John China is president of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) Capital, US-based technology commercial bank SVB Financial Group’s strategic investment arm with $6.4bn under management across venture capital funds of funds and direct funds.
In this role, China is in charge of growing and scaling the funds business as well as SVB’s early-stage practice, assisting entrepreneurs and startups, and family office practice which includes Lift, SVBour emerging manager and limited partner matching platform.
Having spent 23 years at SVB, China has been focusing on connecting entrepreneurs, investors, corporations and bankers. He has been a long-standing member of SVB Capital’s operating committee.
Since China joined SVB in 1996, he has been partnering entrepreneurs and their shareholders, providing them with financial solutions, insights and connections to help disruptive startups grow.
SVB Capital’s portfolio companies include business planning software developer WorkBoard, electronic device management software developer Kandji, real-time money movement platform Orum.io, financial resources optimisation software provider Capitolis and workers’ compensation insurance provider Pie Insurance.
Healthcare analysis software provider Komodo Health, machine learning-equipped data analytics service DataJoy, medical insurer Circulo Health and healthcare management software producer Olive also count the unit as an investor.
SVB Capital has been investing in the innovation ecosystem for more than two decades, having had more than 300 unicorns – companies valued past $1bn – and now has over 30 team members with VC expertise.
Doug Leone, a managing partner at VC firm Sequoia Capital, said: “SVB Capital is one of our most value-added limited partners. Sequoia and I appreciate having them as an investor.”
China is supported by senior managing directors Craig Caukin, Ryan Grammer and JP Michael, as well as managing partners Tilli Bannett, Bill Burkoth, Jim Ellison, Julia Feldman, Jennifer Friel Goldstein, Aaron Gershenberg, Beau Laskey, Sulu Mamdani, Pete Scott and Efrat Turgeman on the investment team.
They are joined by chief operating officer Jessica Baron, managing director of business operations Brent Dewsnup, principals of investor relations Nick Fincher and Julie Richardson, global brand ambassador Claire Lee, associate general counsel Christie Ma, head of SVB Lift and strategic investments Barry O’Brien, chief financial officer Andrew Olson, managing director of investor relations Kendra Perlitz and managing director of finance Zankhna Vasha.
China is on SVB’s executive committee and has led technology banking teams across the United States overseeing areas including software, internet, hardware, infrastructure, private equity, VC and premium wine.
His responsibilities in the group span across its corporate venturing division, early-stage banking services, SVB’s global gateway programme, the credit solutions group and corporate finance.
Prior to joining SVB Capital in May 2019, China had spent more than 23 years at Silicon Valley Bank having most recently been head of technology banking.
China sits on the advisory board of H2 Global, Alpha Club and York Butter Factory, and he is on the board of Build and an LPAC member of Founders Circle. He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Stanford University and he is learning to kitesurf.
