Solina Chau
About Solina Chau
Solina Chau is based in Hong Kong. She studied at the University of New South Wales. She co-founded Horizons Ventures in 2002, and Horizons describes its focus as deep science and technology. She is also a director of the Li Ka Shing Foundation and is a close associate of Li Ka-shing. Crunchbase and Forbes describe Li as her financier and confidant.
Before Horizons, Chau held a stake in TOM Group (Tom.com). She also invested in a Beijing voice-recognition company in 2002 and sold it to TOM Group in 2003. Wikipedia reports that Li became an investor in Horizons two years after its founding.
Chau's investing is mostly done through Horizons Ventures, a venture firm, rather than as a solo angel. Crunchbase lists one investment and one exit under her personal profile, which understates her activity. Wikipedia reports that Horizons has invested over US$470 million in more than 80 tech companies. Crunchbase's bio puts the figure at $420 million, as of its last update.
SCMP reported that her biggest result was Zoom. Horizons joined a US$6.5 million round in 2013 and a US$30 million round in 2015. At Zoom's April 2019 IPO, SCMP valued Horizons' 8.5 per cent stake at US$850 million. Wikipedia also notes that she has been reported to decide very quickly, sometimes within 24 hours of a pitch.
Horizons' LinkedIn page says the firm invested early in DeepMind and Siri. Crunchbase also lists AI software provider Sentinel Technology and BlueDot among her larger bets. Crunchbase says her interests include artificial intelligence and virtual reality, alongside infectious disease, food and environmental technology. Investment dates for these companies are not given in the sources used here.
SCMP reported that about half of Horizons' investments are in technology and about a third are in consumer non-recyclables, such as Impossible Foods and Perfect Day. The rest are in financial services, communications and cyclical consumer products. Wikipedia reports that the firm's main investments have been in the United States and Israel. It also reports that Chau has said she focuses on Western companies, which she sees as more innovative. Check size and preferred stage are not publicly stated.
- Zoom Video Communications: video conferencing; Horizons joined rounds in 2013 and 2015.
- Impossible Foods: plant-based meat; Horizons invested after a 2014 pitch and joined a US$108 million round the following year.
- Hampton Creek: food technology company named in Crunchbase as one of her biggest bets.
- BlueDot: infectious disease company named in Crunchbase as one of her biggest bets.
- Sentinel Technology: AI software provider named in Crunchbase as one of her biggest bets.
- DeepMind: AI research company; Horizons' LinkedIn page says it invested early.
- Perfect Day: a consumer non-recyclables company named by SCMP as part of the Horizons portfolio.
- Airwallex: cross-border payments company, listed by SCMP as a Horizons investment.
Investing activity
Solina Chau has made 1 investment according to Crunchbase across 1 portfolio company, and has seen 1 exit and founded 1 company.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about Solina Chau
Does Solina Chau invest in AI startups?
Yes. Horizons Ventures says it invested early in DeepMind and Siri. Crunchbase lists AI software provider Sentinel Technology among her larger bets.
What is Solina Chau's check size?
No check size is public. Reported Zoom rounds Horizons joined were US$6.5 million in 2013 and US$30 million in 2015. Those are round sizes, not Horizons' own checks.
What stage does Solina Chau invest in?
She does not state a stage publicly. Her Zoom investment was in a 2013 round, and Horizons has also joined later rounds, such as Impossible Foods in 2015.
Where does Solina Chau invest?
Wikipedia reports that Horizons has invested mainly in the United States and Israel. Chau is based in Hong Kong.
How is Solina Chau connected to Li Ka-shing?
She is a director of the Li Ka Shing Foundation and co-founded Horizons Ventures, which Li backs. Forbes, cited by Crunchbase, reports that she compares their partnership to Sancho Panza and Don Quixote.
How fast does Solina Chau make investment decisions?
Wikipedia reports that she has sometimes invested within 24 hours of a pitch. No official statement from Horizons confirms a standard timeline.
Is Solina Chau an angel investor?
Yes. Solina Chau invests personally as an angel and is Founder at Horizons Ventures. Crunchbase counts 1 investment and 1 exit.
Where is Solina Chau based?
Solina Chau is based in Hong Kong, Asia.
How can founders reach Solina Chau?
Founders on Lounge can see Solina Chau's contact details in AI Investor Contacts (paid plans), check for a warm introduction through members who worked with them under Warm Paths, and add Solina Chau to their Investor Pipeline to track the conversation.