Technical founders
I spent the first decade of my career with engineers, then made the leap from engineer to CEO myself. That is the founder journey I know best.
Partner at defy
Amy Yin
I back technical founders building enduring software and AI companies.
I came to venture through building. I founded two companies, both acquired, including OfficeTogether, where defy led our seed round before Envoy acquired the company. Before venture, I was a software engineer and engineering leader at Coinbase and Facebook's Internet.org.
I grew up in Wisconsin with immigrant parents, discovered code at Harvard, and graduated with honors in computer science. I love backing technical founders because those are the people I spent most of my career building alongside.
What I invest in
Pre-seed to Series A
I invest from pre-seed through Series A and make only a handful of new investments each year, so I spend real time with every company.
AI's first- and second-order effects
Big data, AI picks and shovels, robotics, AI infra, and products helping companies become AI-native.
About
From Wisconsin to startups to venture.
How I got here.
Roots
My parents immigrated from China, and I grew up in Onalaska, Wisconsin, where I learned hard work and endurance. I was headed toward applied math until I discovered computer science at Harvard and realized software was my path to building at scale.
Builder
I later founded two companies, both acquired. My first, Vapor Communications, started with Harvard professor and serial entrepreneur David Edwards in Paris. My second, OfficeTogether, was funded by defy and later acquired by Envoy. Between them, I was an engineering leader at Meta, Hired, and Coinbase.
Why I invest
At Harvard, I founded Harvard Women in Computer Science because community changes who feels like they belong. I have always been drawn to non-obvious paths and non-consensus bets, whether that meant leaving the East Coast for Silicon Valley, studying CS, or building in web3. That still shapes how I invest: I back founders and ideas others may overlook, with a particular affinity for technical founders.
Background
The operator path behind my investing.
I spent the first decade of my career building with engineers, growth teams, and founders. That operating path shapes how I work with founders now.
Computer science
Founded Harvard Women in Computer Science, which now supports thousands of technical women.
Facebook / Internet.org
Worked on bringing internet to the next billion people.
Engineer and engineering leader
Joined at 100 employees, helped scale through hypergrowth, and became the first female engineering manager.
Partner
defy led the OfficeTogether seed round. After the Envoy acquisition, they asked me to join the team.
Speaking
Places I have spoken.
Podcasts and appearances
Selected conversations and interviews.
Contact