PR Yu — CEO

P.R. Yu is the Founder & Managing Partner of Yu Galaxy, a top 5 solo-GP venture firm in the U.S. backing visionary founders at the earliest stages, with $500M in AUM. He was accepted into Peking University (0.01% acceptance) and later won a full scholarship to the University of Colorado Boulder’s top-ranked physical chemistry Ph.D. program, where he developed new solar energy technologies that drew global recognition and led him to found his own company. That arc - scientist, entrepreneur, investor - still defines his career. P.R. has invested in 100+ founders, with companies spanning healthcare, robotics, AI, and infrastructure. Some early Yu Galaxy bets have achieved 30x valuation increases and successful exits, and are already saving or improving lives in more than 50 countries. His investment philosophy: bet heavily on visionary founders early, value big hearts over big egos, and measure success in lives saved as well as returns. PR’s five values - passion, service, education & growth, equity, and community - anchor his work. He globalized the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon, bringing 11 countries together and attracting more than 250,000 people to attend in a single week, and serves as Advisor for Research and Innovation to CU Boulder, where he has helped to accelerate commercialization of university innovations. A distinctive philanthropist, PR has generously supported many programs in K-12 schools and universities, and donates 100% of his speaking fees to charities. Outside venture, he is a meditator, certified scuba diver, golfer, skier, and hiker, and practices calligraphy and seal carving, carrying forward a 3,000-year artistic tradition.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a venture capital expert with a strong focus on renewable energy and technology innovation.

Location: Palo Alto, California, United States

Experience: 26 yrs 3 mos

Skills

Venture Capital
Entrepreneurship
Renewable Energy
Project Management
Material Science
Research And Development

Career Highlights

Founder of a top 5 solo-GP VC firm in the U.S.
Invested in over 100 visionary founders.
Pioneered solar energy technologies with global impact.

Work Experience

Yu Galaxy

Managing Partner (6 yrs 2 mos)

various organizations

Board Member / Board Observer / Advisor / Mentor (12 yrs 2 mos)

SV Tech Ventures

Founding Managing Partner (12 yrs 2 mos)

1st Solar Decathlon in Asia, a collaboration between the U.S., China and other countries

CEO/Chairman (3 yrs)

Peking University

Research Professor (part time) (6 yrs)

Optony Inc.

Founder/CEO (7 yrs)

Innovalight

New Materials and Solar Energy (2 yrs)

National Renewable Energy Lab

R&D (5 yrs)

Education

Ph.D. at University of Colorado Boulder

B.S. at Peking University

PR Yu

CEO

Palo Alto, California, United States26 yrs 3 mos experience

Most Likely To SwitchAI ML Practitioner

Key Highlights

Founder of a top 5 solo-GP VC firm in the U.S.
Invested in over 100 visionary founders.
Pioneered solar energy technologies with global impact.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a venture capital expert with a strong focus on renewable energy and technology innovation.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Venture CapitalEntrepreneurshipRenewable EnergyProject ManagementMaterial ScienceResearch And Development

Other Skills

AIHealthcareRoboticsImpact MeasurementInvestment StrategyExit StrategyMarket AnalysisSolar EnergyCleantechTechnology DevelopmentInternational CollaborationEvent ManagementSustainabilityMaterials ScienceStart-ups

About

Experience

Yu galaxy

Managing Partner

Jan 2020 – Present · 6 yrs 2 mos · Palo Alto, California, United States

Yu Galaxy is a venture capital firm built on conviction, speed, and measurable impact. Founded by P.R. Yu — one of the few investors who has backed more than 100 companies with multiple exits and IPOs — Yu Galaxy partners with founders who are redefining industries and improving lives.
Where most firms slow founders down, Yu Galaxy is built for agility. With P.R. Yu as the sole decision-maker, we move at the pace innovation demands — sometimes funding in days, not months. That speed has saved rounds, opened doors, and propelled companies others overlooked. In more than one case, Yu personally stepped in just before a round deadline, ensuring a company’s survival and future growth.
Our mission is clear: impact and profit are inseparable. Yu Galaxy backs companies at the forefront of AI, robotics, healthcare, defense, and automation — sectors where bold innovation has the power to save lives, advance science, and protect the planet. Portfolio companies have multiplied valuations more than 30× in just five years, proving that measurable impact and extraordinary returns go hand in hand.
At the heart of Yu Galaxy are values that don’t change with the market: passion, service, education and growth, equity, and community. These principles guide every decision and define the way we serve founders. P.R. Yu’s own philanthropy — including supporting multiple programs in K-12 schools and universities and donating 100% of his speaking fees to charities — reflects the belief that leadership is measured in how much you give back.
Yu Galaxy exists to accelerate visionary ideas, empower humble but world-changing founders, and help build a future where technology and humanity rise together.
Visit our website: www.yugalaxy.com

