Jim Li
Venture Partner
Jim Li is a Venture Partner at Emergence. He is a seasoned business executive with extensive experience in finance, technology, and investing. Starting his first company at just 16 years of age, Jim has proven time and again that he deeply understands technology, market trends, and how to take advantage of opportunity. His extensive background includes deep knowledge of semiconductors, artificial intelligence, networking and communications, software and hardware design, and structured financial instruments.
Jim founded and served as CEO and CTO of multiple technology companies including Halloo Communications, Flying Packets Communications, Whistle Communications, Tribe Computer Works, and Mytek.
Jim conceived of and developed the award winning InterJet Internet appliance for Whistle Communications, and together with his partners raised $35MM in funding for the venture. Whistle was acquired by IBM in 1999 for $180MM. Prior to Whistle, Jim founded Tribe Computer Works, a leading developer and manufacturer of AppleTalk networking equipment. Tribe was acquired by Zoom Telephonics in 1996.
In addition to his own ventures, Jim was an engineer for notable organizations including the MIT Artificial Intelligence Labs, Thinking Machines and TriQuint Semiconductors. He also spent several years in the financial service industry. At Credit Suisse First Boston, Jim was the chief architect and implementer of the firm’s Collateralized Mortgage Obligation (CMO) structuring and modeling system. The system was used to structure, price and model all CSFB CMOs as well as value and price competing firms’ issues in the secondary market.
Jim is an active angel investor and startup advisor. Companies include CafePress, Waiter.com, Genetic Finance, DNet.com, Ivus Technical Services, and ArtistOne.
He earned a SMEE and SBEE in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has been featured in articles in San Francisco and Upside magazines.
