Hunter WalkCo-founder & Partner at Homebrew
+ 1,378 more
Shared employers
Also worked at HARBOUR.SPACE3
Also worked at National Renewable Energy Laboratory13
Nicholas May-VarasFellow, Ocean Energy at Prime Movers LabAndrew WilliamsonManaging Partner at Cambridge Innovation CapitalIra EhrenpreisFounder and Managing Partner at DBL PartnersEric BielkeDirector (former Temasek) / Investor at FathomAndrew BeebeManaging Director at Obvious VenturesPhoebe WangPartner at WI Harper Group
+ 7 more
