Overview

Gender

male

Investor Type

Investment Partner

Simon Fang was born in Taipei, Taiwan. Fang graduated from Taiwan National Central University with BA degree in Physics. In 1996, Fang received MS and PhD degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University. Fang authored more than 30 technical papers and co-authored “Handbook of Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology” (published by Marcel Dekker, 2000). In addition, Fang possesses two US patents.

After graduating from Stanford, Fang joined Texas Instruments’ Semiconductor Process and Device Center (SPDC) for advanced research on semiconductor processing technologies. In 1999, Fang joined United Microelectronic Corporation (UMC) Research & Development Division in Hsin-Chu, Taiwan. Later, Fang coordinated Customer Engineering Division. In 2002, he headed UMC’s New Business Development Division. During his tenure at NBD, Fang defined new business model and established emergent customers. Between 2000 and 2003, Fang also served as an Adjourn Professor at Yuan-Zhi University teaching semiconductor processing. In 2003, Fang was transferred to oversee UMC’s US Sales Office, which contributes over 2 billion annual revenue.

In 2006, Fang joined AsiaTech Venture as Technology Partner. Fang led AsiaTech’s investment activities in Taipei office. Asiatech is an early stage venture fund focusing on various IT segments including semiconductor, digital entertainment, and consumer electronics. Meanwhile, Fang is Chairman of Tophshine (TW.6195), a public company. Topshine is a boutique distribution company for various analogue products. Fang is currently positioned on the boards of more than ten public and private companies. Major success of his venture portfolio through including: Praesagus (acquired by CDNS), TrendChip (TW.3614), Afatech (acquired by ITE TW.3014), Initio, Lightuning Technology, Quantek, Wison, SandForce (acquired by LSI), etc.

In August 2008, Fang and Dr. Yaoting Wang co-founded Darwin Management, Inc. Since then, Darwin has expanded to its eighth fund and an almost 20-person team.