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Managing Partner at Goodwater Capital
Chi-Hua Chien is a Managing Partner and co-founder of Goodwater Capital, a prominent venture capital firm focused on consumer technology. He is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur known for backing disruptive companies in mobile, fintech, e-commerce, and AI.
Chi-Hua Chien primarily invests in consumer technology companies across various sectors. His focus areas include mobile platforms, e-commerce, financial technology (fintech), artificial intelligence (AI), digital health, and online marketplaces, seeking out innovative solutions with high growth potential.
Chi-Hua Chien works as a Managing Partner at Goodwater Capital, the venture capital firm he co-founded. Goodwater Capital specializes in global consumer technology investments.
Chi-Hua Chien is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of Goodwater Capital, a venture capital firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Before establishing Goodwater in 2014, he spent seven years as a General Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and worked as an Associate at Accel Partners, where he originated the firm's early investment in Facebook. His operational experience includes serving as the first Director of Corporate Development at Facebook and co-founding Xulu Entertainment, following his graduation from Stanford University with an MBA in 2006. Throughout his venture capital career, Chien has directed investments and held board seats at prominent consumer technology companies, including Spotify, Twitter, and Stash. In July 2023, Goodwater Capital raised $1 billion across its early-stage and growth funds, reinforcing his ongoing focus on global consumer internet and mobile platform investments.
Chi-Hua Chien stands as a pivotal figure in the venture capital landscape, serving as a Managing Partner and co-founder of Goodwater Capital. As a leading investor, Chi-Hua Chien has dedicated his career to identifying and nurturing groundbreaking consumer technology companies that redefine industries and enhance daily life. Goodwater Capital, under his leadership, has become a global force in consumer tech investing, known for its data-driven approach and deep sector expertise.
At Goodwater Capital, Chi-Hua Chien's investment focus spans a broad spectrum of consumer-facing innovations. He actively seeks out companies poised for significant growth in areas such as mobile platforms, e-commerce, financial technology (fintech), artificial intelligence (AI), digital health, and online marketplaces. His keen eye for disruptive business models and strong management teams has enabled Goodwater to back numerous companies that have achieved widespread adoption and market leadership. Chi-Hua Chien is particularly interested in scalable solutions that leverage technology to solve complex consumer problems and create seamless user experiences.
Before co-founding Goodwater Capital, Chi-Hua Chien built an impressive career marked by strategic insight and entrepreneurial success. He spent seven years as a Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB), one of Silicon Valley's most storied venture capital firms. During his tenure at KPCB, he was instrumental in identifying and supporting several high-profile companies that went on to become household names. Prior to his venture capital career, Chi-Hua Chien demonstrated his entrepreneurial spirit by co-founding and serving as CEO of Xulu Entertainment, a mobile software company that was later acquired by Openwave. His early career also included a stint at McKinsey & Company, where he honed his strategic consulting skills. Academically, Chi-Hua Chien holds an MBA from Stanford University and dual bachelor's degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, encompassing a BS in Economics from the Wharton School and a BS in Engineering from the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Chi-Hua Chien's impact is evident through Goodwater Capital's impressive portfolio. He has been a key supporter of companies like Chime, a leading challenger bank; Kakao, a dominant mobile platform in South Korea; Toss, a rapidly growing fintech super app; Coupang, a major e-commerce player; and Musical.ly, which evolved into the global phenomenon TikTok. Other notable investments include Stash and Monzo, further solidifying his reputation for backing transformative consumer fintech solutions. Through these investments, Chi-Hua Chien continues to shape the future of consumer technology, empowering founders to build companies that resonate with millions worldwide and drive significant innovation in the digital economy.
