C.C. Gong
@ccgong.bsky.social
Investing in consumer tech and AI at Menlo Ventures
Wow mindblown by @Apple. my AirPods just survived a full 2hr hot heavy duty extra rinse wash cycle in the washing machine, still works perfectly fine 🤯
September 15, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Wow mindblown by @Apple. my AirPods just survived a full 2hr hot heavy duty extra rinse wash cycle in the washing machine, still works perfectly fine 🤯
In the AI era, software development is no longer about writing code, it’s orchestrating AI-powered workflows and staying fluent in a fast-evolving tool chain.
Really exciting to see Stanford University and Mihail Eric offer such a timely course “The Modern Software Developer”
Really exciting to see Stanford University and Mihail Eric offer such a timely course “The Modern Software Developer”
CS146S: The Modern Software Developer - Stanford University
themodernsoftware.dev
August 6, 2025 at 11:50 PM
In the AI era, software development is no longer about writing code, it’s orchestrating AI-powered workflows and staying fluent in a fast-evolving tool chain.
Really exciting to see Stanford University and Mihail Eric offer such a timely course “The Modern Software Developer”
Really exciting to see Stanford University and Mihail Eric offer such a timely course “The Modern Software Developer”
Consumer investors are a dying breed.
VC funding in consumer companies plunged from ~30% of global venture dollars in 2014 to just ~6% in 2024.
Yet fundamental human needs haven’t changed.
Massive opportunities exist, and AI has reignited excitement to build hyper-personalized experiences.
VC funding in consumer companies plunged from ~30% of global venture dollars in 2014 to just ~6% in 2024.
Yet fundamental human needs haven’t changed.
Massive opportunities exist, and AI has reignited excitement to build hyper-personalized experiences.
May 22, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Consumer investors are a dying breed.
VC funding in consumer companies plunged from ~30% of global venture dollars in 2014 to just ~6% in 2024.
Yet fundamental human needs haven’t changed.
Massive opportunities exist, and AI has reignited excitement to build hyper-personalized experiences.
VC funding in consumer companies plunged from ~30% of global venture dollars in 2014 to just ~6% in 2024.
Yet fundamental human needs haven’t changed.
Massive opportunities exist, and AI has reignited excitement to build hyper-personalized experiences.
Scandinavian founders have created some of the world's most defining companies (Linux, Databricks, Spotify, Minecraft, Oura, Cursor, list goes on) thanks to hotbeds of talent at universities like Aalto University and KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Fun to host this group at Menlo Ventures!
May 5, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Scandinavian founders have created some of the world's most defining companies (Linux, Databricks, Spotify, Minecraft, Oura, Cursor, list goes on) thanks to hotbeds of talent at universities like Aalto University and KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Fun to host this group at Menlo Ventures!
People think @alexhonnold.bsky.social has a broken fear response to achieve the impossible, but it’s thousands of hours of prep.
The only way to tell the difference between well-founded fear and irrational nervousness is experience and exposure
@amytongwu.bsky.social at @MenloVentures CEO summit
The only way to tell the difference between well-founded fear and irrational nervousness is experience and exposure
@amytongwu.bsky.social at @MenloVentures CEO summit
April 24, 2025 at 7:17 PM
People think @alexhonnold.bsky.social has a broken fear response to achieve the impossible, but it’s thousands of hours of prep.
The only way to tell the difference between well-founded fear and irrational nervousness is experience and exposure
@amytongwu.bsky.social at @MenloVentures CEO summit
The only way to tell the difference between well-founded fear and irrational nervousness is experience and exposure
@amytongwu.bsky.social at @MenloVentures CEO summit
I got engaged and the @rhobusiness team same day sent flowers. That level of care is how they put themselves on the map so quickly as an up-and-coming startup banking platform
@TarlonKhoubyari @JasonGrohowski @justinwolz @PartenDrewL
@TarlonKhoubyari @JasonGrohowski @justinwolz @PartenDrewL
April 22, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I got engaged and the @rhobusiness team same day sent flowers. That level of care is how they put themselves on the map so quickly as an up-and-coming startup banking platform
@TarlonKhoubyari @JasonGrohowski @justinwolz @PartenDrewL
@TarlonKhoubyari @JasonGrohowski @justinwolz @PartenDrewL
Life update 🚨
8 months after I went viral for supporting my YC boyfriend, he proposed this past weekend by bringing together a hundred of our friends and family to surprise me with a standup comedy show (that I had to perform in).
