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Silicon Valley VC Firm taps Former Goldman Sachs Senior Banker
Looks to expand its expertise and offerings for early-stage enterprise tech and AI companies
Menlo Park, CA (June 27, 2024) - Valley Capital Partners, a leading Silicon Valley venture capital firm recognized for their investments in transformative enterprise technology and AI companies, today announced the addition of new managing partner Stephen Wong, previously a managing director and chairman of Hong Kong Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs. This new hire marks a continued trajectory of growth and success for VCP following a series of impressive hires, including Mitchell Kokko, former early-stage venture capital fund manager at the University of Notre Dame, and Mike Lempres, former Executive-in-Residence at Andreesen Horowitz.
“I couldn’t refuse the opportunity to build exciting new companies that will revolutionize many segments of the world’s economy. I’ve had the enormous privilege of working with incredible technology founders and now I get to work with early-stage companies and leading technologists, executives, and investors, who are also Valley Capital’s Limited Partners,” said Wong. “I look forward to working with VCP founder, Steve O’Hara, our team, and active LP base to maintain our staunch support and commitment to company founders.”
For nearly 20 years, Wong led Goldman Sachs’ coverage of some of the Firm’s most prominent clients in Asia and the U.S., including global financial sponsor firms and leading companies within the largest industry sectors. In 2020, he received the firm’s prestigious John L. Weinberg Award which recognizes unwavering client commitment, ethics, professionalism, leadership and mentorship throughout an individual’s career, marking the first time in nearly a decade that the award was granted to any Goldman Sachs employee.
"The team at Valley Capital Partners is laser focused on the challenges early-stage companies face and really understand what’s required to make them successful," said Ken Moelis, founder and chairman of Moelis & Company. "Every VC has capital, but that's not nearly enough. What they really need out of their investors are company builders, and in my estimation VCP does that better than any early-stage venture capital fund I've seen. That's what makes VCP different. Stephen Wong will be invaluable to the investment team and will continue to accelerate VCP’s global reach and stewardship of exceptional entrepreneurs.”
Joe Grundfest, professor (emeritus) at Stanford Law School, co-founder of Financial Engines with William Sharpe (Nobel Laureate in Economics), former SEC Commissioner, and Valley Capital investor and advisor, was enthusiastic about Stephen's addition to the Valley Capital team, “Stephen is one of my former students, and he's had an extraordinary career. His relationship building skills and thoughtful strategic advice will amplify portfolio company success and expand Valley Capital's capital base. This makes him a great fit with Valley Capital and its investment philosophy and culture. I couldn’t be more pleased for Stephen and optimistic about the future of Valley Capital Partners.”
Wong serves on the Board of Directors of The Jackie Robinson Foundation in New York and is the author of three books on historical baseball collectibles by Smithsonian Books. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of Hobart and William Smith Colleges where he earned a B.A. in Economics in 1989 and received a Juris Doctorate degree from Stanford Law School in 1992.
For more information about Valley Capital Partners, please visit www.valleycapital.vc
About Valley Capital Partners:
Based in Menlo Park, California, Valley Capital Partners specializes in backing enterprise technology and AI-driven companies at seed and series A rounds. Founded in 2018, the firm has become a leading early-stage venture investor with loyal Limited Partners who actively engage with VCP’s team on deal sourcing, diligence, selection and investment. The firm practices a concentrated portfolio construction strategy that reflects a profound commitment to the individual companies in which it invests and allows it to deploy better its resources to accelerate the success of each portfolio company. Valley Capital and its partners have backed some of Silicon Valley’s most consequential companies, including Yubico, Affirm, QuantumScape, Arista Networks, Infinera, Cerent, NetScreen, SiByte as well as current companies Stellar Cyber, Airvine, Celera, Simba Chain, ModelOp, Beehive AI, RapidCanvas RIOS Intelligent Machines and Orca Bio.
