BRV Fund Manager & Author: Hannah Tolan
A Conversation with Chialin Yu, Investor at Elephant
Hannah: Hi Chialin! Thank you so much for taking the time to connect with me about your journey to VC. I can’t wait to hear about your experience from Bates, a small liberal arts NESCAC school to VC investor. Not the most common path to VC. And look forward to hearing your perspective generally.
Chialin: Yes, looking forward to connecting!
Hannah: Could you share how your journey from a liberal arts undergrad led to a career in venture capital?
Chialin: My liberal arts background taught me how to approach problems with a well-rounded perspective, valuing critical thinking and interdisciplinary connections. I started my career in investment banking and eventually found myself more attracted to the dynamics in VC. I found that VC allows me to merge my analytical skills with a passion for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Hannah: Can you elaborate on how you navigated your career across various roles, including institutional investing, equity research, and investment banking?
Chialin: Each role provided me with unique insights into the financial ecosystem. Institutional investing helped me understand large-scale asset management, while equity research honed my skills in being super specific in analyzing one market and all the players in it. I went into banking because I selfishly wanted to go both “deep” and “broad” and I personally think VC is very similar in that regard, with the difference being the stage of companies you spend time with. I personally enjoy speaking with earlier / younger companies with more growth levers to pull, maybe it’s just what fits my personality, so jumping into VC has been a good move for me so far.
Hannah: Were you always interested in venture capital, or did that passion develop over time?
Chialin: It definitely developed over time. To be fully transparent I didn’t know what VC was during college and even early in my career (I distinctly remember asking my banking associate what a16z was one time, which feels like a joke today but goes to show how little I knew back then). As you can tell, initially I was more focused on traditional investing, and the desire to move into VC really came after I started engaging with earlier stage companies while I was in banking.
Hannah: What key skills from your previous roles do you believe have contributed to your success as an investor at Elephant?
Chialin: Analytical rigor from equity research and the structured deal-making process from investment banking have been crucial. However, VC is very unique and you need to develop the ability to see beyond the numbers—identifying visionary founders and understanding how macro trends influence long-term success. These skills are the ones I continue to work on every day.
Hannah: How does the structure of work, responsibilities, and project assignment in VC differ from your experiences in investment banking? How are teams and industry focuses different between the two?
Chialin: In venture capital, there’s more autonomy in decision-making and a greater focus on long-term relationships with founders. Investment banking, at least the part I was exposed to as an analyst / associate, is more transactional and team-driven, with short-term deal execution as a priority.
Hannah: What advice would you give to someone looking to break into the venture capital space?
Chialin: Be curious and stay adaptable. Venture capital as an industry has very high variance, meaning depending on where you are, you’ll likely be looking at and studying very different companies. Networking is crucial—reach out to mentors, attend events, and stay informed about the latest trends in spaces you’re interested in.
Hannah: As a woman and a person of color, how has your experience been in navigating an industry that has traditionally lacked diversity?
Chialin: To be honest I haven’t been in the industry long enough to say how the industry as a whole has changed or shifted. I believe diversity is crucial for innovation and growth in any industry, and it’s motivated me to help pave the way for others like me.
Hannah: Have any mentors or role models been influential in your career journey?
Chialin: Yes, I feel so fortunate to have had several mentors across different stages of my career and I really encourage everyone to seek out mentor(s)! There’s a Chinese saying I love which translates roughly to “there’s a teacher in every groups of 3”. It’s easy to only think of mentors as industry veterans or senior managers at our company, but I’d challenge that very narrow and limiting framework – we can find mentors in our peers, in different companies, perhaps even totally different industries.
Hannah: Any final thoughts or advice you’d like to share?
Chialin: Stay persistent, and don’t be afraid to take the less traditional route. Success in VC isn’t just about financial acumen; it’s about passion for innovation and a deep curiosity about the future. Surround yourself with people who inspire you also helps a ton!
Hannah: Appreciate the advice and insight! And thank you so much for taking the time to connect with me!