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Dave Lu

Founder and Managing Partner at Hyphen Capital

Dave Lu is a prominent figure in the technology and venture capital sectors, serving as the Founder and Managing Partner of Hyphen Capital, a syndicate dedicated to investing in pre-seed companies founded by Asian American entrepreneurs. With over two decades of experience in the tech industry, Lu has held significant roles at major companies such as Yahoo!, Apple, Cisco, and eBay. He is also a serial entrepreneur, having co-founded startups like Fanpop, an entertainment social network, and Expo, a staffing marketplace for the restaurant industry.124

In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Lu is a passionate advocate for the Asian American community. He founded the Asian American Founders Circle in 2011, which has grown to include over 400 founders. This initiative inspired the establishment of Hyphen Capital, which has invested nearly $30 million in over 90 startups, with a focus on supporting underrepresented founders, including those with female leadership.123

Lu's commitment to social justice is evident through his involvement in initiatives addressing hate crimes against Asian Americans. He co-authored a letter that garnered signatures from over 8,000 influential leaders, including CEOs and public figures, published in the Wall Street Journal. This movement led to the creation of "Stand with Asian Americans," a non-profit organization aimed at combating discrimination.124

Educationally, Lu holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Stanford University.13 His leadership and contributions to the community have been recognized with various awards, including the 2023 Emmy Award for his work on the documentary "38 at the Garden," which highlights the story of NBA player Jeremy Lin.34

Highlights

Oct 5 · twitter

Twitter ad targeting sucks. If I was Proud Patriots, I would be pissed that my ad impressions are going to someone like me who would never pay 35 cents much less 35 dollars for this piece of cult trash. Then again I’m glad their ad budget is being completely wasted. https://t.co/f8CPglI6Ii

Twitter ad targeting sucks. If I was Proud Patriots, I would be pissed that my ad impressions are go
Oct 5 · twitter

What AI productivity tools have you found the most helpful for your workflows? A friend recommended @meetgranola to me today. Any others?

Dave Lu, Co-founder @ Pared, Managing Partner at Hyphen Capital
Sep 30 · davelu.com
Announcing Hyphen Capital - by Dave Lu
Announcing Hyphen Capital - by Dave Lu

Related Questions

What inspired Dave Lu to start Hyphen Capital?
How has Dave Lu's career at big tech companies influenced his approach to investing?
What are some notable startups that Hyphen Capital has invested in?
How did the Asian American Founders Circle evolve into Hyphen Capital?
What is the mission of Stand with Asian Americans, a non-profit founded by Dave Lu?
Dave Lu
Dave Lu, photo 1
Dave Lu, photo 2
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Experience

Founder and Managing Partner at Hyphen Capital (2020 - Present)
Co-founder & President at Expo (2015 - Present), Co-Founder at Stand with Asian Americans (2021 - Present), VP of Marketing at Luxe (2015)

Education

MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business, Bachelor's Degree from The Wharton School

Location

San Francisco Bay Area