Many Minds. One Mission.
At 650, we operate as a true partnership, drawing our strength from complementary skill sets, varied perspectives, and deep domain expertise across geographies and sectors. We're an ideal combination; we are grounded in a shared foundation of investing experience, global exposure, and strong ethics, and we are shaped by a strong mix of industry knowledge, seniority, differentiated skills, and a deep expertise in Japan.
In a world that often celebrates solo heroes, we believe long-term success is built on collaboration. Our team's collective experience and alignment create a force multiplier for the founders and companies we back.
Founding Partners
Grace Stanat
Operations
Grace specializes in early-stage operational efficiency and scaling strategies. His active engagement with startups was instrumental in transforming 415 Investments and 650 into top-performing VCs with >40% IRR.
- Early-Stage Ops/Efficiency
- Competitive Positioning
- Scaling Strategies (Seed Stage)
- Culture
- Deal Diligence
Dominik Steiner
Technology
Dominik specializes in technology analysis, product-market fit, and business strategy. As a successful multi-founder he drove >25x valuation increase in businesses globally.
- Technology And IP Analysis
- Product And Market Fit
- Business/Sales Strategies
- Engagement Strategies
- Market Analysis
General Partners
Phil Rothenberg
Legal
Phil brings over 20 years of legal expertise as former VP of Legal at Tesla and an attorney with the SEC. He has practiced corporate finance and regulatory compliance across major markets.
- Legal Strategies
- Scaling Strategies
- Regulatory Compliance
- Finance
- Fundraising
Richard Joye
Fundraising
Richard has over 25 years of experience deploying capital into companies, leading M&A deals, structuring and managing funds and bringing co-investors to companies for subsequent rounds.
- Finance
- Fundraising and LP management
- Investment Strategies
- Mergers And Acquisitions
- Fund Management
Jean-Daniel Sciboz
Talents & Sourcing
Jean-Daniel specializes in strategic sourcing and executive recruitment, with over 200 senior hires for a wide range of organizations. He is also well versed in strategic fundraising campaigns.
- Investor Relations (Europe & Asia)
- Fundraising and Financing
- Strategic Headhunting & Sourcing
- Corporate Advisory and Business Development
- Product Development & Growth
Venture Partners
James Kuffner
Domain Expert — AI & Robotics
James is a pioneer in AI, robotics, and autonomous systems. Founding CEO of Woven by Toyota and the author of numerous patents, he has led significant advancements in autonomous driving.
- Deal & Team Review, Due Diligence
- Advanced AI, Robotics, EV / AV
- Cloud Robotics
- Scalable Software Architecture
Yutaka Kitade
Domain Expert — Asia GTM
Yutaka, a market entry and strategy expert with a track record of growing revenues, has led several successful ventures and advised numerous companies on orchestrating entry into the Asian market.
- Marketing & Business Strategy
- Emerging Market Entry
- Business Process Outsourcing
- Start-Up Incubation
"650 is the platform I always wanted as a founder, where deep tech meets sharp execution. I bring the founder's lens, honed through scaling and exiting companies, and the operator's instinct for identifying when a product is ready to dominate."
— Dominik Steiner
"I've built organizations from the ground up (a design firm, tech startups, non-profits, a school, and two VCs) and helped many more do the same. At 650, I bring the discipline of execution, early-stage scaling strategies, and the ability to help founders build with clarity and purpose from day one."
— Grace Stanat
"650 reflects the global mindset I've built over 25 years of investing. I bring cross-border expertise, a broad institutional network, and a track record of deploying capital into companies that scale, and stay valuable."
— Richard Joye
"From the SEC to Tesla, I've helped companies navigate the regulatory and legal challenges that come with hypergrowth. At 650, I help founders scale responsibly, structure smartly, and prepare for what's next, from Series A to IPO."
— Phil Rothenberg
"At 650, I channel decades of experience building trusted relationships across Europe and Asia. I bring investor empathy, cross-market fundraising insight, and the ability to connect the right people at the right time."
— Jean-Daniel Sciboz
"650 supports founders pushing the frontier. I bring deep expertise in robotics, AI, and software architecture, along with firsthand experience leading innovation inside global giants like Toyota and Google."
— James Kuffner
"I know what it takes to break into new markets and scale fast. At 650, I bring go-to-market insight, Asia expertise, and the operational playbooks that turn emerging startups into regional leaders."
— Yutaka Kitade