RY

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.

  • 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).

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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