Founders researching WI Harper funding are looking at a cross-border veteran: a venture firm investing in bold founders building world-class companies across the United States, Greater China and Asia Pacific. Founded in 1993 in San Francisco, the firm reports more than $1 billion in committed capital across nine funds, 250+ companies backed across 30 countries, and 100+ IPO and M&A exits.
Thesis and focus: how to get funding from WI Harper
The firm combines breadth of coverage with deep domain expertise, concentrating on sectors where it has operating and investing depth. It invests at early and expansion stage, with offices in San Francisco, Taipei and Beijing. PitchBook lists it as actively seeking new investments.
Sectors, stages and cheque size
Sectors include healthcare, biotechnology, deeptech, semiconductors, TMT, enterprise, AI, sustainability, fintech and cleantech. Cheque size is not publicly disclosed.
Notable portfolio
Verified portfolio names include GrubMarket, Flexcompute (exited), Neuracle, Avaamo, DataBlau, MAXIC, Yunphant, Innovation Works, Health2Sync, XW Pharma, NextDrive, CreditAI, Aeolus Robotics, Kindstar, EdiGene and Alpha Ring.
Partners
The team page lists chairman Peter Liu, COO Dr. Yigong Wang, senior partners Charles Wu and Sean Peng, managing partners Edward Liu and Wilson Wu, and partners Winnie Hsu, Phoebe Wang and Kelvin Sun.
How to apply for funding
There is no pitch portal on the firm's site. Contact routes are the website and phone +1 (415) 397-6200. Given the firm's cross-border DNA, founders with a credible US–Asia expansion story — particularly in deeptech, semiconductors or biotech — will resonate most.
What distinguishes WI Harper is longevity paired with operating depth: the firm describes more than 30 years of investing, and its team page emphasises operators alongside investors. For founders, the practical value is a network that spans US, Greater China and Asia-Pacific enterprise and healthcare buyers — useful for startups planning a cross-border commercialisation path. PitchBook lists the firm as actively seeking new investments, and its portfolio breadth — from biotech (EdiGene, Kindstar) to robotics (Aeolus Robotics) and fintech (CreditAI) — shows a willingness to go deep in technical sectors where it has genuine expertise.
For Asia-Pacific founders, the firm's Taipei and Beijing offices mean diligence and support happen in-timezone — a practical advantage over US-only firms when commercialisation runs through Asian supply chains and enterprise buyers.
Why it matters for founders
WI Harper rewards founders thinking across borders from day one. If your startup has a genuine US–Asia Pacific footprint — especially in deeptech, semiconductors, biotech or enterprise AI — a warm introduction referencing a relevant portfolio company is the strongest way in.