Alex Chung
Description
Alex Chung is a highly successful serial entrepreneur and active angel investor based in New York City, widely recognized as the founder and CEO of GIPHY. His entrepreneurial journey is marked by a series of innovative ventures, culminating in the creation of GIPHY, the popular GIF search engine, which was acquired by Facebook (now Meta) for a reported $400 million in 2020. This significant exit has positioned Chung as a prominent figure in the tech ecosystem, enabling him to actively support the next generation of startups.
As an angel investor, Alex Chung primarily focuses on early-stage companies, often participating in pre-seed and seed rounds. His investment thesis appears to align closely with his operational expertise, favoring consumer technology, social platforms, and tools for creators. His portfolio boasts investments in several high-profile startups that have gone on to achieve significant traction, including the audio-chat app Clubhouse, the newsletter platform Substack, and the email client Superhuman. Other notable investments include meditation app Calm, podcasting platform Anchor, and product discovery site Product Hunt.
While specific check sizes for his individual angel investments are not publicly disclosed, given his track record and the substantial proceeds from the GIPHY acquisition, it is understood that his contributions are meaningful. Typically, successful founders turned angels like Chung deploy capital ranging from an estimated $50,000 for smaller, strategic participations up to $500,000 for more significant lead or co-lead roles in seed rounds. His involvement often extends beyond capital, providing valuable strategic guidance and network access to the founders he backs. His consistent activity in the angel investment space underscores his commitment to fostering innovation within the tech landscape.
Investor Profile
Alex Chung has backed more than 22 startups, with 1 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 0 rounds, about 0% of its total and boasts 4 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Pre Seed, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, Germany, Singapore.
- Strong thematic focus on Video, Internet, Software.
- Typical check size: $50K – $500K.
Stage Focus
- Seed (55%)
- Pre Seed (27%)
- Series A (9%)
- Series B (5%)
- Angel (5%)
Country Focus
- United States (86%)
- Germany (5%)
- Singapore (5%)
Industry Focus
- Video
- Internet
- Software
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Information Technology
- E-commerce
- Health Care
- Generative Ai
- Graphic Design
- Social Media
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.