Francis Kao

Partner at Lightspeed China Partners
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Contact Information
us****@****om
(386) 825-5501
Location
Dongcheng District, CN
Languages
  • English Full professional proficiency
  • Chinese Native or bilingual proficiency
  • Japanese Elementary proficiency
  • Hokkien Native or bilingual proficiency

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5.0

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Xie Tina

Francis is a very good team leader and a good project manager. He is also good at communication and I learned a lot from him。

Jonathan Vandamme

I’ve been working closely with Francis for more than a year at ASUS Taiwan. Francis is consistently pleasant and works with enthusiasm and dedication. Regardless of deadlines or other pressure, His superior organizational skills make him the consummate multi-tasker. We’ve been working together on creating the very successful ASUS G73 Laptop, which has settled the whole ASUS gaming collection identity. As a product designer, I can say that Francis is the ideal Product manager. Despite very tight schedule, He’s not afraid to push for innovative ideas. In closing, let me say I have no hesitation in recommending Francis. I would work again with him anytime. I feel confident he would be a key asset to any organization willing to create innovative products.

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Experience

    • China
    • Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Partner
      • Feb 2020 - Present

      Lightspeed China Partners is a leading China-focused venture capital firm serving entrepreneurs as a lead investor in early stage and emerging growth companies. The partnership focuses on green tech, deep tech, enterprise services, health tech and consumer sectors. It is committed to working with entrepreneurs to realize sustainable development. My investment portfolio includes (but not limits to) the followings: Life Science - 蓝晶微生物 (Bluepha) - 剂泰医药 (METiS Pharmaceuticals) … Show more Lightspeed China Partners is a leading China-focused venture capital firm serving entrepreneurs as a lead investor in early stage and emerging growth companies. The partnership focuses on green tech, deep tech, enterprise services, health tech and consumer sectors. It is committed to working with entrepreneurs to realize sustainable development. My investment portfolio includes (but not limits to) the followings: Life Science - 蓝晶微生物 (Bluepha) - 剂泰医药 (METiS Pharmaceuticals) - 望石智慧 (Stonewise) - 华睿博视 (Infivision) - Luca Healthcare Frontier Tech - 金竟科技 Enterprise Software - Convertlab - 领健 (LinkedCare) - 基智云 (Stepone) - 卫瓴 Show less Lightspeed China Partners is a leading China-focused venture capital firm serving entrepreneurs as a lead investor in early stage and emerging growth companies. The partnership focuses on green tech, deep tech, enterprise services, health tech and consumer sectors. It is committed to working with entrepreneurs to realize sustainable development. My investment portfolio includes (but not limits to) the followings: Life Science - 蓝晶微生物 (Bluepha) - 剂泰医药 (METiS Pharmaceuticals) … Show more Lightspeed China Partners is a leading China-focused venture capital firm serving entrepreneurs as a lead investor in early stage and emerging growth companies. The partnership focuses on green tech, deep tech, enterprise services, health tech and consumer sectors. It is committed to working with entrepreneurs to realize sustainable development. My investment portfolio includes (but not limits to) the followings: Life Science - 蓝晶微生物 (Bluepha) - 剂泰医药 (METiS Pharmaceuticals) - 望石智慧 (Stonewise) - 华睿博视 (Infivision) - Luca Healthcare Frontier Tech - 金竟科技 Enterprise Software - Convertlab - 领健 (LinkedCare) - 基智云 (Stepone) - 卫瓴 Show less

    • China
    • Software Development
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Investment Director, head of Alibaba Innovation Ventures in Shenzhen
      • Nov 2017 - Feb 2020

