# Tim Liu

Tim Liu is a Managing Partner at SBCVC (SoftBank China Capital), a venture capital firm, where he has served since joining in November 2009.<sup>[1](http://www.sbcvc.com/a/English/Team/2016/1226/40.html)</sup> He came to venture capital after an engineering and operating career in digital television and semiconductors that included a senior executive role at Tsinghua TongFang and research positions at Broadcom, RCA Labs, Samsung, and Siemens.<sup>[1](http://www.sbcvc.com/a/English/Team/2016/1226/40.html)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Firm and role | Managing Partner, SBCVC, since November 2009<sup>[1](http://www.sbcvc.com/a/English/Team/2016/1226/40.html)</sup> |
| Prior operating role | Executive Vice President, Tsinghua TongFang Corp; founder and general manager of TongFang's Digital Media Group<sup>[1](http://www.sbcvc.com/a/English/Team/2016/1226/40.html)</sup> |
| Earlier career | Principal Scientist at Broadcom; founder of Nextwave Communications; RCA Labs, Samsung Advanced Media Labs, Siemens Corporate R&D Center (Munich)<sup>[1](http://www.sbcvc.com/a/English/Team/2016/1226/40.html)</sup> |
| Patents | Over 20 US and European patents, especially in digital television<sup>[1](http://www.sbcvc.com/a/English/Team/2016/1226/40.html)</sup> |
| Education | Xi'an Jiao Tong University (electrical engineering, with honors); graduate studies at Northwest Telecommunications Institute, Xi'an<sup>[1](http://www.sbcvc.com/a/English/Team/2016/1226/40.html)</sup> |
| SEC-associated entities | SBCVC Fund IV LP (Promoter); Marena Healthcare Holdings LLC (Director)<sup>[2](https://aum13f.com/person/tim-liu)</sup> |
| Fund IV figures | $340.7M raised; $494.4M assets under management, per Form D-derived records<sup>[2](https://aum13f.com/person/tim-liu)</sup> |

## Early life and education

Liu trained as an electrical engineer in Xi'an, China. He graduated with honors from Xi'an Jiao Tong University, majoring in electrical engineering, and was among a selected group who continued master's and doctorate studies at Northwest Telecommunications Institute in Xi'an.<sup>[1](http://www.sbcvc.com/a/English/Team/2016/1226/40.html)</sup>

He worked at RCA Labs, Samsung Advanced Media Labs, and the Siemens Corporate R&D Center in Munich, was a Principal Scientist at Broadcom Corp, and founded Nextwave Communications Corp.<sup>[1](http://www.sbcvc.com/a/English/Team/2016/1226/40.html)</sup> The firm's bio credits him with over 20 US and European patents and numerous widely adopted products, especially in digital television.<sup>[1](http://www.sbcvc.com/a/English/Team/2016/1226/40.html)</sup>

## Career

Before entering venture capital, Liu was Executive Vice President of Tsinghua TongFang Corp, a Shanghai-listed high-technology conglomerate, and founder and general manager of TongFang's Digital Media Group.<sup>[1](http://www.sbcvc.com/a/English/Team/2016/1226/40.html)</sup>

He joined SBCVC in November 2009 as a Managing Partner.<sup>[1](http://www.sbcvc.com/a/English/Team/2016/1226/40.html)</sup> SEC Form D-derived records associate him with fund activity from 2011 through 2026, indicating continuous fundraising and fund administration across that period.<sup>[2](https://aum13f.com/person/tim-liu)</sup>

## SBCVC: the firm he leads

SBCVC (SoftBank China Capital) lists Liu on its English team page as a Managing Partner.<sup>[1](http://www.sbcvc.com/a/English/Team/2016/1226/40.html)</sup> The most concrete size figure in the public record comes from SEC Form D-derived data: SBCVC Fund IV LP, with which Liu is associated as Promoter, shows $340.7 million raised and $494.4 million in assets under management.<sup>[2](https://aum13f.com/person/tim-liu)</sup>

## Recent developments

The Form D record associated with Liu extends through 2026, showing continued fund activity in the current period.<sup>[2](https://aum13f.com/person/tim-liu)</sup> No independently reported new funds, deals, or departures attributed to him personally appear in the sources retained here.

## References

1. SBCVC SoftBank China Capital — Tim Liu team page. http://www.sbcvc.com/a/English/Team/2016/1226/40.html
2. Tim Liu — Form D filings record (AUM13F). https://aum13f.com/person/tim-liu

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Economics and business › Founders, operators, and investors › Venture and growth investors › Greater China venture › 2000s firm partners › Titles L to Z*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 30, 2026*

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