Han Chen

Han Chen is Co-founder and CEO of ZeaKal, a plant traits innovator that helps crops capture more carbon and sunlight, leading to healthier, nutrient-rich food and feed. Han is a seasoned professional with almost two decades of management and venture experience.

Han’s been a pioneer in changing how agricultural trait technologies are commercialised — having successfully started and raised financing for three startups, totaling over thirty million dollars in capital. He is also the Co-founder and Managing Director of Kapyon Ventures, a technology incubation firm behind the pre-venture development of ZeaKal. 

Before founding ZeaKal and Kapyon, Han was the Investment Manager for Finistere Partners, a San Diego-based life science venture capital firm. He was responsible for seeding the deal flow of a nine-million-dollar strategic investment fund that resulted in the formation of several start-ups, generation of millions in research funding, and several technology licensing opportunities. Han graduated magna cum laude from Amherst College and has a Master’s degree in International Business from the University of California, San Diego. He is also a CFA Charterholder.