Berkeley SkyDeck Fund

Welcome to the Berkeley SkyDeck Fund!

We help support the next generation of global entrepreneurs from Berkeley SkyDeck.

What is Berkeley SkyDeck?

Formed as a partnership between the Haas School of Business, the College of Engineering, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, SkyDeck combines the consulting know-how of traditional accelerators with the vast resources of its research university.

This robust partnership is coupled with SkyDeck’s unique mentorship program to create a powerful environment for startups. Its SkyAdvisors, Partners, and large network of accredited investors connect their SkyTeams to the expertise and capital they need to launch and grow…to the moon.

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Our Thesis

We believe academic founders are brilliant, energetic, and a source of innovation that will fundamentally change our lives. We believe science has no territorial boundaries, and look forward to enabling change globally.

With $85M under management, the Berkeley SkyDeck Fund supports entrepreneurial activity through Berkeley SkyDeck, the world’s premier academic accelerator.

It also supports research and education at the world's premier academic institution, by donating 50% of carried interest to UC Berkeley.

Berkeley SkyDeck is proud to support promising startups in the Bay Area and around world. Apply Today!

Our Team

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Chon Tang

Founding & General Partner

Chon is an experienced Silicon Valley engineer, entrepreneur and investor. He was formerly founding partner and Managing Director of Junzi Capital Engineering, a leading quantitative hedge fund investing in the commodity space. He has been actively investing in Silicon Valley startups for 12 years, and has personal investments in over 25 deals with multiple IPOs and exits.

Chon is a proud Cal Bear (BS EECS), and also has a SM EECS from MIT.

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Brian Bordley

Partner

Brian Bordley is a startup operator turned venture investor. He has spent time in founding/operating roles at various startups in a variety of industries: gaming, manufacturing fintech, AI, and enterprise software.

At SkyDeck Fund, Brian has completed over 300 investments in early stage startups.

Brian went to UC Berkeley.

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Sanjay Velappan

Associate

Sanjay joined Skydeck Fund after completing his MBA at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, spending his incoming MBA summer interning at the fund. He has previously spent time at Foundation Capital, Deloitte, and Simon-Kucher & Partners.

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Grace Clendenin

Operations Analyst

Grace completed her undergraduate degree from the Berkeley Haas School of Business and later participated in SkyDeck’s incubator program as a founder. She also gained valuable experience working as an audit intern at PwC, where she developed her expertise in business operations and finance.

Our Co-Investors