HY

Homan Yuen

Investor at Pine Road Ventures

San Francisco Bay Area

Overview

Work Experience

  • Angel Investor

    2023 - Current

    Supporting entrepreneurs

  • Partner

    2015 - 2023

    Early-stage venture capital

  • Co-Founder, CTO, Board Director

    2007 - 2015

    My co-founders and I started and led Solar Junction to develop, productize, and manufacture high-efficiency solar cells for utility-scale energy providers and aerospace industries. As is necessary for many entrepreneurs, my roles truly involved "whatever needed to get done"​: ranging from corporate and business strategy to scraping deposited metal off the equipment walls with scotch-brite.

  • Senior Research Scientist

    2006 - 2007

    I led the materials research development of rare-earth oxides semiconductors for electronic and optical applications and examined commercialization opportunities of the technology for CMOS and silicon photonics applications. In addition, I applied for and assisted in managing various government grants and contracts.

  • Graduate Research Assistant

    2000 - 2006

    For my Ph.D. thesis and research, I worked under Professor James Harris in the Department of Electrical Engineering. My primary project focused on developing and characterizing the newly discovered dilute nitride compound semiconductor alloy for optoelectronic devices. The advancements made in these materials were then integrated into state-of-the-art lasers, detectors, and photovoltaic devices for a wide range of applications including telecommunications, data-centers, solar energy. These technology breakthroughs led to several achievements: ►Lowest-threshold current density GaAs-based lasers in the 1.3-1.55 micron wavelength range for telecommunication and optical data transfer applications ►First GaAs-based VCSEL devices ever produced at 1.55 micron wavelength ►World's best infrared sub-cell for advanced multi-junction solar cell devices During my Ph.D., I had the opportunity to initiate numerous collaborations and partnerships with research laboratories, universities, and industrial global coporations. I also initiated a project on a new materials system for terahertz imaging and bio-sensing applications towards the end of my Ph.D. career to explore the integration of electrical engineering and medicine for biomedical devices. In the end, I had the pleasure of authoring and contributing to over 110 publications and presentations with colleagues and collaborators in the U.S. and internationally.

  • Consultant

    2004 - 2005

    To assist in the development of laser-display technology, I advised in the development of semiconductor materials. I also assisted engineers in the characterization of those materials to determine next steps.

Latest Articles

MediumOct. 2017

VC Math

Talks about Venture Capital, Limited Partner and Asset Management

Relevant Websites