Victor Hwang

Victor earned his AB from Harvard University, with Honors, studying government with additional studies in computer science, computer architecture, and operating systems design. He holds a JD from the Law School of the University of Chicago.

Victor is vice president of Entrepreneurship at the Kauffman Foundation. The Foundation supports entrepreneurs starting and building businesses, leaders seeking guidance in the innovation economy, and cities and communities growing competitive jobs and sustained business creation. This work includes education for entrepreneurs; investing in entrepreneurial programs that can scale and create impact; and investing in metropolitan areas to create vibrant ecosystems that help companies start and grow. 

​

Prior to joining the Foundation, Victor was co-founder and CEO of Liquidity, a Silicon Valley venture-backed nanotech firm that makes filters for safe drinking water. He led the company through first product launch, early revenues, and winning the TechCrunch Disrupt startup competition. He was CEO and co-founder of T2 Venture Creation, a venture firm that built startup companies and designed the ecosystems that foster entrepreneurial innovation in dozens of countries and cities. Victor was also executive director of the Global Innovation Summit, a conference focused on building innovative ecosystems with delegates from over 50 nations. He is past president of Larta Institute, an organization that commercializes technology from key government agencies, such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. He was Chief Strategy Officer of Veatros, a video startup where he led the company's acquisition by DivX. He practiced corporate and technology law with the firms of Mayer, Brown & Platt and Irell & Manella. 

​

Victor co-authored the book The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley, which explains how companies, communities and countries can foster systemic innovation at large scale. The book was awarded Book of the Year, Gold Medal, by ForeWord Reviews. He also wrote the follow-up book, The Rainforest Blueprint, a practical design guide for innovation ecosystems. He has been a contributing columnist to Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, TechCrunch, and Entrepreneur. National Public Radio named his graduation address to Austin Community College one of the best commencement speeches ever. His opinions have been cited in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times, among others.

Victor is a member of Fellows Class 12 and served his fellowship at T2 Venture Capital under the mentorship of Brad Jones of Redpoint Ventures.