Webinar
Decacorn Hunting: The Full-Stack AI Startups Set to Disrupt Entire Industries
Join Alumni Ventures Partner Sophia Zhao and Bryan Liu for an exclusive session on the next generation of full-stack AI startups poised to redefine massive markets.
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Sophia and Bryan will share how our team identifies companies building vertically integrated AI solutions that unlock powerful efficiencies across sectors like healthcare, logistics, finance, and enterprise SaaS. From infrastructure to application layers, these startups are developing holistic platforms with the potential to become the next decacorns—private companies valued at $10 billion or more.
Attendees will gain insight into what sets these ventures apart, how venture capitalists assess scalability at this level, and where Alumni Ventures is placing its bets. Whether you’re curious about emerging AI trends or eager to understand the anatomy of breakout startups, this session will offer expert analysis and practical takeaways. Reserve your spot today to learn how AI is powering tomorrow’s industry giants.
Why Attend?
- HomeExplore the rise of full-stack AI startups and why they’re attracting top-tier VC attention
- HomeLearn how AV evaluates decacorn potential across AI infrastructure and applications
- HomeHear directly from Sophia Zhao and Bryan Liu about the trends shaping the AI investment landscape
Alumni Ventures is America’s largest venture capital firm for individual investors.
About your presenters
Sophia brings a wealth of experience in capital advisory, corporate development, and operational optimization, establishing impactful collaborations with CXOs and Founders. With a diverse industry exposure encompassing cloud computing, mining and minerals, consumer goods, and Web3, Sophia has been at the forefront of transformative technologies. Since 2018, she has been immersed in the crypto universe, working at Galaxy Digital, Huobi US, and Crypto.com. In these roles, Sophia engaged with startups and institutional clients on capital raising and trading across the Americas, EU, and Asia regions.
Actively fostering innovation and mentorship, Sophia serves as a mentor and judge at prestigious institutions such as Yale’s Tsai City for Innovation, Berkeley’s Blockchain Xcelerator, Techstars, and Layer 1 protocols, including Ethereum, Algorand, and Solana. She maintains close ties with the blockchain communities at Stanford and Yale.
Driven by a passion for shaping the future through frontier technologies, Sophia is currently supporting AI data and applications deals within her team. She holds a BBA from Simon Fraser University, an MBA from the University of British Columbia, and an MAM from the Yale School of Management.
Bryan is a Principal at Alumni Ventures with over 10 years experience in venture investing, M&A, and corporate strategy to identify the next generation of industry-defining companies. Bryan excels at identifying high-potential startups precisely before they scale. His current investment thesis is focused on the frontier of technological disruption, specifically the “Future of Media” driven by AI video; the rise of full-stack AI capable of building fully autonomous one-person-multi-billion-dollar companies; and breakthrough decentralized technologies and blockchain innovations that are redefining the infrastructure of the modern economy.
Prior to joining Alumni Ventures, Bryan led M&A and Venture deals at PayPal, where he managed and led seven major acquisitions totaling over $7 billion and a wide range of venture investments. Previously at Deloitte, Bryan advised global giants including Google, Disney, and Sony Pictures. He supported Disney through the acquisition of 21st Century Fox and the high-profile launch of Disney+, providing him with a unique vantage point on large-scale digital transformation.
Bryan led Alumni Ventures’ investment in Higgsfield, the “Canva for AI video” empowering millions of content creators and filmmakers globally. Higgsfield achieved a historic milestone, reaching $200M ARR in just nine months, the fastest growth trajectory in history outpacing OpenAI, Cursor, and Lovable. Bryan holds a BS from the University of Southern California and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Outside of the office, he is an active marathon runner and a former heavy metal vocalist.