      Alibaba Innovation Ventures(AIV) is a venture stage investment arm of Alibaba Strategy Investment. We focus on driving frontier technologies and new business model innovations in China. Besides early-stage investments, we also work closely with business units inside Alibaba Group to identify new business and strategical investment opportunities. My investment portfolio includes (but not limits to) the followings: E-commerce 省钱快报 - the leading shopping guide app that helps consumers… Show more Alibaba Innovation Ventures(AIV) is a venture stage investment arm of Alibaba Strategy Investment. We focus on driving frontier technologies and new business model innovations in China. Besides early-stage investments, we also work closely with business units inside Alibaba Group to identify new business and strategical investment opportunities. My investment portfolio includes (but not limits to) the followings: E-commerce 省钱快报 - the leading shopping guide app that helps consumers find good deals at Taobao. 宝宝树 - the biggest mother & baby community and app in China Social 同桌游戏 - the biggest leading live-interactive mini-game platform in China 忆年 - the leading online photo album mini-program for college students in China SaaS / Enterprise Software 探迹 - the leading AI-driven sales lead prospecting platform and CRM application in China Deep-dived into the investment opportunities in the following sectors - E-commerce (淘客生态/短视频生态/下沉电商 for 淘宝/天猫) - SaaS / Enterprise Software (CRM/Marketing Cloud/Service Cloud/HR for 钉钉/阿里云) - Social (社区/社交/内容/小区生态 for 淘宝/天猫) - Manufacturing (工业/服装行业 for 阿里云IoT) - Agriculture (农业/农业数据 for 阿里云/村淘) Show less Alibaba Innovation Ventures(AIV) is a venture stage investment arm of Alibaba Strategy Investment. We focus on driving frontier technologies and new business model innovations in China. Besides early-stage investments, we also work closely with business units inside Alibaba Group to identify new business and strategical investment opportunities. My investment portfolio includes (but not limits to) the followings: E-commerce 省钱快报 - the leading shopping guide app that helps consumers… Show more Alibaba Innovation Ventures(AIV) is a venture stage investment arm of Alibaba Strategy Investment. We focus on driving frontier technologies and new business model innovations in China. Besides early-stage investments, we also work closely with business units inside Alibaba Group to identify new business and strategical investment opportunities. My investment portfolio includes (but not limits to) the followings: E-commerce 省钱快报 - the leading shopping guide app that helps consumers find good deals at Taobao. 宝宝树 - the biggest mother & baby community and app in China Social 同桌游戏 - the biggest leading live-interactive mini-game platform in China 忆年 - the leading online photo album mini-program for college students in China SaaS / Enterprise Software 探迹 - the leading AI-driven sales lead prospecting platform and CRM application in China Deep-dived into the investment opportunities in the following sectors - E-commerce (淘客生态/短视频生态/下沉电商 for 淘宝/天猫) - SaaS / Enterprise Software (CRM/Marketing Cloud/Service Cloud/HR for 钉钉/阿里云) - Social (社区/社交/内容/小区生态 for 淘宝/天猫) - Manufacturing (工业/服装行业 for 阿里云IoT) - Agriculture (农业/农业数据 for 阿里云/村淘) Show less

    • United States
    • Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
    • 200 - 300 Employee
    • Investment VP
      • Jan 2014 - Nov 2017

