As an FII Institute Investment Parter, we're looking forward to being in Riyadh next week for the 9th Edition. Aligned with this year’s theme — “The Key to Prosperity: Unlocking New Frontiers of Growth” — we believe the next era of venture capital will be defined by collaboration across capital types, regions, and sectors, to balance risk and unlock scale. We're excited to lend our expertise to conversations exploring how innovative financing structures, cross-border investment corridors, and advances in AI are reshaping global investment flows — particularly toward emerging markets where local leadership and talent are driving transformational growth. Courtney Powell will moderate, "What Innovative Financing Mechanisms Are Scaling Climate-Smart Technologies?" with Jonathan Berman, Shell Foundation, Astria Fataki, UNDP timbuktoo Africa, and Marlene Ngoyi, Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA). Courtney Powell will also join Khalid Bin Bader Al Saud, East40 Holding, Tala A., Wyld VC, Christian Garrett, 137 Ventures and Anu Hariharan, avra for "Is the SFO–RUH Pact the Ultimate Play for VC Domination?" moderated by David Zhou, Superclusters. We'll also join "How the Next Wave of AI Investment Is Set to Flow South," co-chaired by Steve Plimsoll, HUMAIN and Ramez T Shehadi, Accenture. Our team will be on the ground connecting with partners, investor, and innovators driving growth globally. Reach out if you're in town and would like to join the conversation, we're hosting something special on October 29th. ✨ Courtney Powell | Alaa Murabit | Amal Dokhan | Abdulrahman AlJiffry | Bedy Yang | Vishal Harnal | Khailee Ng | Santiago Zavala | Christine Tsai | Tony Wang | Amjad Ahmad #FII9 #500Global #VentureCapital #EmergingMarkets #ClimateTech #AI #Innovation #ArtificialIntelligence #AITrends #SustainableGrowth
500 Global
Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
Palo Alto, California 355,098 followers
Venture Capital firm on a mission to uplift people and economies worldwide through entrepreneurship.
About us
500 Global is a venture capital firm with over $2.7B in Assets Under Management that invests early in founders building fast-growing technology companies. We focus on markets where technology, innovation, and capital can unlock long-term value and drive economic growth. 500 Global has backed over 5,000 founders representing more than 2,600 companies operating in 80 countries. Our portfolio includes 51 companies valued at over $1 billion and 140 companies valued at over $100 million. Our 140+ plus team members are located in more than 15 countries and bring experience as entrepreneurs, investors, and operators from some of the world’s leading technology companies.
- Website
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http://500.co
External link for 500 Global
- Industry
- Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
- Company size
- 201-500 employees
- Headquarters
- Palo Alto, California
- Type
- Privately Held
- Founded
- 2010
- Specialties
- Startups, entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, Seed Accelerator, Startup Accelerator, Global Venture Capital, Innovation, Seed Program, Global Startup Ecosystems, technology, and investment management
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
400 Hamilton Ave
Palo Alto, California 94301, US
Employees at 500 Global
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Tilo Bonow 博蒂洛
Empowering high-growth tech entrepreneurs through strategic storytelling and impactful communication - shaping narratives of the world’s most…
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Colin Christensen
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Riz Virk
Faculty Associate@ASU, Play Labs@ MIT, Investor@Griffin Gaming, Theta Labs, TapFish, Tapjoy, Books: Simulation Hypothesis, Startup Myths & Models
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Sandro P.
