Founders and Funders: AI with Simon Wu from Cathay Innovation
Join us for an evening of sharp insights and unfiltered conversation with Simon Wu, Partner at Cathay Innovation, as we dissect what's real versus what's hype in today's AI-driven startup ecosystem. Sponsored by Pilot and Mercury, we'll explore:
What it really means to be "AI-native" beyond just adding AI features to existing products
When early-stage companies should own their infrastructure stack versus leveraging third-party providers
Why vertical AI applications might be stickier investments than horizontal plays
How to navigate today's market conditions and what separates winning strategies from the noise
How secondary markets are reshaping venture exits and what that means for your cap table strategy
Whether you're an AI founder scaling your startup or an investor evaluating the next wave of companies, this conversation will cut through the noise with practical, actionable insights.
Come for the candid market analysis, stay for the lively discussion, pizza, beer, and great company.
About Simon Wu Simon leads U.S. investments at Cathay Innovation, a global venture capital firm with over $2.5B under management. He focuses on backing Series A and B startups in software, fintech, digital healthcare, and consumer technology, and has partnered with founders from the earliest stages at companies such as Chime, ZenBusiness, Ghost, Sidecar, Skan, Range, and Quantifind.
Earlier in his career, Simon spent several years at VMware and worked in the technology investment banking group at UBS, building expertise at the intersection of technology and finance. He earned his degree from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was recognized as a UC Regent and Chancellor's Scholar. In 2020, he was named one of Venture Capital Journal's 40 Under 40 Rising VC Stars.
About Pilot: Pilot is an accounting firm that specializes in providing expert bookkeeping, tax preparation, CFO and COO services specifically designed for startups and small businesses. Headquartered in San Francisco and Nashville, Pilot brings together U.S.-based finance experts and cutting-edge technology to deliver trustworthy financials and actionable insights, helping business owners focus on what they do best—growing their businesses.
About Mercury Mercury is the fintech that brings all the ways people and businesses use money into a single product that feels extraordinary to use. Anchored by a powerful bank account*, Mercury gives more than 200K ambitious companies and entrepreneurs the banking, credit cards*, and software they need to power all their financial workflows. To learn more, visit Mercury.com.
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Business banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC. Personal banking services provided through Choice Financial Group; Member FDIC. The IO Card is issued by Patriot Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard®.