Vinnie Lauria

Vinnie Lauria is a prominent figure in the Southeast Asian startup and venture capital ecosystem. He is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Golden Gate Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Singapore.12

Background and Career

Vinnie's journey began as a computer engineer, working in web development during high school. After graduating from Boston University's College of Engineering with a degree in computer engineering, he briefly worked at IBM before realizing his passion for startups.1

Entrepreneurial Experience

Before venturing into the world of venture capital, Vinnie founded two startups in Silicon Valley:

1. Meetro: A location-based chat service (2004-2007)
2. Lefora: A forum hosting platform that grew to over 100,000 communities and was acquired by CrowdGather in 20102

He also founded the Silicon Valley NewTech meetup, which featured hundreds of startups pitching to a monthly audience of over 10,000 members.2

Golden Gate Ventures

In 2011, Vinnie co-founded Golden Gate Ventures, which has since become a significant player in the Southeast Asian startup ecosystem. The firm:

• Manages over US$250 million in assets
• Has made over 80 investments
• Has 9 unicorns in its portfolio
• Has achieved over 10 exits and 2 IPOs12

Achievements and Roles

• Kauffman Fellow
• Guest lecturer at the National University of Singapore
• Rated as the highest startup mentor in Asia by the Founder Institute
• EMBA candidate at Tsinghua University's BRI Finance program23

Personal Interests

Vinnie is known for his passion for building startup ecosystems and his adventurous spirit. In 2010-2011, he traveled extensively across Asia, immersing himself in various cultures and experiences, including studying Kung Fu with Shaolin monks and driving an auto-rickshaw across India for charity.3

Vinnie Lauria's diverse experience as an entrepreneur, investor, and mentor has positioned him as a key figure in shaping the startup landscape in Southeast Asia through Golden Gate Ventures.