William Bao Bean

Current

Partner at Softbank China & India Holdings
Director at italki.com

Past

Vice President at Deutsche Bank Securities
Vice President at Banc of America Securities
Associate at Bear Stearns

Associate at National/Sinopac Securities
Research at US Commerce Department Taiwan - US-AID/US-AEP

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Education

Bowdoin College
Blair Academy

Recommended

1 person has recommended William

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Venture Capital & Private Equity

Websites

My Company

William Bao Bean’s Summary

In March 2007, William joined with former colleagues who started Softbank China & India Holdings an early stage venture capital firm that is backed by Softbank and Cisco and focused on the technology, media and telecom sectors.

Over his 11 years in equity research William covered a number of industry sectors including PC and enterprise computing, storage, display, peripherals, handsets, semiconductors, telecom equipment, wireless equipment, networking and consumer/media software.

William began his investment career 14 years ago as a technology analyst in Taiwan. Most recently at Deutsche Bank, he was responsible for regional Internet and Telecom Equipment as well as China Technology: telecom equipment (ZTE, UTStarcom, Huawei, ZyXEL, Gemtek, D-Link), Internet (Sina, Sohu, Netease, Shanda, The9, Linktone, Hurray, eLong, Ctrip, Kongzhong, Tom Online and Tencent), Media (Focus Media), PC (Lenovo), Display (TCL), Handset and Software industries. Prior to this, he covered Telecom Equipment and Digital Media companies with Banc of America Securities in San Francisco. William also worked as an associate analyst with the team covering PCs, Enterprise Hardware, Handhelds, Storage and Semiconductors at Bear Stearns in New York.

In 2006 he was ranked #3 All-Asia analyst for Technology/Software and IT Services by Instutional Investor Magazine Asia. In 2005, he was ranked #1 stock picker in Technology, Media and Telecom, and #3 overall for Hong Kong/China by Forbes/SCMP/Starmine. William is a regular presenter at industry conferences and has authored white papers including: The Digital Home Handbook - Intelligence At The Edge and China Internet WVAS - The Second Coming. He currently sits on the boards of advisors/directors for companies including Punch Entertainment, SRT, Radiance, Massive Impact, Naiscorp - Socbay, Peacesoft - Chodientu, IVIVI, iTalki and the Music Matters and ad:tech China conferences.

William Bao Bean’s Specialties:

My focus is the opportunities created by convergence of technology, media, and telecom segments across borders.

William Bao Bean’s Experience

Partner

Softbank China & India Holdings

(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Venture Capital & Private Equity industry)

March 2007 — Present (2 years 10 months)

Focused on early stage investments in technology, media, and telecom companies in Asia excluding Japan and Korea.
Director

italki.com

(Venture Capital & Private Equity industry)

2007 — Present (2 years )
Vice President

Deutsche Bank Securities

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; DBK; Investment Banking industry)

June 2002 — March 2007 (4 years 10 months)

Research analyst focusing on downstream technology sectors in Asia
Vice President

Banc of America Securities

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; BAC; Investment Banking industry)

2000 — 2001 (1 year )
Associate

Bear Stearns

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; BSC; Investment Banking industry)

September 1997 — September 2000 (3 years 1 month)
Associate

National/Sinopac Securities

(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Investment Banking industry)

April 1996 — May 1997 (1 year 2 months)

Technology analyst
Research

US Commerce Department Taiwan - US-AID/US-AEP

(Government Agency; 10,001 or more employees; International Trade and Development industry)

July 1995 — April 1996 (10 months)

William Bao Bean’s Education

Bowdoin College

BA , 1991 — 1995

Activities and Societies:

Asian Studies, International Relations; Delta Kappa Epsilon
Blair Academy

High School , 1987 — 1991