September 16, 2024

Unlocking Unicorns & Empowering Founders: Introducing Lina Chong

This blog introduces Lina Chong, an accomplished operator-turned-investor, as a special guest for the Evangelistas' Super Angel Program, an initiative aimed at empowering women founders and diversifying angel investing. In an exclusive interview, Lina shares her insights on angel investing, and advice for newcomers.

We are excited to introduce Lina Chong as one of our special guests for the Evangelistas' Super Angel Program! As we strive to elevate women founders and senior operators in angel investing, our goal is to bring together a community that can inspire, guide, and support a new generation of investors and entrepreneurs. By featuring exceptional guests like Lina Chong, we’re fostering diversity of thought and opening doors for more inclusive backing and building of European startups. Join us on this journey as we shape the future of tech by investing in what truly matters—founders with big visions and even bigger ambitions.

Lina Chong: From Founder to Investor and Now a Special Guest to the Super Angel Program

Lina Chong’s journey as both an operator and an investor makes her a perfect guest for our Super Angel Program. Lina's investment career is an impressive blend of entrepreneurial grit and strategic venture capital foresight. She founded and operated two startups, one of which was acquired by LivingSocial, giving her firsthand experience in what it takes to build and scale a company. Now, as an Investment Partner at Target Global, she invests in ultra-competitive founders with novel approaches to tackling massive problems, and spotting tech unicorns has become a routine part of her day-to-day operations. Her track record as an investor speaks volumes, having backed and worked with successful ventures like Omio, Travelperk and Fresha.

Her hands-on approach to investing, combined with her passion for helping founders navigate the complex landscape of venture capital, aligns perfectly with our Super Angel Program’s mission. Lina’s ability to connect founders with key figures and resources in the startup ecosystem is invaluable, especially for entrepreneurs looking to grow quickly and effectively.

Beyond her knack for identifying winning startups, Lina’s deep commitment to transparency and diversity in venture capital stands out. She is vocal about the challenges female founders face in securing funding and the importance of making the venture world more accessible to all, a key reason why we are so excited to have her as part of this initiative.

Interview with Lina Chong

As part of Lina’s participation in our Super Angel Program, we had the privilege of speaking with her about her experiences in angel investing, her views on the current state of the VC landscape, and her advice for budding investors and founders.

Please introduce yourself in one sentence, Lina.
I'm an operator turned investor - and invest in founders who are ultra-competitive with a novel approach to a huge problem.

What is your deal track record as an investor?
I’ve backed Omio, Flo, Saleor, Healthforce, and Ferry, and worked closely with teams like Travelperk and Fresha.

Do you follow a specific investment theme?
I consider myself a generalist but lean towards mid-market SaaS, with the occasional focus on consumer startups.

What is your superpower in supporting entrepreneurs?
Connecting founders with the people who can truly move the needle in their business or personal lives.

What have you learned from your Anti-Portfolio?
When a great team and a big market are involved, be more generous with the initial idea. Focus on what needs to go right rather than what could go wrong.

What advice would you give to someone just starting in angel investing?
Be selective and co-invest with others who have a proven track record. This will help mitigate risk and maximize learning.

Do you have any tips for getting started in angel investing quickly?
Network with other angels—especially through platforms like this one—and take the time to get in front of founders. Always try to add value!

How do you collaborate with other investors?
I prefer to work with investors who bring value to areas I can’t. Building relationships and trust is key, and when I’m excited about an opportunity, I make sure to carve out allocation for those who can complement my skills. Transparency in due diligence is also a big part of my process—I share as much as I can to build confidence with co-investors.

What’s the best thing you’ve learned in the startup world?
As an operator, I learned to iterate often and fast. Rejections are opportunities to learn, not reasons to shut down. As an investor, I’ve learned the importance of being uncompromising on founder quality—it’s easy to say, but tough to consistently apply. However, it’s crucial in maintaining high investment standards.

Why are you excited about joining the Super Angel Program?
I’m passionate about making venture capital more transparent and accessible. This program is an incredible opportunity to demystify an industry that is often seen as opaque and difficult to break into.

Thoughts from Julia Dous

As a passionate advocate for diversifying cap tables, I am thrilled to have Lina Chong as part of our Super Angel Program. Lina’s track record and insights are invaluable to our mission of creating more diversity in venture capital across Europe. With +350 seasoned angel investors, including trailblazers like Lina, we are building a community that supports founders with big ideas and even bigger ambitions.

This program is just the beginning—we aim to inspire more women to become active angel investors, to write checks, and to contribute to building the future of tech. The 20 (future) angels and 12 angel VCs who have already joined us for this program starting in October are making a tangible impact across Europe, and we look forward to welcoming even more!

Join us, and let’s shape the future of venture capital together.

Learn more about our first European Super Angel Program (details and registration here).

Julia Dous

I am passionate about diversifying cap tables. I accomplish this through angel investing, advising VCs on talent acquisition, and running TheEvangelistas, a vibrant community of +350 seasoned female angel investors backing exceptional founders with big ideas.

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