Steve Vassallo

Steve Vassallo is a prominent investor and General Partner at Foundation Capital, where he focuses on investments at the intersection of technology, design, and business. His investment strategy emphasizes identifying startups that meet real user needs and are built on unique insights or technological breakthroughs. He has a particular interest in founders who are product-oriented and aim to solve significant problems through their innovations.24

Vassallo has a rich background in product design and engineering, having worked at IDEO, where he developed successful products for major companies such as Cisco and Nike. His entrepreneurial journey began at a young age, and he has since accumulated over 77 patents and received numerous design awards throughout his career.34

In addition to his role at Foundation Capital, Vassallo co-leads the firm's crypto practice and has been involved in investments in various high-profile companies, including Stripe, Solana Labs, and Cerebras Systems. He also serves on the boards of several organizations and is actively engaged in writing and speaking about product design and technology trends.14

Vassallo holds degrees from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Stanford University, and Stanford Graduate School of Business, and he resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.34