UN SDGs and Smart Capital

Bill Tai, Advisor to the UN Joint SDG Fund

By Maya Plentz

Geneva, 30 September 2020

Interview made via Zoom on the 28th of August 2020

The UN Brief interviewed impact investor Bill Tai to speak about the Sustainable Development Goals, the new wave of technology and digital transformation we are seeing, and how venture capital is looking “to do well by doing good”.

Bill has logged-in 30 years in Silicon Valley, first as a chip-designer, then as an investor in deep-tech, enterprise software, and consumer startups,. A total of 150 companies, 22 of which went public. Besides his impressive track-record as an investor he is also an avid kitesurfer, leading an annual fundraising event for marine protection in Richard Branson’s island.

What he looks for in the companies he invests?

We spoke about how he became the first backer of Zoom, and why he invested in the Australian graphic design startup Canva.

How emerging economies are poised to create technology companies that are truly global, have social impact, and are scalable?

We addresse…