8 months after I went viral for supporting my YC boyfriend, he proposed this past weekend by bringing together a hundred of our friends and family to surprise me with a standup comedy show (that I had to perform in).
April 22, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Life update 🚨
8 months after I went viral for supporting my YC boyfriend, he proposed this past weekend by bringing together a hundred of our friends and family to surprise me with a standup comedy show (that I had to perform in).
8 months after I went viral for supporting my YC boyfriend, he proposed this past weekend by bringing together a hundred of our friends and family to surprise me with a standup comedy show (that I had to perform in).
The new consumer go-to-market playbook is being written in real time. At our GTM panel, leaders from Midjourney, Bumble Inc., and Status broke down what’s actually working to build, grow, and retain millions of users.
April 16, 2025 at 9:56 AM
The new consumer go-to-market playbook is being written in real time. At our GTM panel, leaders from Midjourney, Bumble Inc., and Status broke down what’s actually working to build, grow, and retain millions of users.
The IRS expects over $500B in missing funds - more than 10% of tax receipts - as ppl skip filing after IRS began layoffs cutting 20k staffers, 25% of the total workforce.
April 15, 2025 at 3:57 PM
The IRS expects over $500B in missing funds - more than 10% of tax receipts - as ppl skip filing after IRS began layoffs cutting 20k staffers, 25% of the total workforce.
CMOs are re-writing the growth playbook. I recently attended a CMO dinner hosted by Nasdaq and it was fascinating to learn:
📈 Retail media is exploding: CMOs are fleeing Meta/Google and reallocating up to 60% of spend to alternative channels. Instacart, DoorDash, Uber, Walmart, Amazon, etc.
📈 Retail media is exploding: CMOs are fleeing Meta/Google and reallocating up to 60% of spend to alternative channels. Instacart, DoorDash, Uber, Walmart, Amazon, etc.
April 15, 2025 at 3:14 PM
CMOs are re-writing the growth playbook. I recently attended a CMO dinner hosted by Nasdaq and it was fascinating to learn:
📈 Retail media is exploding: CMOs are fleeing Meta/Google and reallocating up to 60% of spend to alternative channels. Instacart, DoorDash, Uber, Walmart, Amazon, etc.
📈 Retail media is exploding: CMOs are fleeing Meta/Google and reallocating up to 60% of spend to alternative channels. Instacart, DoorDash, Uber, Walmart, Amazon, etc.
I sprinted so hard for the @caltrain.com this morning the conductors came over concerned I was having a heart attack 😅 gave me a bottle of water / congratulated me over the intercom. Heroes! 🙏 Cody & Ray thank you for your service. Not pictured: me drenched in sweat
April 14, 2025 at 4:08 PM
I sprinted so hard for the @caltrain.com this morning the conductors came over concerned I was having a heart attack 😅 gave me a bottle of water / congratulated me over the intercom. Heroes! 🙏 Cody & Ray thank you for your service. Not pictured: me drenched in sweat
I'm hosting a breakfast for top builders & operators in NYC Thurs 4/17 to celebrate Founders You Should Know coming to New York! lu.ma/zent5xev
I always recommend FYSK to any startup hiring or anyone even thinking about their next move - their acceptance rate is <2%!
I always recommend FYSK to any startup hiring or anyone even thinking about their next move - their acceptance rate is <2%!
Founders You Should Know Breakfast with Menlo Ventures & Arc 🍊 · Luma
Join Menlo Ventures, Founders You Should Know and Arc for a cozy morning breakfast with sharp minds and bottomless coffee.
--
Menlo Ventures is a…
lu.ma
April 10, 2025 at 10:12 PM
I'm hosting a breakfast for top builders & operators in NYC Thurs 4/17 to celebrate Founders You Should Know coming to New York! lu.ma/zent5xev
I always recommend FYSK to any startup hiring or anyone even thinking about their next move - their acceptance rate is <2%!
