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🇺🇸 United States Enterprise Software & Cloud The Product Alchemist ★ Spotlight Profile 🎓 University of British Columbia 📍 San Francisco, CA

Ivan Zhao

Co-Founder & CEO of Notion | Re-Inventing the Global Digital Workspace

Personal Site ↗ YouTube Channel X / Twitter LinkedIn

“We want to give every human being the superpowers of a toolmaker, not just a tool user.”

— Ivan Zhao

PSYCHOLOGICAL ARCHETYPE • The Product Alchemist

OPERATING DNA

Taste purist and design obsessive dedicated to crafting intuitive, emotionally resonant human-computer interfaces that feel like magic.

FOUNDER CHRONICLE

The Founder Journey

Cognitive Science, Art & Kyoto Rebirth

Ivan Zhao grew up in China and Canada, studying cognitive science, visual arts, and computer science at the University of British Columbia. In 2013, he founded Notion in San Francisco with Simon Last to make software creation visual and malleable.

The Kyoto Pivot

When Notion’s initial codebase proved too brittle and run out of capital in 2015, Zhao and Last sublet their SF apartment and relocated to an Airbnb in Kyoto, Japan, rebuilding Notion from scratch in JavaScript as a visual Lego box of blocks, wikis, and relational databases.

Community Cult & $10B Valuation

Notion grew organically into a global phenomenon through authentic word of mouth, TikTok aesthetic creators, and global enterprise adoption, generating over $250M in ARR with immense profitability.

VENTURE PORTFOLIO

Companies & Brands Founded

Notion

Co-Founder & CEO of Notion

Official Site →

Notion blends notes, project management, databases, and AI into a customizable block-based workspace for individuals and enterprises.

Founded: 2013

Stage: Pre-IPO Decacorn

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

MEDIA & VIDEO CHANNEL

Ivan Zhao on YouTube

Original founder video breakdowns, keynote presentations, and interviews documenting company growth and industry transformation.

Watch on YouTube ↗

CAPITAL ALLOCATION • ECOSYSTEM BETS

Ventures, Ecosystem & Angel Bets

Strategic ecosystem bets, enterprise divisions, and high-conviction ventures expanding the founder's industrial footprint.

Linear

Issue Tracking

★ Angel

Raycast

Mac Productivity

★ Angel

VERIFIED FACTS

Frequently Asked Questions about Ivan Zhao

Who is Ivan Zhao and what companies did they build?

Ivan Zhao is a United States entrepreneur and Co-Founder & CEO of Notion | Re-Inventing the Global Digital Workspace based in San Francisco, CA, United States. They are widely celebrated as the primary builder behind Notion.

What is Ivan Zhao's net worth?

Ivan Zhao's exact personal net worth is privately held and not publicly disclosed. Their primary financial value is tied to their equity in Notion.

What is Ivan Zhao's leadership philosophy and operating archetype?

Ivan Zhao embodies the The Product Alchemist archetype on Limitless Founders, characterized by high-conviction decision-making, operational discipline, and relentless execution across pivotal markets.

What startups and sectors has Ivan Zhao backed as an investor?

Ivan Zhao has deployed strategic angel capital into early-stage market challengers, with verified portfolio bets including Linear, Raycast.

What is Ivan Zhao's core advice for ambitious founders?

Ivan Zhao advocates for first-principles rigor, summarized by their defining thesis: "We want to give every human being the superpowers of a toolmaker, not just a tool user."

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