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Vinnie Lauria

If you wish to grow yourself, grow others

Vinnie Lauria is a prominent figure in the Southeast Asian startup and venture capital ecosystem. He is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Golden Gate Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Singapore.12

Background and Career

Vinnie's journey began as a computer engineer, working in web development during high school. After graduating from Boston University's College of Engineering with a degree in computer engineering, he briefly worked at IBM before realizing his passion for startups.1

Entrepreneurial Experience

Before venturing into the world of venture capital, Vinnie founded two startups in Silicon Valley:

  1. Meetro: A location-based chat service (2004-2007)
  2. Lefora: A forum hosting platform that grew to over 100,000 communities and was acquired by CrowdGather in 20102

He also founded the Silicon Valley NewTech meetup, which featured hundreds of startups pitching to a monthly audience of over 10,000 members.2

Golden Gate Ventures

In 2011, Vinnie co-founded Golden Gate Ventures, which has since become a significant player in the Southeast Asian startup ecosystem. The firm:

  • Manages over US$250 million in assets
  • Has made over 80 investments
  • Has 9 unicorns in its portfolio
  • Has achieved over 10 exits and 2 IPOs12

Achievements and Roles

  • Kauffman Fellow
  • Guest lecturer at the National University of Singapore
  • Rated as the highest startup mentor in Asia by the Founder Institute
  • EMBA candidate at Tsinghua University's BRI Finance program23

Personal Interests

Vinnie is known for his passion for building startup ecosystems and his adventurous spirit. In 2010-2011, he traveled extensively across Asia, immersing himself in various cultures and experiences, including studying Kung Fu with Shaolin monks and driving an auto-rickshaw across India for charity.3

Vinnie Lauria's diverse experience as an entrepreneur, investor, and mentor has positioned him as a key figure in shaping the startup landscape in Southeast Asia through Golden Gate Ventures.

Highlights

Aug 20 · linkedin

If you've ever been to a 7-Eleven in Japan, you know it's not just a regular N. American convenience store. Bundle on top of that all of their Japanese holdings under the group, and I don't see how a western/global convenience store group could drive more value... only drain it....

Jul 25 · linkedin

Interesting arguments to unfold in Reno, Nevada here:

The trust currently hands control of the family business to the four oldest children when Mr. Murdoch dies. But he is arguing in court that only by empowering Lachlan to run the company without interference from his more politically moderate siblings can he preserve its conservative editorial bent, and thus protect its commercial value for all his heirs.

Related Questions

What are some of the key investments made by Golden Gate Ventures under Vinnie Lauria's leadership?
How did Vinnie Lauria transition from being an entrepreneur to a venture capitalist?
What lessons did Vinnie Lauria learn from his early startups like Meetro and Lefora?
How does Vinnie Lauria's background in computer engineering influence his investment strategies?
What makes Golden Gate Ventures unique compared to other venture capital firms in Southeast Asia?
Vinnie Lauria
Vinnie Lauria, photo 1
Vinnie Lauria, photo 2
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Location

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam