LA/CA
FAMILY MAN ARTIST GROWTH HACKER    ECOSYSTEM BUILDER DEAL MAKER INVESTOR    

Chris Joannou
Ventures






Born in Sydney, Australia
1980 - Forever
Vice President - Ecosystem Growth
Draper University
Chris Joannou is a dynamic Deal Maker and Ecosystem Builder, currently spearheading global startup growth as VP - Ecosystem Growth at Draper University, a leading Silicon Valley accelerator and venture fund.

In this role, Chris forges strategic partnerships with governments, major enterprises, and prominent blockchain protocols—such as the Stellar Development Foundation, Cardano Foundation, Algorand, and VeChain —to scale startups and cultivate thriving innovation ecosystems worldwide through impactful venture building and acceleration programs. His work is focused on creating both immediate impact and fostering long-term value creation for all stakeholders.

With a proven track record of scaling startups and cultivating innovation, Chris's extensive experience includes leading significant venture-building initiatives. Notably, he was the lead venture builder for Nestlé's accelerator in Beijing, commercializing patented technology in personalized nutrition, and has driven venture building and growth hacking for other global giants like Mars and Asahi. He has also been instrumental in structuring deals and programs with international bodies such as Jetro Japan, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Cyberport Hong Kong. Beyond this, his long-standing leadership in organizations like Startup Grind facilitated collaborations between emerging startups and established corporations including Google, Zendesk, Microsoft, Deloitte, and ASX.

While dedicated to driving growth at Draper University, Chris is deeply engaged in exploring the transformative potential of Web3. He actively channels this passion into personal ventures that bridge the worlds of luxury, technology, and art. Driven by a mission to empower entrepreneurs and creators in the digital age, he is developing Maison Manuel, a luxury brand leveraging technology to create new experiences and opportunities for artists. He also documents the future of Web3 entrepreneurship through his platform, Overnight Success. A proud family man and artist himself, Chris is committed to providing entrepreneurs with the tools and networks to build sustainable and impactful ventures.