Sophie Liao
Founding Partner at Republic Venture Fund
United States
Overview
Work Experience
Board Observer
2018 - Current
Genetically engineered probiotics for when your lifestyle outpaces your liver. I observe. I don't interfere. Except when I do.
Maker of the world's 1st genetically engineered probiotic.
Raised $17,220,000.00 from Seamless Capital, Spring Tide Capital, Seaside Ventures, Goat Rodeo Capital and Access Capital.
Board Member
2020
North America’s largest Asian food delivery platform. I joined for the dumplings (I don’t cook), stayed for the cap table (their unit economics are phenomenal)
Strategic Advisor
2023
Helping ambitious, diverse GPs bridge the GP/LP gap with capital, conviction, and sometimes caffeine.
Founding Partner
2017
Launched a fintech-focused venture fund in 2017 to back the infrastructure shaping the future of wealth—from private market plumbing to AI-native investing tools. I invest in the picks & shovels behind capital flow, not the shiny rocks everyone’s chasing. Representative Portfolios (aka my favorite children): Republic.com – World’s largest equity crowdfunding platform. Seed to unicorn. ForgeGlobal – Built the secondaries market before it was cool. D/XYZ – Took private market indexing public. Upside.gg – Tokenizing everything your financial advisor doesn’t understand. AltoIRA – Retirement accounts meet alt assets. Composer AI – Retail quant tools for people who don’t wear Patagonia vests (yet). VC Lab – Launchpad for the next generation of fund managers, which I swear is not a cult. ... Funds I, II, III (2.91x DPI), now Fund IV as Republic Ventures (2025 rebrand). Still not tired. Still early.
Republic Crypto offers a compliant and inclusive blockchain financing and investment platform for investors seeking high growth potential.
Managing Director
2015 - 2016
Learned a lot. Mostly how not to run a VC fund.
Rothenberg Ventures invests in early-stage frontier technology startups.
M&A, Entrepreneur In Residence
2011 - 2015
Pitched, built, exited a media-tech company within 6 months. Accidentally became a founder. On purpose.
International Market Expansion
2010 - 2011
Set up JVs for James Cameron’s 3D tech business. Yes, that James Cameron. No, I didn’t get to direct Avatar, but I was born in the Avatar town (Zhangjiajie)
Cameron Pace Group offers 3D technologies and production services through the development of products, solutions, and creative tools.
Producer/ Host
2008 - 2010
Made documentaries and travel shows. Got chased by goats in Turkey and hugged by children in Madagascar. Early training for VC life, really.