Ella Zhang is a venture capitalist and technology executive noted for co-founding YZi Labs (Binance Labs), the venture capital and incubation arm of Binance, in 2018. ^[1]

Education

Ella 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]

Career

Zhang 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] [2]}

From 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] [2]}

After completing her studies at Stanford, Zhang reconnected with the founders of Binance. In January 2017, 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 with CZ and became its first head. Under her leadership, Binance Labs established its investment team, conducted three incubation programs, and invested in approximately 40 to 50 projects, including notable companies such as Polygon, CertiK, and Injective Protocol. ^{[1] [2]}

After leading 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, which had transitioned from an internal venture arm into an independent family office. She became Managing Partner and Head of YZi Labs in January 2025, based in Hong Kong, and was also appointed President of Trendsi. ^{[1] [2]}

Leadership at YZi Labs

Upon her return in 2025, Zhang took charge of YZi Labs following its strategic upgrade from 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. ^[1]

As head of YZi 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 began leveraging its business development network to connect B2B projects with partners and using community and influencer resources to aid B2C projects. . ^[1]

One 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 ecosystem, which includes platforms like Trust Wallet and CoinMarketCap. ^[1]

CUBE + NYSE Wired: Crypto TrailBlazers Series

In 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 and the advances in Web3, AI, and biotech. Zhang goes into detail about the rebrand from Binance Labs to YZi Labs and explains the innovative three-pillar model of incubation, direct investment, and liquid strategy.