Leading enterprise data engineering and martech at AXS - building the next generation data platform and integrations to make the business soar…
Updates
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The countdown continues - just 2 days to go until the Creators Ventures Accelerator kicks off! Meet our resident mentors - a powerhouse lineup of builders, operators, and investors guiding our creator-founders through the program: ✨ Sora Lee | Marketing Mentor ✨ Giacomo Poggiali | Product Mentor ✨ 🙋🏻♂️Jonathan T. | Funding Mentor ✨ Brian Lee | Strategy Mentor Together, they’ll guide our cohort in turning creativity into scalable, sustainable ventures. #CreatorsVentures #500Global #CreatorsHQ #1billionfollowers Creators HQ | مقر المؤثرين 1 Billion Followers Summit
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500 Global reposted this
يشارك نائب رئيس مجلس الإدارة لمنجم تطوير الأعمال المالية BIM Capital محمد أمين مراح في جلسة حوارية بعنوان "Capital Without Borders" ضمن فعاليات اللقاءات الريادية بتنظيم من جمعية رؤية الريادة، بمشاركة شيران دياس، الرئيس التنفيذي لـSBI Middle East، وكورتني باول، المدير التنفيذي للعمليات في 500 Global، وكازوهيرو أيوشي، شريك في Headline - Asia. ويدير الجلسة محمد الحربي، أخصائي تطوير الأعمال في وزارة الاستثمار Ministry of Investment. وذلك يوم السبت 25 أكتوبر، من الساعة 7:00 وحتى 7:30 مساءً في Entrepreneurship Vision جمعية رؤية الريادة Mohamed Amine Merah, Vice Chairman of BIM Capital, will participate in the panel discussion titled “Capital Without Borders” in the Investment Meetups organized by Entrepreneurship Vision جمعية رؤية الريادة, alongside Shiran Dias, CEO of SBI Middle East, Courtney Powell, COO at 500 Global, and Kazuhiro Oyoshi, Partner at Headline - Asia. The panel will be moderated by Mohammed Alharbi, Business Development Specialist at Ministry of Investment. The event will take place on Saturday, October 25, from 7:00 to 7:30 PM at Entrepreneurship Vision جمعية رؤية الريادة
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500 Global reposted this
Congrats to Smart Bricks on becoming the first MENA proptech startup to join TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 🦾 Smart Bricks is transforming real-estate investing through AI-powered insights and automation — giving investors institutional-grade tools to analyze, compare, and act faster in a $3 trillion regional market ripe for digital disruption. Safe travels and good luck to Mohamed Mohamed and the team 🚀 Read more: https://lnkd.in/eEQqAQye Amal Dokhan | Daif Alrajhi | Bedy Yang | Abdulrahman AlJiffry | Alaa Ibrahim | Fahad Alharbi
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When government, private capital, and institutions align, national development accelerates. Earlier today at the Tbilisi Financial Summit Mariam Kvrivishvili, Georgia’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, underscored the power of these partnerships - and how innovation and technology are driving the country’s next phase of growth. Through our partnership with Georgia's Innovation and Technology Agency (GITA) and Bank of Georgia, 500 Eurasia has already accelerated and invested in 56 tech startups, with programs running twice a year in Tbilisi. Sustainable, scalable innovation relies on investment into the ecosystem, not just the enterprise — entrepreneurs, policymakers, and financiers working together. Georgia’s prioritization of building the infrastructure needed for innovation, and its commitment to co-creating initiatives that serve national development goals, show what’s possible when public and private partners move in step. We're excited to continue to see how this ecosystem alignment turns ambition into lasting impact. Read more about her keynote: https://lnkd.in/erzg2DSy Courtney Powell | Alaa Murabit | Christina Myers, PhD | Bedy Yang | Pedro Santos Vieira | Oksana Vodonos
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500 Global reposted this
VC & Startup Operations | Acceleration, Partnerships & Growth | Program, Event & Marketing
I'll be a speaker at TechCrunch Disrupt, hosting a special round table on a topic close to my heart: Why trust comes before capital. For founders, investors, and operators—building trust is the cornerstone of every successful investment and partnership. Let’s discuss how trust can amplify opportunities and create more sustainable value. Join me in San Francisco, Oct 27-29! Save 25% on tickets and be part of a community driving change in tech. Code: [speaker25] https://lnkd.in/g6VxhpGM #TCDisrupt #500Global #TrustInCapital #Networking
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500 Global reposted this
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐈𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚’𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞? This question set the tone for one of the most forward-looking conversations during the Investor-Investment Track at AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2025: “timbuktoo – Financing Africa’s Next Industrial Decade.” Moderated by Sinazo Sibisi, Chief Investment Officer at timbuktoo Africa (UNDP), the session featured global investment leaders: 🔹 Carrie Liauw – Executive Director, 500 Global 🔹 Kohei Muto – CEO, Double Feather Partners 🔹 Franklin Olakunle Amoo - Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Baylis Emerging Markets The dialogue explored bold financing models to power Africa’s industrial transformation. Blended finance, venture capital, and institutional investment. Panelists shared strategies to unlock catalytic capital, build trust, and create scalable partnerships that connect local innovation to global markets. Africa’s next industrial decade will define its competitiveness and resilience. Conversations like this are shaping the roadmap. 📸 See highlights from the session The investor Track at AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2025 was powered by AfriLabs Connect Deal Room #AAG2025 #InvestorTrack #timbuktoo #ImpactInvesting #AfricaTech #PolicyPartnershipProgress
