{"id":"ella-zhang","title":"Ella Zhang","content":"**Ella Zhang** is a venture capitalist and technology executive noted for co-founding [YZi Labs (Binance Labs)](https://iq.wiki/wiki/binance-labs), the venture capital and incubation arm of [Binance](https://iq.wiki/wiki/binance), in 2018. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-JJk7D71LxG)\n\n## Education\n\nElla Zhang earned a Master of Business Administration in entrepreneurship and investment from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Electronic Science and Technology in Sichuan, China. [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-tJg70dloCT)\n\n## Career\n\nZhang began her career in the technology sector with key account management at Tencent in Shenzhen from April 2005 to July 2008, followed by a role in business development at Google in Beijing from August 2008 to July 2010. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-JJk7D71LxG) [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-tJg70dloCT)\n\nFrom October 2010 to July 2015, she served as an Investment Principal at the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB) in China. During her tenure, she focused on investments in the technology, media, and telecommunications sector and was involved in early-stage investments in several prominent Chinese internet and fintech companies, including JD.com and Himalaya. During this period, she also co-founded Xiaoduo AI in October 2014, serving as a board member until January 2020. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-JJk7D71LxG) [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-tJg70dloCT)\n\nAfter completing her studies at Stanford, Zhang reconnected with the founders of [Binance](https://iq.wiki/wiki/binance). In January 2017, [Changpeng Zhao](https://iq.wiki/wiki/changpeng-zhao) (CZ) founded the company, and Zhang initially intended to support it as a venture capitalist but ultimately decided to join the team directly. From April 2018 to December 2019, she co-founded [Binance Labs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/binance-labs) with CZ and became its first head. Under her leadership, [Binance Labs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/binance-labs) established its investment team, conducted three incubation programs, and invested in approximately 40 to 50 projects, including notable companies such as [Polygon](https://iq.wiki/wiki/polygon), [CertiK](https://iq.wiki/wiki/certik), and [Injective Protocol](https://iq.wiki/wiki/injective-protocol). [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-JJk7D71LxG) [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-tJg70dloCT)\n\nAfter leading [Binance Labs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/binance-labs), Zhang departed to pursue her own entrepreneurial venture. From July 2020 to December 2024, she was the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Trendsi, a startup focused on artificial intelligence and smart supply chain technology. Over four and a half years, her company completed two financing rounds and reached a stable stage of development. In early 2025, at the request of CZ and He Yi, Zhang returned to lead the newly rebranded [YZi Labs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/binance-labs), which had transitioned from an internal venture arm into an independent family office. She became Managing Partner and Head of [YZi Labs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/binance-labs) in January 2025, based in Hong Kong, and was also appointed President of Trendsi. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-JJk7D71LxG) [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-tJg70dloCT)\n\n### Leadership at YZi Labs\n\nUpon her return in 2025, Zhang took charge of [YZi Labs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/binance-labs) following its strategic upgrade from [Binance](https://iq.wiki/wiki/binance) Labs. The new entity operates as an independent family office for CZ and He Yi, allowing for a broader investment mandate and a longer-term investment horizon. This transition was motivated by a vision to support technologies with the potential for profound societal impact beyond [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain). [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-JJk7D71LxG)\n\nAs head of [YZi Labs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/binance-labs), Zhang has focused on providing direct support to portfolio companies. After rejoining, she initiated in-depth conversations with founders to identify their most critical needs, which were primarily marketing and talent acquisition. In response, [YZi Labs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/binance-labs) began leveraging its business development network to connect B2B projects with partners and using community and influencer resources to aid B2C projects. . [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-JJk7D71LxG)\n\nOne of Zhang's first major initiatives was the launch of \"EASY Residency,\" a 10-week offline incubator program for early-stage startups. The program provides each accepted startup with $500,000 in funding and personalized support, including access to the broader [Binance](https://iq.wiki/wiki/binance) ecosystem, which includes platforms like [Trust Wallet](https://iq.wiki/wiki/trust-wallet) and [CoinMarketCap](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinmarketcap). [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-JJk7D71LxG)\n\n## CUBE + NYSE Wired: Crypto TrailBlazers Series\n\nIn this video for the *CUBE + NYSE Wired: Crypto TrailBlazers* series, YZi Labs leaders Ella Zhang and Alex Odagiu join host John Furrier to discuss [YZi Labs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/binance-labs) and the advances in [Web3](https://iq.wiki/wiki/web3), AI, and biotech. Zhang goes into detail about the rebrand from [Binance Labs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/binance-labs) to [YZi Labs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/binance-labs) and explains the innovative three-pillar model of incubation, direct investment, and liquid strategy.\n\n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=QoSEgCDExJ0)$$","summary":"Ella Zhang, co-founder of Binance Labs and now head of its successor YZi Labs, is a seasoned investor known for her long-term, founder-centric philosophy.","images":[{"id":"QmYdqt5r9r4dqzeeY19fbfbJRyDofXmMgJGRxCnjHoZ1QZ","type":"image/jpeg, image/png"}],"categories":[{"id":"people","title":"people"}],"tags":[{"id":"PeopleInDeFi"},{"id":"Founders"}],"media":[{"id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoSEgCDExJ0","name":"QoSEgCDExJ0","caption":"","thumbnail":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoSEgCDExJ0","source":"YOUTUBE"}],"metadata":[{"id":"linkedin_profile","value":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/ling-zhang-992b9817/"},{"id":"twitter_profile","value":"https://x.com/ellazhang516"},{"id":"website","value":"https://www.yzilabs.com/"},{"id":"references","value":"[{\"id\":\"JJk7D71LxG\",\"url\":\"https://www.panewslab.com/en/articles/vprqwsmw\",\"description\":\"Exclusive interview with Ella Zhang, head of YZi Labs\",\"timestamp\":1755467225062},{\"id\":\"tJg70dloCT\",\"description\":\"LinkedIn: Ling (Ella) Zhang\",\"timestamp\":1755467705506,\"url\":\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/ling-zhang-992b9817/\"}]"},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"\"https://ipfs.everipedia.org/ipfs/QmWGtULgUKxkVko3dNZBzD5QM3N6Nc62PZtcxFBjV61aWr\""},{"id":"commit-message","value":"\"Republished wiki with updated content and structure\""},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"QmWGtULgUKxkVko3dNZBzD5QM3N6Nc62PZtcxFBjV61aWr"}],"events":[{"id":"53d979b3-fb5d-4d14-ba1b-5803ef9732ba","date":"2018-01","title":"Co-founded Binance Labs","type":"CREATED","description":"Co-founded Binance Labs with Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and served as its first head, leading investments in projects like Polygon, CertiK, and Injective Protocol.","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null},{"id":"2f1c9d3a-ad31-47ac-ad35-ffd220e63229","date":"2010-01","title":"Investment Manager at KPCB","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Worked as an investment manager at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB), a prominent venture capital firm, where she was involved in early investments in companies like JD.com and Himalaya.","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null},{"id":"0e509b2b-1f29-4b79-8670-e4ac7cde4e80","date":"2025-01","title":"Appointed Head of YZi Labs","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Returned to lead YZi Labs, the rebranded and independent family office evolved from Binance Labs, expanding its investment focus to AI, Web3, and biotech.","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null}],"user":{"id":"0x8af7a19a26d8fbc48defb35aefb15ec8c407f889"},"author":{"id":"0x8af7a19a26d8fbc48defb35aefb15ec8c407f889"},"language":"en","version":1,"linkedWikis":{"blockchains":[],"founders":["binance-labs"],"speakers":[]}}