Susan Akbarpour

Susan is an accomplished entrepreneur and investor with extensive experience in product design and development. She has successfully founded and led start-ups in the advertising, retail, and media industries, driving digital transformation and fostering innovation. Susan holds a Master of Science in Management from Stanford GSB, where she remains actively engaged. She is also the founder of the Akbarpour Aalaei Fellowship, which grants scholarships to Farsi-speaking students at Stanford GSB.

Susan's expertise in the rapidly evolving Web 3.0 space has led her to serve on the boards of organizations such as Facenote, Cluster, and Entropy. Her contributions in these roles have been valuable in advancing the field. Additionally, Susan is deeply committed to advocating for public media and women's empowerment and sits on the boards of non-profit organizations like KQED, How Women Lead, and Moms Against Poverty.

Currently, Susan holds the position of managing partner at Candou Ventures, an early stage VC fund that focuses on investing in and supporting start-ups within the blockchain, AI, SAAS, IoT, and cloud infrastructure industries. She is also a limited partner in funds like How Women Invest, Practical Venture Capital, and Venture University Venture Partners. As a candidate in the NYSE Board Advisory Network/Diversity Initiative, Susan actively seeks to address diversity on corporate boards, contributing to the promotion of inclusivity and equal representation.

Furthermore, Susan has launched Democracy 3.0, a non-profit technology platform dedicated to combating the spread of misinformation and disinformation that led to the polarization of societies. Through innovative approaches and collaborations, Susan and her team aim to create a more informed, engaged, and resilient society. Their efforts primarily focus on tackling issues like astroturfing and promoting decentralized leadership.

Overall, Susan's vast experience, diverse expertise, and passion for empowering others make her an exceptional and influential figure in the business and technology communities.