I always recommend FYSK to any startup hiring or anyone even thinking about their next move - their acceptance rate is <2%!
Up to 30% of company inbound leads are coming from LLMs🚨
Differences betw LLM & traditional SEO:
- Search engines care about popularity, LLMs care ab credibility. So think # of clicks vs. the content/source itself
- SEO prefers aged content w/ accumulated backlinks,LLMs prioritize recent content.
Differences betw LLM & traditional SEO:
- Search engines care about popularity, LLMs care ab credibility. So think # of clicks vs. the content/source itself
- SEO prefers aged content w/ accumulated backlinks,LLMs prioritize recent content.
April 9, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Up to 30% of company inbound leads are coming from LLMs🚨
Differences betw LLM & traditional SEO:
- Search engines care about popularity, LLMs care ab credibility. So think # of clicks vs. the content/source itself
- SEO prefers aged content w/ accumulated backlinks,LLMs prioritize recent content.
Differences betw LLM & traditional SEO:
- Search engines care about popularity, LLMs care ab credibility. So think # of clicks vs. the content/source itself
- SEO prefers aged content w/ accumulated backlinks,LLMs prioritize recent content.
The go-to-market playbook is being rewritten in the AI era. App stores are crowded.
On 4/15 I'm coming to NYC to host an off-the-record panel with some of the sharpest minds in consumer AI
Nominate the best founders, builders, operators you know to attend - comment below.
lu.ma/brexmenlovc
On 4/15 I'm coming to NYC to host an off-the-record panel with some of the sharpest minds in consumer AI
Nominate the best founders, builders, operators you know to attend - comment below.
lu.ma/brexmenlovc
The new GTM playbook in the age of AI · Luma
Invite-only discussion on how AI companies are rethinking distribution in a rapidly shifting landscape, hosted by Brex and Menlo Ventures.
The old playbook is…
lu.ma
April 7, 2025 at 9:03 AM
The go-to-market playbook is being rewritten in the AI era. App stores are crowded.
On 4/15 I'm coming to NYC to host an off-the-record panel with some of the sharpest minds in consumer AI
Nominate the best founders, builders, operators you know to attend - comment below.
lu.ma/brexmenlovc
On 4/15 I'm coming to NYC to host an off-the-record panel with some of the sharpest minds in consumer AI
Nominate the best founders, builders, operators you know to attend - comment below.
lu.ma/brexmenlovc
AI isn’t just reshaping how we work, it’s redefining how we live.
3 trends I’m excited about:
1. Personalization – finally tech that adapts to us
2. Ambient AI – systems that quietly anticipate our needs
3. Agentic software – tools that take action on our behalf
bit.ly/3FUJoHz
3 trends I’m excited about:
1. Personalization – finally tech that adapts to us
2. Ambient AI – systems that quietly anticipate our needs
3. Agentic software – tools that take action on our behalf
bit.ly/3FUJoHz
Meet the VC - Consumer AI | 2/27/25
This "Meet the VC" event focused on the intersection of consumer technology and generative AI. Our panel featured: - CC Gong, Principal at Menlo Ventures - Molly Cantillon, Founder of NOX - Katherine Rowe, Senior Vice President at Silicon Valley Bank This event was hosted by our team in partnership with Escalon, Pillsbury and TriNet.
bit.ly
April 4, 2025 at 10:25 AM
AI isn’t just reshaping how we work, it’s redefining how we live.
3 trends I’m excited about:
1. Personalization – finally tech that adapts to us
2. Ambient AI – systems that quietly anticipate our needs
3. Agentic software – tools that take action on our behalf
bit.ly/3FUJoHz
3 trends I’m excited about:
1. Personalization – finally tech that adapts to us
2. Ambient AI – systems that quietly anticipate our needs
3. Agentic software – tools that take action on our behalf
bit.ly/3FUJoHz
AI is no longer just assisting developers. It's quietly rebuilding the entire software stack. Top takeaways from a packed fireside chat with Adam Wolff of Claude Code and Merrill Lutsky CEO of Graphite.
