Founder & Managing Partner
Tom Liu
Tom Liu is a distinguished leader in data science and ML/AI engineering, having last managed a team of about 20 data-science experts to leverage over 40 alternative datasets for investing practices as Head of Data Science at Advent International. Under his guidance, his team brought 13 companies to investment committee, generated over $300 million in value, and conducted comprehensive competitive analyses on over 650 deals, outperforming industry giants like McKinsey, Bain, and BCG.
With a robust background in investment banking, private equity, hedge funds, and digital transformation, Tom brings a wealth of experience and a track record of high-value project leadership as Founder and Managing Partner.
He earned his BSBA from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon.
Venture Partner
Danny Qiao
Danny Qiao joins Ideate Capital as a Venture Partner, bringing a wealth of experience from both the venture capital sector and startup ecosystems. He was a Principal at Sweater Ventures and developed a strong track record in sourcing, evaluating, and managing investments, notably leading coverage efforts across Consumer Products and Consumer Technology. There, he executed 10 investments at various stages, but largely focused on Seed and Series A.
Previously, his career also included roles in investment banking at BNP Paribas and strategy consulting at Accenture. He brings a large breath of experience to the team having consulted for numerous funds and startups prior to joining Ideate.
He earned his MBA from the Yale School of Management and BS from Cornell University.