      DCM is a leading venture capital firm with over $4 billion under management. Since 1996, DCM has invested in more than 325 technology companies across the U.S. and Asia. With offices in Silicon Valley, Beijing, and Tokyo, DCM empowers entrepreneurs with hands-on operational guidance and a global network of business and financial resources. My invested/managing portfolio, including: B2B / SaaS 纷享销客 - the largest mobile SaaS CRM solution provider in China Udesk - the… Show more DCM is a leading venture capital firm with over $4 billion under management. Since 1996, DCM has invested in more than 325 technology companies across the U.S. and Asia. With offices in Silicon Valley, Beijing, and Tokyo, DCM empowers entrepreneurs with hands-on operational guidance and a global network of business and financial resources. My invested/managing portfolio, including: B2B / SaaS 纷享销客 - the largest mobile SaaS CRM solution provider in China Udesk - the largest service desk SaaS solution provider in China 上上签 - the largest e-signature SaaS solution provider in China 噼里啪智能财税 - the leading AI-driven tax service for SME in China 佳格大数据 - the largest satellite-image data service for agriculture and financial sectors in China 巨杉数据库 - the next-generation distributed database for large financial institutions in China 猛犸反欺诈 - the leading anti-fraud solution provider in China Smart360 - the leading mobile SaaS CRM provider for car dealers in China 活动行 - the largest social event SaaS platform in China Health tech 乐动力(acquired by Alibaba in 2017) - the largest mobile pedometer app in China. 薄荷 - the largest weight-loss mobile app and online community in China. Education 51Talk(NYSE:COE, IPO in 2016) - the leading online English tutoring platform in China. Show less DCM is a leading venture capital firm with over $4 billion under management. Since 1996, DCM has invested in more than 325 technology companies across the U.S. and Asia. With offices in Silicon Valley, Beijing, and Tokyo, DCM empowers entrepreneurs with hands-on operational guidance and a global network of business and financial resources. My invested/managing portfolio, including: B2B / SaaS 纷享销客 - the largest mobile SaaS CRM solution provider in China Udesk - the… Show more DCM is a leading venture capital firm with over $4 billion under management. Since 1996, DCM has invested in more than 325 technology companies across the U.S. and Asia. With offices in Silicon Valley, Beijing, and Tokyo, DCM empowers entrepreneurs with hands-on operational guidance and a global network of business and financial resources. My invested/managing portfolio, including: B2B / SaaS 纷享销客 - the largest mobile SaaS CRM solution provider in China Udesk - the largest service desk SaaS solution provider in China 上上签 - the largest e-signature SaaS solution provider in China 噼里啪智能财税 - the leading AI-driven tax service for SME in China 佳格大数据 - the largest satellite-image data service for agriculture and financial sectors in China 巨杉数据库 - the next-generation distributed database for large financial institutions in China 猛犸反欺诈 - the leading anti-fraud solution provider in China Smart360 - the leading mobile SaaS CRM provider for car dealers in China 活动行 - the largest social event SaaS platform in China Health tech 乐动力(acquired by Alibaba in 2017) - the largest mobile pedometer app in China. 薄荷 - the largest weight-loss mobile app and online community in China. Education 51Talk(NYSE:COE, IPO in 2016) - the leading online English tutoring platform in China. Show less

    • Co-founder / CEO
      • Jun 2013 - Jan 2014

      We use short video and interactive website to teach people how-to-code and design products online. More importantly, we make the learning experience fun, affordable and accessible for everyone. / 我们用短视屏及互动式的网站设计来教大家如何写代码及设计产品。更重要的是,我们让学习变的更有趣、更便宜、更垂手可得。 We use short video and interactive website to teach people how-to-code and design products online. More importantly, we make the learning experience fun, affordable and accessible for everyone. / 我们用短视屏及互动式的网站设计来教大家如何写代码及设计产品。更重要的是,我们让学习变的更有趣、更便宜、更垂手可得。

    • United States
    • Software Development
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Product Manager Intern
      • Jun 2012 - Aug 2012

      • Developed new Software-as-a-Service business plan for Amazon Web Service Marketplace. • Identified new business model and potential product offerings by analyzing customer feedback and conducting 37 customer interviews, 3 online surveys and internal product feasibility studies. • Developed new Software-as-a-Service business plan for Amazon Web Service Marketplace. • Identified new business model and potential product offerings by analyzing customer feedback and conducting 37 customer interviews, 3 online surveys and internal product feasibility studies.

    • Taiwan
    • Computer Hardware Manufacturing
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Notebook Product Manager
      • Jan 2009 - Jun 2011