March 31, 2025 at 8:48 PM
AI is no longer just assisting developers. It's quietly rebuilding the entire software stack. Top takeaways from a packed fireside chat with Adam Wolff of Claude Code and Merrill Lutsky CEO of Graphite.
congrats Graphite on the $52m Series B! I've known these guys for over a decade and I can't think of a better team to define the future of developer productivity.
If you're a hustler in NYC & want to work at a fast-growing AI startup reach out!
mnlo.vc/graphite
If you're a hustler in NYC & want to work at a fast-growing AI startup reach out!
mnlo.vc/graphite
Menlo’s Investment in Graphite: Code Review for the AI Age - Menlo Ventures
We’re excited to announce our investment in Graphite, an AI code review platform that helps engineering teams ship quality code faster.
mnlo.vc
March 18, 2025 at 7:21 PM
congrats Graphite on the $52m Series B! I've known these guys for over a decade and I can't think of a better team to define the future of developer productivity.
If you're a hustler in NYC & want to work at a fast-growing AI startup reach out!
mnlo.vc/graphite
If you're a hustler in NYC & want to work at a fast-growing AI startup reach out!
mnlo.vc/graphite
The best founders are not interested in your happy hours.
An investor's real value add comes from being a partner in recruiting, sales & strategy.
I also firmly believe there's value in building community w/ like-minded founders.
Fun to be ft. for the creative ways I like to bring ppl together
An investor's real value add comes from being a partner in recruiting, sales & strategy.
I also firmly believe there's value in building community w/ like-minded founders.
Fun to be ft. for the creative ways I like to bring ppl together
March 17, 2025 at 5:04 PM
The best founders are not interested in your happy hours.
An investor's real value add comes from being a partner in recruiting, sales & strategy.
I also firmly believe there's value in building community w/ like-minded founders.
Fun to be ft. for the creative ways I like to bring ppl together
An investor's real value add comes from being a partner in recruiting, sales & strategy.
I also firmly believe there's value in building community w/ like-minded founders.
Fun to be ft. for the creative ways I like to bring ppl together
This is what AI customer service should feel like - instantaneous, personalized, and specific.
It knew my details, preemptively answered follow-up questions, showed me how to self-serve.
Did Bilt build this or is it off the shelf? Well done.
It knew my details, preemptively answered follow-up questions, showed me how to self-serve.
Did Bilt build this or is it off the shelf? Well done.
March 1, 2025 at 8:27 PM
This is what AI customer service should feel like - instantaneous, personalized, and specific.
It knew my details, preemptively answered follow-up questions, showed me how to self-serve.
Did Bilt build this or is it off the shelf? Well done.
It knew my details, preemptively answered follow-up questions, showed me how to self-serve.
Did Bilt build this or is it off the shelf? Well done.
This Thursday I'm excited to discuss the future of consumer AI with Nox founder Molly Cantillon at our Meet the VC panel event.
✅ The future of consumer AI tech in 2025
✅ The evolution of agentic AI
✅ Fundraising insights from both the founder & investor perspectives
lu.ma/ib40gt73
✅ The future of consumer AI tech in 2025
✅ The evolution of agentic AI
✅ Fundraising insights from both the founder & investor perspectives
lu.ma/ib40gt73
Meet the VC - Consumer AI with CC Gong of Menlo Ventures & Molly Cantillon, Founder of NOX · Luma
Join us for our next "Meet the VC" panel event, hosted in collaboration with our co-sponsors Escalon, SVB, Pillsbury, TriNet.
We're delighted to feature CC…
lu.ma
February 24, 2025 at 8:49 AM
This Thursday I'm excited to discuss the future of consumer AI with Nox founder Molly Cantillon at our Meet the VC panel event.
✅ The future of consumer AI tech in 2025
✅ The evolution of agentic AI
✅ Fundraising insights from both the founder & investor perspectives
lu.ma/ib40gt73
✅ The future of consumer AI tech in 2025
✅ The evolution of agentic AI
✅ Fundraising insights from both the founder & investor perspectives
lu.ma/ib40gt73
I believe that entrepreneurship is a privilege not everyone has.
