Andrew Kau

Andrew’s 26-year venture capital career has focused on emerging technologies. He joined Walden International in 1994 and holds investments in well over 30 companies across the U.S. and Asia.

Prior to this, he was president of Chemical Technologies Ventures. He was also a management consultant at Strategic Planning Associates and Booz Allen Hamilton. Earlier in his career, he was a research scientist at Systems Planning Corporation. He has a ScB from Brown University and an MBA from University of Virginia.

What are you most passionate about professionally?

Learning from Entrepreneurs who are the experts in their industry. It’s like drinking from a fire hose!

What is your favorite book?

The Prize. It’s a book by Daniel Yergin about the history of the oil industry. Fascinating read about something that in retrospect, I really knew nothing about, nor had an appreciation of its complexities, both technically and geopolitically. Yergin has written a couple books since, but nothing beats the oozing expertise of The Prize.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

“You can’t beat ethernet.” It’s not only a statement about the power of standards and ubiquity, but also about the relentless improvement of technology, from the previously unheard of speeds of 3 Mbps to the current 300 Gbps.

What do you like to do outside of work?

Hang out with my family and my dog. A dog is truly man’s best friend.