A Young VC Is Deploying a Bold Strategy for Investing in AI Startups.
At just 29, Brian Zhan, who practices what he describes as “nerdy investing,” has already made early bets on buzzy AI companies now valued in the billions.
After quietly leaving Silicon Valley VC firm CRV this summer, Zhan recently joined Striker Venture Partners, where he and veteran investor Max Gazor plan to upend traditional VC playbooks with a $165 million fund that aims to make massive seed bets on the next generation of AI startups.
“We’re only investing in 10 companies per fund, and we’re going to show up with checks up to $30 million,” Zhan said. “That takes conviction.”
$30 million is what companies typically raise in a later funding round once they have achieved product-market fit, but Zhan believes…