That belief is shaped by my own journey growing up with immigrant parents who worked blue collar jobs their entire lives, and sacrificed so much so I could have opportunities they never did.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm8e...
That belief is shaped by my own journey growing up with immigrant parents who worked blue collar jobs their entire lives, and sacrificed so much so I could have opportunities they never did.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm8e...
From Immigrant Hustle to $6B VC Fund: CC Gong's Rise | Heritage Bytes Ep.4
YouTube video by Rio from Dokai
www.youtube.com
February 20, 2025 at 5:50 PM
I believe that entrepreneurship is a privilege not everyone has.
That belief is shaped by my own journey growing up with immigrant parents who worked blue collar jobs their entire lives, and sacrificed so much so I could have opportunities they never did.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm8e...
That belief is shaped by my own journey growing up with immigrant parents who worked blue collar jobs their entire lives, and sacrificed so much so I could have opportunities they never did.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm8e...
did my first TimeLeft dinner in SF - they match strangers for dinner every Wednesday
7/7 showed up on time which is wild in SF. everyone was interesting, fun, and single. 10/10 would recommend.
IRL experiences like TimeLeft and run clubs are in, dating apps are out
7/7 showed up on time which is wild in SF. everyone was interesting, fun, and single. 10/10 would recommend.
IRL experiences like TimeLeft and run clubs are in, dating apps are out
February 20, 2025 at 5:49 AM
did my first TimeLeft dinner in SF - they match strangers for dinner every Wednesday
7/7 showed up on time which is wild in SF. everyone was interesting, fun, and single. 10/10 would recommend.
IRL experiences like TimeLeft and run clubs are in, dating apps are out
7/7 showed up on time which is wild in SF. everyone was interesting, fun, and single. 10/10 would recommend.
IRL experiences like TimeLeft and run clubs are in, dating apps are out
I’m going to be out of a job in a year.
I hosted the first hackathon for VCs at Menlo Ventures where VCs code and founders judge. With AI coding tools, we were able to build systems that automate away most of my job in 3 hours.
I hosted the first hackathon for VCs at Menlo Ventures where VCs code and founders judge. With AI coding tools, we were able to build systems that automate away most of my job in 3 hours.
January 31, 2025 at 9:17 PM
I’m going to be out of a job in a year.
I hosted the first hackathon for VCs at Menlo Ventures where VCs code and founders judge. With AI coding tools, we were able to build systems that automate away most of my job in 3 hours.
I hosted the first hackathon for VCs at Menlo Ventures where VCs code and founders judge. With AI coding tools, we were able to build systems that automate away most of my job in 3 hours.
We're at the start of a retail revolution.
Customer acquisition cost has surged 222% in the past decade, forcing brands to rethink their strategies.
I'm thrilled to announce @MenloVentures's investment in ShopMy's $77.5M Series B. They've turned UGC into a high ROI ad unit. mnlo.vc/ShopMySeriesB
Customer acquisition cost has surged 222% in the past decade, forcing brands to rethink their strategies.
I'm thrilled to announce @MenloVentures's investment in ShopMy's $77.5M Series B. They've turned UGC into a high ROI ad unit. mnlo.vc/ShopMySeriesB
Investing in the Future of Creator-Driven Commerce: ShopMy’s $77.5M Series B - Menlo Ventures
We’re excited to announce our investment in ShopMy’s $77.5 million Series B, alongside Bessemer Venture Partners and Bain Capital Ventures.
mnlo.vc
January 24, 2025 at 11:17 AM
We're at the start of a retail revolution.
Customer acquisition cost has surged 222% in the past decade, forcing brands to rethink their strategies.
I'm thrilled to announce @MenloVentures's investment in ShopMy's $77.5M Series B. They've turned UGC into a high ROI ad unit. mnlo.vc/ShopMySeriesB
Customer acquisition cost has surged 222% in the past decade, forcing brands to rethink their strategies.
I'm thrilled to announce @MenloVentures's investment in ShopMy's $77.5M Series B. They've turned UGC into a high ROI ad unit. mnlo.vc/ShopMySeriesB