Jaja Liao Partner at 25madison

Jaja Liao

Partner

25madison

Artificial Intelligence

Healthcare & Wellness

Industry & Supply Chain

About Me

Jaja Liao is a Partner at 25madison ventures in New York, where she joined in 2022 to focus on investing in B2B startups across healthcare, supply chain/commerce, and fintech. Prior to 25madison, she was on the early stage investment team at Headline, a global multi-stage fund in San Francisco. Before venture capital, she started her career at Google as a business analyst on the AdX and AdMob products and then went on to join the growth strategy team at Clover Health. Jaja holds a BA in Molecular Biology from Yale University and is a dual citizen of the US and Taiwan.

Hear My Insights

Final of the VivaTech Innovation of the Year - Crowning the Best in Innovation

The VivaTech Innovation of the Year is here to celebrate and spotlight trailblazing startups that are reshaping the future. This prestigious award is open to all exhibiting startups at VivaTech 2025 and recognizes one startup that has demonstrated exceptional creativity, technological ingenuity, and the potential to transform its industry. The 2025 finalists of the VivaTech Innovation of the Year are : - BeyondMath - Chipiron - Enerdrape - Hua Tec International - Lumisync

Exit Backlog: What Alternatives To The Traffic Jams?

2024 was a slow year for startup exits, with the backlog of companies awaiting an exit surging to over 55,000, according to PitchBook—a record high. While smaller startup exits continued at a steady pace, the absence of IPOs created a bottleneck, slowing down both late-stage companies and the broader VC market. This stagnation has forced mature startups to explore alternative exit strategies, including secondaries, M&As, or extended private market stays, while in Europe, many startups are looking across the Atlantic for IPOs or acquisition opportunities. Some anticipate a return to normalcy in 2025, with a wave of unicorn IPOs. However, the geopolitical climate could disrupt these expectations, reshuffling the exit landscape. This session will explore how seasoned VCs in the US, China, and Europe are navigating the backlog and what alternative exit strategies are emerging.