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The Creators Ventures Accelerator is kicking off in just 3 days! Co-organized by 500 Global and Creators HQ, the program attracted 1,131 applications from creators and creator-led founders across 70+ countries 🌍 From AI creator tools to creator monetization, these innovators are reimagining how creatives, brands, and communities connect, create, and grow into scalable ventures. Finalists will be announced next week, stay tuned! #CreatorsVentures #500Global #CreatorsHQ #1billionfollowers Creators HQ | مقر المؤثرين HQ 1 Billion Followers Summit
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500 Global reposted this
15 events in 5 days — my first SF Tech Week experience did not disappoint. Packed panels, AC/DC demo-day walk-up songs, Arsicault croissants, and rooftop networking along the waterfront gave a full-spectrum look at the energy pulsing through the Bay Area right now. Here are five takeaways from events that stood out: 1️⃣ 500 Global Demo Day Keynote – Taste Still Wins It’s never been easier to build with AI, but taste still separates great founders — those who deeply understand users and craft unforgettable experiences. → Matthew Berman (Forward Future), Gregory Kamradt (ARC Prize Foundation) 2️⃣ The Founder Journey – No Formula for Building Fundraising has a formula; company building doesn’t. The best founders pair deep domain insight with relentless experimentation and learn the edges of what AI can’t yet do. → Eric Yen (Stream), Ankur Dahiya (Fifteenth) 3️⃣ AI × Government – Trust Is the Moat GovTech is heating up. In the public sector, winners lead with trust, pilots that stick, and “solution-first” rather than “AI-first” positioning. → Shannon Beckham (Chief AI), Rachel Stern (GovTech Ventures) 4️⃣ GTM in the Age of AI – Earn the Right to Automate Nail the basics: channel × messaging × audience. Do the unscalable reps, learn from real conversations, then use AI to scale what works. → Chris S. (Mucker Capital) 5️⃣ The Coming AI Winter – Discipline Compounds The next correction will separate builders from wrappers. The survivors will have proprietary data, ample runway, and the discernment to adapt. → Devinder Sodhi (FrontierTower), York Westenhaver (AlphaFund) I’m grateful for the new learnings and connections. For me, some of the best conversations happened offstage — on a Hawk Hill bike ride, an ocean cold plunge, and a faith-driven founders meetup. It’s a side of Tech week that I’ll prioritize going forward. What was your biggest takeaway or favorite moment from #SFTechWeek? 📍Link to full reflections + expanded notes in comments.
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500 Global reposted this
Cyber/AI/Infra Investor | Exited Founder | Tech Builder/Advisor (x-Corp Dev, x-M&A, x-Hatch) Operator turned VC working around founder hours and at founder pace
A pleasure to partner again with Iris Sun and 500 Global to host this dinner—and to finally join forces with Wilson Lin as well. Investing in #AIinfrastructure means backing the top AI researchers and their visions for making the AI engine faster, smarter, and more cost-efficient. We’ve been investing in early-stage AI infrastructure for several years and see a clear trend: AI researchers and engineers are leading the next wave of innovation and founding the next generation of category-defining startups—just as we saw three decades ago with Web 1.0, two decades ago with mobile, and more than a decade ago with cloud infrastructure. As we continue to pave the way, we’re thrilled to be among some of the brightest and most inspiring AI researchers, engineers, and founders—and eager to do whatever we can to help increase their chances of success. Ping me to join our AI × Infra Innovation Salon on Nov 17 and for details on our next dinner gathering. #AIInfrastructure #AIResearch #GenerativeAI #AILabs #ReinforcementLearning #Inferencing #PostTraining #AgentEvaluation #AgentOrchestration #MultiModality #PhysicalAI #CommunityBuilding
Palo Alto is still symbolic for a reason. During one of SF's busiest tech weeks, I had the privilege of gathering some of the most influential AI executives and Chief AI Officer ( Meta; Gen; NVIDIA; Aduro) and top researchers (xAI; OpenAI; Google DeepMind; Anthropic) for our Q4 dinner in old Palo Alto with my amazing cohosts Brett Liu, Engineer/CFA, and Wilson Lin. (+ special thank you to our CEO Christine Tsai for being super supportive) As the newest addition to the C-suite, the #CAIO role is still being defined—with missionary-level ambition, but unclear ROI metrics and budget ownership. Here are the key takeaways we learnt from the dinner: ☁️ AI spending has surged $300B+ since 2023, yet enterprise adoption remains surprisingly measured. The split is revealing: 70% goes to building internal capabilities, 30% to external tools—but companies deploying external solutions are seeing 90% pilot completion rates. 🌈 Like every digital transformation before it, we're still in early innings despite the acceleration. The infrastructure is being built, but true enterprise-scale adoption is just beginning. ->What frontier researchers are watching: 🪐 Next-gen architecture will likely be hybrid: State Space Models + Sparse Transformers + #RL systems. There's a strong consensus on reinforcement learning's enduring influence. 🌈 The real bottleneck? Data. Frontier Labs has tripled its data acquisition budgets, with aggressive expansion into multi-modal datasets. The gap between AI investment and measurable enterprise returns is narrowing, but patience and experimentation remain essential. I'm planning our next dinner gathering now. If you're doing frontier AI research or leading AI transformation at scale, DM me for registration details. These dinners stay small by design—the best conversations happen when the right people are in the room. (++ Special thanks and image credits to Ben Bergman and the Business Insider team for hosting an incredible dinner the day before in San Francisco with exceptional VCs and founders) #ai #aireseachers #genai #chiefaiofficer #CAIO #aiexecutives #aileaders
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