Investor Connect 870: Lu Zhang of Fusion Fund on Backing Defensible Deep Tech and Enterprise AI

On this episode of Investor Connect, Hall welcomes Lu Zhang, founder and managing partner of Fusion Fund. Calling in from downtown Palo Alto, Lu shares how Fusion Fund, based in the heart of Silicon Valley, backs early-stage companies with difficult-to-copy technology across enterprise AI, healthcare AI, industry automation, edge computing, networking, and data privacy, with an emphasis on heavy engineering, research, and execution. She explains how the firm evaluates deals by starting with market size and timing, then validating defensible technology through in-house technical diligence, and she outlines what makes durable AI in a crowded market, including unique high-quality data access, efficient architecture for cost and deployment constraints, domain expertise to reduce hallucinations, and strong enterprise go-to-market execution. Lu also describes Fusion Fund's hands-on support through corporate CXO networks, fundraising and board-structure guidance, talent and expert networks, and M&A/IPO preparation, while discussing diversity's role in innovation, global talent pipelines, their internal AI analyst "Ada," healthcare AI as a major opportunity, and advice for first-time founders on investor fit, timing, dilution, and milestones. Visit Fusion Fund at www.fusionfund.com/ Reach out to at www.linkedin.com/in/luzhangvc/ , and on x.com/luzhangvc?lang=en _________________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/ For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/ For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/ For eGuides check out: https:/_/tencapital.group/education/ For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/ For Feedback please contact [email protected] Please follow, share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of Bensound.