Purpose and profit need not—and should not—be seen as diametrically opposed, opines Zach Du Chao, strategic advisor to the venture capital firm Felicity Ventures

Beijing-based impact entrepreneur, Zach Du Chao, believes in making connections. And not just in the literal sense—though he does count an extensive and impressive roster of business luminaries and global leaders among his contacts. More importantly, Du is an advocate for joining the dots across industries, businesses, professions, and organisations to chart new possibilities that can drive meaningful change.

As a strategic advisor to Singapore-based venture capital firm, Felicity Ventures, Du wants to build a platform that not only grows wealth for investors, but does so in a meaningful manner. Working alongside Jung Kyu Kim, a Harvard graduate and former McKinsey consultant, and Christopher Yan, a board director who brings legal and financial depth to the team, Du leverages networks, global expertise, and capital to pinpoint problems and back solutions.

For Du, though, the mandate goes well beyond the nuts and bolts of deal-making. What he really wants is to build an ecosystem where investment isn’t just about multiplying returns, but about threading together finance, culture, and philanthropy into something bigger. That takes both discipline and heart, qualities he’s honed across a mix of worlds: from international aid groups and financial powerhouses to cultural platforms and even style-forward initiatives.

As a philanthropist and cultural advisor, what drew you to Felicity Ventures?

I’ve spent years working with institutions like UNICEF and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where the mission is clear: create lasting, positive change. I see the same ethos here. Felicity Ventures is not simply deploying capital, but curating a legacy. My role is to ensure that we remain globally connected, bringing best practices from cultural and philanthropic circles into the investment space. When you combine disciplined capital with a conscience, you can build something that resonates far beyond financial markets.

Please share more about what you mean by “disciplined capital with a conscience”.

My fellow board director at Felicity Ventures captures it well when he says, “impact without financial sustainability is charity”—and that is not our model. Our motivation is to create enduring impact in fields such as sustainability, science, and technology, while simultaneously ensuring accountability to our investors by delivering strong and measurable returns.

For us, applying rigorous standards of governance, due diligence, and structuring is not at odds with being driven by purposeful work; in fact, the two are deeply complementary. It is precisely this balance that enables us to build ventures that are both impactful and sustainable over the long term.

You hold numerous board and advisory positions, including serving as Global Philanthropy Mentor at NYU Shanghai, Champion for Children with UNICEF, and, most recently, Chair of the Vogue Singapore Foundation. In what ways do these diverse appointments deepen and enhance your broader body of work?

I believe strongly in the importance of bridging cultures and fostering meaningful dialogue. These appointments provide me with the ability to take a broader, more strategic perspective on the issues I care deeply about, while also creating opportunities to convene and collaborate with leaders who are in positions to effect real systemic change.

The platform that comes with these roles enables conversations to move beyond the individual level toward collective action, which allows change to happen at greater scale and speed. I also recognise that many of these doors open as a result of privilege. The more important question, then, is how we channel that privilege responsibly—ensuring it is used not for self-interest, but to amplify impact, build inclusive platforms, and ultimately drive progress for the communities we aim to serve.

It is so true that the adage “it’s not only what you do, but also who you know” is particularly applicable.

We cannot deny that different circles of influence exist, each with the capacity to drive change in distinct ways. That said, I remain a firm believer in the power of amplification.

What truly matters is not the size of the platform but the strength and clarity of the message. Whether it comes from an organisation, a family, or even a single individual, every voice carries the potential to inspire and mobilise others. In the field of philanthropy especially, this ripple effect can be transformative, reminding us that meaningful change is never the responsibility of a few, but the collective work of many.

Moving in such diverse circles also mean that you must have developed an instinct for choosing and working with the right partners?

When it comes to instinct, I would say I trust it about 85 percent of the time. With experience, you begin to develop an intuitive sense of whether a potential partner’s intentions are genuine, often within the first stages of communication.

For me, authenticity is a core value, and it informs the way I approach both professional and personal relationships. I am deliberate in seeking out people who share those same values, because alignment on that level is what ultimately builds trust and makes collaboration sustainable.

Tell us about your upbringing. What shaped your perspectives on being an impact entrepreneur?

I must give credit to my grandparents for instilling the values that ground me. From a young age, they emphasised the importance of empathy—of looking beyond our immediate family and caring for the broader world around us.

For me, this was never something imposed; it felt almost instinctive, as though it were woven into the fabric of our family’s DNA. That early foundation continues to shape the way I see responsibility, community, and the role we each play in contributing to something larger than ourselves.

How do you measure success for Felicity Ventures?

I believe true success would be reflected in our being recognized as a model for impact investing. To be fair, every wealth management platform has its own set of priorities and metrics. For us, however, one of the most meaningful benchmarks lies in striking a balance. This means measuring how well we have delivered tangible value for our investors while also creating positive, lasting benefits for society at large. It is this dual lens of financial performance and social contribution that defines the kind of success we aspire to achieve.