Venture CapitalEntrepreneurshipAIHealthcareRoboticsImpact Measurement

Various organizations

Board Member / Board Observer / Advisor / Mentor

Jan 2014 – Present · 12 yrs 2 mos · Palo Alto, CA, etc.

Served as Board Member, Board Observer, Advisor, or Mentor for the following organizations, at various periods of time:
Leo Cancer Care (upright radiotherapy)
Elve (wireless telecom)
InsightFinder (AI observability and IT system stability)
Cequence (AI network security)
Concha Labs (AI-powered hearing aids)
Inquis Medical (medical device)
Wibotic (wireless charging and fleet management)
Celebrace (AI and 3D printing for dental industry)
VivaLink Medical (remote patient monitoring)
GruEnergy (Lithium ion battery)
Airity (power supply)
Capstan Medical (surgical robot)
Nice Day (tech-enabled restaurant chain)
Double Helix Optics (3D microscopy)
HoneycombData (data storage)
Zact (fintech)
Industrial Microbes (bio-manufacturing)
RaySecur (mail security)
Aqtual (precision medicine)
Silicon Valley Devices (consumer products)
Bay Area Buffs Investors Club
Schwarzman College (higher education)
University of Colorado at Boulder

Sv tech ventures

Founding Managing Partner

Jan 2014 – Present · 12 yrs 2 mos · Palo Alto, CA

Venture Capital.
Exits:
Turning Point Therapeutics (NASDAQ: TPTX, one of Top 10 best-performing IPOs in 2019)
This is L.(acquired by P&G)
Arrinex (acquired by Stryker)
NeuroVasc (acquired by Wego)
Original Stitch (acquired by World Co)
Falcon Computing (acquired by Xilinx)
ANA Therapeutics (acquired by NeuroBo Pharma)
Oculii (acquired by Ambarella)
NeuVector (acquired by Suse)

Venture CapitalInvestment Strategy

1st solar decathlon in asia, a collaboration between the u.s., china and other countries

CEO/Chairman

Jan 2010 – Jan 2013 · 3 yrs

Organized 21 teams from 11 countries (United States, China, Israel, Sweden, Australia, Singapore, Belgium, Iran, England, Switzerland, Malaysia) to design, build and compete on houses that can generate 100% of its own energy consumption.
This nonprofit program was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and its counterpart in China, as well as many other organizations and individuals.
The event and participating teams have attracted over 400 corporate and government sponsors and raised more than $100 million in support. It was also highlighted as part of the U.S.-China climate change collaboration, announced jointly by Presidents Hu Jintao and Barack Obama during a state visit in Washington.

Project ManagementInternational Collaboration

Peking university

Research Professor (part time)

Jan 2009 – Jan 2015 · 6 yrs · Beijing, China

Research Professor, College of Engineering, Peking University

Optony inc.

Founder/CEO

Jan 2007 – Jan 2014 · 7 yrs · Santa Clara, Washington DC, Beijing, Hangzhou etc

Optony was a cleantech company that has developed new solar energy technologies, built large-scale solar power plants, and managed energy efficiency projects for government and commercial clients.

Renewable EnergySolar EnergyCleantech

Innovalight

New Materials and Solar Energy

Jan 2005 – Jan 2007 · 2 yrs · Sunnyvale, California, USA

New materials and applications in solar energy at Innovalight Inc.
Innovalight Inc was acquired by DuPont.

Material ScienceSolar Energy

National renewable energy lab

R&D

Jan 2000 – Jan 2005 · 5 yrs · Golden, Colorado, USA

Using femtosecond laser spectroscopy and other cutting-edge techniques, we investigated photoelectron dynamics and introduced novel, quantum physics–based approaches to push the limits of solar energy conversion. To bridge theory and practice, we synthesized new materials and engineered innovative devices that brought these breakthroughs to life.

Research and DevelopmentSolar Energy