      • Led nine cross-functional project teams of 40 engineers to launch laptops on time and within budgets, increasing ASUS gaming laptops revenue 173% over 2 yeras • Created global marketing campaigns to launch new gaming laptops with strategic partners in the US and Europe, increasing ASUS gaming laptop market share from 36% in 2008 to 64% in 2010 • Led a 25 member team to conduct engineering analysis and consumer insight survey to re-design ASUS 3rd generation gaming laptop that… Show more • Led nine cross-functional project teams of 40 engineers to launch laptops on time and within budgets, increasing ASUS gaming laptops revenue 173% over 2 yeras • Created global marketing campaigns to launch new gaming laptops with strategic partners in the US and Europe, increasing ASUS gaming laptop market share from 36% in 2008 to 64% in 2010 • Led a 25 member team to conduct engineering analysis and consumer insight survey to re-design ASUS 3rd generation gaming laptop that became the top selling model in the US in 2010 • Persuaded top management to pursue the first 3D laptop project by analyzing market potential and assessing new 3D technologies, leading to the launch of world’s first 3D Vision laptop in 2009 Show less • Led nine cross-functional project teams of 40 engineers to launch laptops on time and within budgets, increasing ASUS gaming laptops revenue 173% over 2 yeras • Created global marketing campaigns to launch new gaming laptops with strategic partners in the US and Europe, increasing ASUS gaming laptop market share from 36% in 2008 to 64% in 2010 • Led a 25 member team to conduct engineering analysis and consumer insight survey to re-design ASUS 3rd generation gaming laptop that… Show more • Led nine cross-functional project teams of 40 engineers to launch laptops on time and within budgets, increasing ASUS gaming laptops revenue 173% over 2 yeras • Created global marketing campaigns to launch new gaming laptops with strategic partners in the US and Europe, increasing ASUS gaming laptop market share from 36% in 2008 to 64% in 2010 • Led a 25 member team to conduct engineering analysis and consumer insight survey to re-design ASUS 3rd generation gaming laptop that became the top selling model in the US in 2010 • Persuaded top management to pursue the first 3D laptop project by analyzing market potential and assessing new 3D technologies, leading to the launch of world’s first 3D Vision laptop in 2009 Show less

    • Computer Hardware Manufacturing
    • 100 - 200 Employee
    • Business Development Manager
      • Dec 2006 - Jan 2009

      • Built and led ASUS India sales team of 17 people from an original team of 3 over 2 years • Developed new product offerings and marketing campaigns including the launch of first netbook in India, increasing ASUS laptop sales revenue 1400% from 2006 to 2008 • Initiated product distribution business with the largest IT distributor in India to expand ASUS laptop dealer base 1040% over 2 years • Persuaded management team to invest in 5 new service centers and authorize 2… Show more • Built and led ASUS India sales team of 17 people from an original team of 3 over 2 years • Developed new product offerings and marketing campaigns including the launch of first netbook in India, increasing ASUS laptop sales revenue 1400% from 2006 to 2008 • Initiated product distribution business with the largest IT distributor in India to expand ASUS laptop dealer base 1040% over 2 years • Persuaded management team to invest in 5 new service centers and authorize 2 service partners in India, increasing service coverage rate 1040% and improving 2-day return rate from 50% to 80% Show less • Built and led ASUS India sales team of 17 people from an original team of 3 over 2 years • Developed new product offerings and marketing campaigns including the launch of first netbook in India, increasing ASUS laptop sales revenue 1400% from 2006 to 2008 • Initiated product distribution business with the largest IT distributor in India to expand ASUS laptop dealer base 1040% over 2 years • Persuaded management team to invest in 5 new service centers and authorize 2… Show more • Built and led ASUS India sales team of 17 people from an original team of 3 over 2 years • Developed new product offerings and marketing campaigns including the launch of first netbook in India, increasing ASUS laptop sales revenue 1400% from 2006 to 2008 • Initiated product distribution business with the largest IT distributor in India to expand ASUS laptop dealer base 1040% over 2 years • Persuaded management team to invest in 5 new service centers and authorize 2 service partners in India, increasing service coverage rate 1040% and improving 2-day return rate from 50% to 80% Show less

    • Senior Airman
      • Sep 2004 - Jan 2006

      • Redesigned the equipment management system, improving data collection efficiency. • Won the Excellent Performance Award based on ratings of physical fitness, training and teamwork • Redesigned the equipment management system, improving data collection efficiency. • Won the Excellent Performance Award based on ratings of physical fitness, training and teamwork

Education

  • Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management
    MBA, Marketing, Finance and Entrepreneurship
    2011 - 2013
  • National Taiwan University
    B.A., International Business Management
    2000 - 2004

Community

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