Vivian Zhang

"I love meeting great thinkers, innovators, and people with unstoppable ambitions; being in venture capital allows me to do this every day."

Which investment categories excite you most and why?

I’ve always been drawn to scientific problems that can be cracked with creative, almost artistic, solutions — opportunities in healthtech and climatetech are examples of such. However, beyond this, my interests transcend industry. I am compelled by founders who have a clear vision and who are unyielding in their pursuit of their unique mission. I also like thinking about what makes good businesses and get excited when I see them.

What inspires you about venture capital?

I love meeting great thinkers, innovators, and people with unstoppable ambitions, and being in venture capital allows me to do this every day. Beyond that, I am fascinated by the process of creating a new category, crafting something of value that has never been conceived of before, and propelling humanity forward. Watching a company develop into a category is a joy unique to this job!

In another life, if you weren’t in venture capital, what would you be?

I would be a park ranger. What’s not to love about spending my days in nature?

Podcast or publication?

Podcast. My favourite is the Lex Fridman Podcast. Lex is an excellent podcaster, and his relentless curiosity has never failed to open my mind to new perspectives at the intersection of science, technology and the humanities.

Vivian joined MMV’s Europe & APAC team in 2023 as an analyst. Previously, Vivian worked at Cherry Ventures out of Berlin, with a focus on early-stage investments across Europe. Before venture investing, she was the founder’s associate at a German consumer start-up. Vivian grew up in Canada and graduated from University of St. Gallen with a master’s degree in strategy and international management.