Vinnie Lauria

Vinnie Lauria is a seasoned entrepreneur who successfully built and exited two Silicon Valley startups, Meetro (a pioneering location-based chat app) and Lefora (a social network platform acquired by CrowdGather). His experience includes diverse roles from co-founder and Chief Product Officer to VP of Product, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the startup lifecycle from ideation to acquisition. kauffmanfellows+3

Transitioning from founder to a prominent venture capitalist, Vinnie co-founded Golden Gate Ventures in 2011, an early-stage VC firm with over US$300M in AUM and 100+ investments. He has been instrumental in bridging Silicon Valley expertise with the burgeoning Southeast Asian startup ecosystem, with his portfolio including unicorns like Carro and Carousell. goldengate+3

Beyond direct investment, Vinnie actively supports the startup community through mentorship and advisory roles. He is a Kauffman Fellow, a guest lecturer at the National University of Singapore, and was rated the highest startup mentor in Asia by the Founder Institute. He also founded the Silicon Valley NewTech meetup, which connected hundreds of startups with investors and enthusiasts. kauffmanfellows+3

Vinnie demonstrates a profound commitment to understanding global markets and cultures, having taken a year off to backpack across Asia. This immersive experience, which included driving a tuk-tuk across India, exploring remote regions of China and Laos, and living in a Buddhist monastery, influenced his decision to settle in Singapore and focus on Southeast Asia's startup landscape. goldengate+1