Gideon Yu

Overview

Gideon Yu is a distinguished investor and executive with a multifaceted career spanning technology, media, and sports industries. He is the co-owner and former president of the San Francisco 49ers, making history as the first person of color to hold the president position in the NFL. During his tenure, he spearheaded the financing and construction of Levi's Stadium, securing the largest stadium construction loan in professional sports history. Prior to his role with the 49ers, Yu served as the Chief Financial Officer for both Facebook and YouTube. At Facebook, he led a significant $375 million investment round from Microsoft and Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka Shing, valuing the company at $15 billion. At YouTube, he negotiated its $1.65 billion sale to Google amidst a highly competitive auction. His earlier career includes positions as Treasurer and Senior Vice President of Finance at Yahoo, where he executed over 30 acquisitions and investments, including Alibaba, Taobao, Overture, Inktomi, Flickr, and del.icio.us. Yu's venture capital experience includes serving as a General Partner at Khosla Ventures, where he led the firm's investment in Square and was its first outside board member. He is also the founder and CEO of EVA Automation, a company that acquired Bowers & Wilkins, a leading brand in home audio. Additionally, he has served on the boards of various organizations, including the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Council of Korean Americans. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Investment Focus

• Strong management team
• Scalable business model
• Innovative technology or product
• Clear path to profitability
• Competitive market positioning
• Potential for significant growth
• Alignment with firm's strategic interests
• Ability to execute on business plan
• Strong intellectual property portfolio
• Clear exit strategy

Portfolio Companies