Richard Yen
Managing Partner at Medici Capital Partners
San Francisco, California
Overview
Work Experience
Founder and Managing Partner
2018 - Current
Growth/pre-IPO investment firm focusing on profitable consumer tech companies across Internet, media, sports, consumer, and gaming. Investing in B2C companies that have established product/market fit and are scaling to the next level. Portfolio companies include NerdWallet (IPO, Nasdaq:NRDS), Second Spectrum (acquired by NYSE:GENI), Bombas, and Yami. More info at http://www.medicicap.com.
Late-stage VC firm investing in profitable consumer tech investments across Internet, media, and gaming
Managing Director
2010 - 2018
Led consumer tech investment practice at Saban Capital Group, an institutional family office for billionaire Haim Saban. Sourced, diligenced, and closed growth, pre-IPO, and PE investments in North America as a lead and follow-on investor. Investments include ironSource (NYSE:IS), Vessel (acquired by Verizon), Bustle, and PlayBuzz. Opened and headed up the firm's San Francisco office. Oversaw all Internet investment initiatives across the firm. Identified private Internet companies for Saban's $250M Special Purpose Acquisition Company (Nasdaq:SCACU) with an emphasis on e-commerce, ad-tech, games, consumer hardware, and education. Advised the firm's PE portfolio companies including Univision and Saban Brands on M&A and digital strategy. Led LP investments in seed and early-stage VC funds.
Director
2008 - 2010
Member of two-person early-stage VC team focused on Series A investments in the consumer Internet space. Served on Board of Directors of portfolio companies including Next New Networks (online video MCN, acquired by Google/YouTube) and SkuLoop (social commerce software, acquired by Revionics). Represented the firm in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Principal / Kauffman Fellow
2004 - 2008
Established and led Internet and digital media investing practice focused on early-stage VC investments. Served as Board Observer for Kiptronic (mobile video advertising, acquired by Limelight), Akimbo (Internet video-on-demand), Astoria Software (SaaS content management, acquired by TransPerfect), and Teja (multi-core software platform, acquired by ARC International). Executed four new investments and 12 follow-on investments as sole non-partner deal professional. Member of Kauffman Fellows Program (2004-2006).
Blueprint Ventures is a tax lien certificate investment management company that manages real estate investment funds.
Associate
2003 - 2004
Performed due diligence on early-stage startups at VC firm with $650MM+ under management. Focused primarily on wireless, enterprise software, and semiconductor companies. Sourced Series A investment in Gluecode, open source software company acquired by IBM in 2005.
Rustic Canyon Partners is California-based, early-stage venture capital firm focused on digital media, e-commerce, and SaaS-based companies.
Product Manager / Director of Technology
1999 - 2001
Led product marketing and sales efforts for multiple product lines as company's fourth employee. Co-headed software development team, oversaw software system architecture, and designed user experience.
Vice-President, Intelligent Technologies Group
1999 - 1999
Defined product offerings for Merrill's first online brokerage, ML Direct, following business unit acquisition of D. E. Shaw Financial Technologies.
The Rand Group is a San Francisco-based wealth management team led by Managing Director Daniella Rand.
Director of Engineering
1995 - 1998
Developed pioneering web brokerage product as fourth engineer in D. E. Shaw's Internet incubator. Performed technical sales and integration as lead liaison to Fortune 100 business partners.
D. E. Shaw & Co. is a global investment and technology development firm.