Chad Byers

Co-Founder & General Partner at Susa Ventures · Joined 2013

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Biography

Chad Byers grew up around venture capital as the son of Kleiner Perkins co-founder Brook Byers and brother of former Google Ventures partner Blake Byers, but built his own path through operating roles at Electronic Arts, Bloom Energy, and Integrate.com before co-founding Susa Ventures in 2013 with Leo Polovets and Seth Berman. After an 11-month effort to raise a $25 million debut fund, Byers made the firm's very first investment: a $250,000 seed check into a fintech startup called Robinhood, after its founders demoed the app to him at a Sand Hill Road hotel. When Robinhood went public in 2021, that original check had grown into a return of roughly $400 million - close to a 1,000x multiple, and one of the most celebrated seed bets of its era. Susa has since raised more than $1 billion cumulatively, including a $175 million fifth flagship fund in 2025.

Education

Previous Experience

Notable Investments

Robinhood HOODFlexportNewfront InsuranceAndelaStordHuman InterestChapterLendUpLearnUpTradesyWomplyTranscriptic

Board Seats

Career Timeline

2013
Co-founds Susa Ventures with Leo Polovets and Seth Berman after an 11-month fundraise for a $25 million debut fund.
2013
Leads the firm's first-ever investment, a $250,000 seed check into Robinhood.
2021
Robinhood goes public; Susa's original stake has grown into a return of roughly $400 million.
2025
Susa closes its $175 million fifth flagship fund.

Sources & References

Forbes Profile ↗Forbes - Meet the Robinhood Investor ↗