Founder of https://xitter.cf/t.co/FAF0BfwbAb
Austin, TX
Joined August 2014
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I used to study how molecules interact. I earned my PhD in chemistry at @UChicago and worked at Rohm and Haas, a Fortune 500 company, where my research led to 4 issued U.S. patents. However, as my investing career evolved, I became increasingly drawn to consumer innovation. These days, I’m increasingly fascinated by how people make choices, and what earns their trust enough to bring them back.
In the AI era, that interest has only deepened. The opportunities that excite me most come from founders who combine deep consumer insights with the ability to put AI to work across their businesses. Writing an email or generating an image with #ChatGPT can be useful. The bigger opportunity emerges when AI becomes integral to how a company operates and learns.
A customer question reveals an unmet need. A delivery failure exposes an operating problem. An employee spots something the reports missed. AI can help teams connect those signals, act on them, and carry what they learn into the next decision and across the organization. Over time, each experiment can inform the next. Each team’s experience can help another team improve. That accumulated knowledge, combined with brand, customer relationships, and distribution, can build a stronger moat.
I think of this as Consumer^AI: consumer innovation, compounded by AI. Ten years into building, I’m excited to keep exploring what's possible when founders’ understanding of consumers meets AI’s ability to accelerate learning's compounding.
I share more in my latest newsletter, “iFly.vc at Ten, Part II: Consumer^AI.” Link in the comments.
I’d rather have @Starlink than a nice meal. I do see highspeed internet on top of the modern human desire pyramid. 😆
Right now I'm staring at my screen on an SQ flight. :( Cannot wait to see all your aircraft equipped with @Starlink.
We’re enhancing our complimentary in flight Wi-Fi offering across all cabin classes on our Airbus A350-900 long-haul and ultra-long-range fleet and A380 aircraft from 2027.
@Starlink, the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky, will provide multi-gigabit connectivity on board. Soon, you can stream, game, and send large files just like on the ground.
Find out more: spr.ly/6010BBkIA2
A decade ago, on September 16th, 2016, iFly.vc's Fund I had its first close and was officially launched.
Operating as a solo GP can look like an isolated venture from the outside, but this path has felt anything but lonely. That is entirely due to the extraordinary community of investors, founders, team members, advisors, and friends who have backed iFly.vc from the very beginning. To the LPs who trusted a first-time fund, and to the founders who allowed me to ride shotgun on their relentless journeys: thank you for making this decade possible!
Ten years in early-stage venture has taught me a lot. To mark this milestone, I am sharing a three-part essay series reflecting on the lessons from decade one, the evolution of the investment thesis, and where we are heading next.
Part 1 is officially live today. I’ve included the link in the comments below, and I’d love to hear your thoughts as we kick off this next chapter together.
Han Shen retweeted
Caveman Issues Dire Warning That The Wheel Is Going To Eliminate Countless Jobs buff.ly/u9nCQoL
Twenty-five years later, we still remember. We honor the innocent lives lost on September 11, 2001, and the courage and sacrifice of the many Americans who responded that day and in its aftermath, including those who have since served and fought for the American people and the ideals we share. We will never forget. #911Remembrance
This was one of my two suitcases when I arrived in the United States 28 years ago today.
It has been a remarkable journey of learning, growing, and building friendships with so many wonderful people. I’m proud to have made my home in this dynamic nation, filled with hope, opportunity, and the belief that a better future is always possible.
As I reflect on this milestone, I feel more motivated than ever to work alongside many others who recognize the enormous potential of people who come to America through lawful pathways. By helping legal immigrants contribute their talents, ideas, and determination, we can strengthen America and build a brighter future together.
Grateful for the journey and excited for what lies ahead. 🇺🇸
The AI transformation is creating a modern-day gold rush. Much of the attention is on the companies building the shovels. They deserve it.
But I think we’re overlooking another group of winners:
The companies that become exceptionally good at using those shovels.
Companies with trusted brands, loyal customers, proprietary insights, and distribution don’t have to build an advantage from scratch.
AI amplifies the advantage they already have.
Watching @weee_official Weee!‘s AI adoption has reinforced this belief. What has impressed me isn’t just how quickly the team adopted AI. It’s how rapidly AI spread across end-to-end workflows, turning hours into minutes and improving decisions throughout the organization.
AI doesn’t just reward the builders of the tools.
It also rewards the businesses that are tech-savvy enough to embrace AI and upgrade to the next level.
Founders and operators: what’s one workflow where AI has had the biggest impact in your company? I’d love to hear what surprised you most.
Every 4th of July reminds me how fortunate I am to call America home. This summer marks the beginning of my 29th year in America.
Over the past 28 years, I’ve called four places home: Chicago, Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay Area, and now Austin. Along the way, I’ve built lifelong friendships, learned from extraordinary mentors, and found opportunities that changed my life.
America has given me the opportunity to grow through a continuous journey. It has given me a world-class education, the freedom to reinvent myself, and the confidence to dream bigger than I ever imagined.
I came here to pursue my PhD. Along the way, I discovered a passion for innovation and entrepreneurship that eventually led me to venture capital. Today, I have the privilege of partnering with founders who are building the future and, in many ways, helping others pursue their own American stories.
I continue to believe America is the world’s greatest platform for innovation and entrepreneurship. It is a place where ideas matter more than where you come from, where determination opens doors, and where people from every corner of the world come together to build something bigger than themselves.
To me, the American Dream is not simply about achieving success. It is about having the freedom to keep reinventing yourself.
What I appreciate most is the opportunity to pay that gift forward. Every investment is ultimately an investment in people. I feel incredibly fortunate that my work allows me to support entrepreneurs, create value for investors, and help build the next generation of innovation.
As an immigrant, I carry deep gratitude for the opportunities this country has given me. As an investor, I remain optimistic about America’s future. The next generation of transformative companies will be built by founders who embrace AI, bridge cultures, and solve meaningful problems. I could not be more excited to be part of that journey.
Happy Fourth of July, and thank you to everyone who has been part of my American story.
🇺🇸
(In case you wondered, the photo wasn’t taken today but quite a whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiile ago on the day when I became a proud US citizen.)
#USA250
🤖 Made with AI
On March 5, 1998, I received the offer letter from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Chicago, which kicked off an incredible journey toward my American dream. Join me in the adventure and make a gift to UChicago this Giving Day! #UChiGivingDay Join me in the adventure and make a gift to UChicago this Giving Day! #UChiGivingDay
givetoday.uchicago.edu/uchic…
We’re bringing together some of the most thoughtful founders, investors, and operators in consumer + tech for the 2026 iFly.vc Consumer Summit
✨ Cultural Inspiration × AI Empowerment
Expect:
👥 200+ curated attendees
🎤 30+ speakers
🧠 10+ panels
🏢 20+ company showcase
From AI disruption → CPG → creators → manufacturing → cross cultural innovation
This is not another conference. It’s a room designed for real conversations and meaningful connections.
See you in Austin!
See comment for the registration information.
Serendipity in Austin - Met @gailalfaratx and her two daughters in downtown Austin, and somehow the conversation led to start-ups. It turned out that Grace is actually a customer of one of my portfolio companies, @say_weee Weee!. Always fun to see how small the world can be and how dots can be connected! Cheers~~~