A team at the intersection of Design, Capital and Science
HCF brings together the originators of humanity-centered design, experienced design educators, scientists, and institutional investment professionals — an integration of design, science, and capital that defines the Fund's approach.
Over 25 years of experience in technology, venture capital, and business. His career in investments began at Vertex Management, Singapore, where he became Investment Manager. He then took on the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) at SGX-listed pan-Asian telecommunications services company Teledata. Dr Tan later joined EDB Investments (EDBI) — part of the Economic Development Board, a statutory board of the Government of Singapore — as Investment Director, leading the Digital Media group with additional responsibilities managing investments in Singapore's key pillars of growth. Board roles include LucasArts and Chartered Silicon Partners. As CEO and majority shareholder of TPFM and holder of the MAS fund management licence, Dr Tan bears ultimate regulatory and fiduciary responsibility to the Fund's investors. He chairs the Investment Committee with final investment authority and casting vote.
Venture builder and advisor across early-stage investing, corporate venture-building, public policy, and impact advisory. Began her career at Singapore's Ministries of Finance and Health, developing and implementing national policies. Holds CEMS training in international management; subsequent impact-advisory work in Switzerland, advising international organisations including the UN International Labour Organization. Led end-to-end investment deals across Southeast Asia at REAPRA, and day-to-day operations of corporate venture-building activities at CapitaLand Investment. Founder of Arvo, an enterprise SaaS tool for people development. Contributes to HCF's investment due diligence and operationalisation of the HCD+ framework across the portfolio.
Served as Deputy Minister at Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce from 1998 to 2004, leading the establishment of the country’s Special Economic Zone framework with JICA to develop the Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville Growth Corridor, and supporting Cambodia’s integration into AFTA and the WTO. He founded the Cambodian Rice Millers Association. Today he is an Independent Director of SBI LY HOUR Bank Plc., chairing its Nomination and Remuneration Committee, and a Board and Investment Committee member at LBL International Construction.
The father of humanity-centered design and the person who coined the phrase "user experience." Author of The Design of Everyday Things — one of the most influential books in design and technology — and Design for a Better World (MIT Press, 2023), the intellectual foundation of HCD+. Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Cognitive Science at UC San Diego and Director of The Design Lab; Distinguished Visiting Professor at KAIST; former VP of Apple's Advanced Technology Group; co-founder of Nielsen Norman Group. Elected to the US National Academy of Engineering. Recipient of the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Computer and Cognitive Science. The Don Norman Design Award was inaugurated in his name in September 2024.
CEO of the Don Norman Design Award and its annual Summit — the global convening point for humanity-centered design. Over 30 years in design, technology, and innovation leadership across Silicon Valley, Europe, and Asia. Professor of Industrial Design at the Design Institute of Innovation Shanghai (DIIS) and COO of the Institute; visiting Professor at Politecnico di Milano and Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts. Former President and current Senator of the World Design Organization (WDO). Chairman of Lumium Design — developer of 300+ award-winning products globally. Keynote speaker at design conferences worldwide.
Chair of the Board of Directors of the Don Norman Design Award. Founding CEO and Chair from DNDA's establishment in 2023 until April 2025, overseeing the build-out of the 501(c)(3) non-profit and the inaugural DNDA24 Summit. Nearly five decades of leadership across the mobile cellular and data networking industries, with early work in M2M systems at Qualcomm and industrial automation at ILS Technologies, and a sustained focus on pioneering IoT. Former President of WirefreeCom, advising CxOs of communications technology and services businesses. Has served on the boards of TIA, EIA, OMA, IEEE VTS, USC Marshall (CTM) and the San Diego Symphony, and is an active supporter of TiE. Endowed the Kripalani Applied Technology Lab at IIT Delhi.
MachirajuW
Scientist and venture partner pioneering Humanity-Centered Design (HCD+). Former Principal Scientist at Apple's Advanced Technology Group — the same group Don Norman led — and Co-Director of CHARIOT (Center for Human Applied Reasoning and the Internet of Things) at the University of Southern California. Interdisciplinary expert in public health, general systems, and computer networks; contributor to the evolution of information retrieval and the Internet. Holds 10 patents. Co-founder of reQall Inc. (MIT Media Lab spin-off) and founding advisor to Dimagi.com. Advises organisations across the US and Asia, identifying ventures that harmonise technical rigour with systemic social impact.
Senior strategic communications executive driving business, technology, and policy outcomes for more than two decades. At Qualcomm — a world leader in mobile technology — served as Vice President of Public Affairs, and previously led Public Relations and Corporate Communications. Deep expertise in complex strategy, thought leadership, global and financial media relations, messaging, reputation and crisis management, and executive communications. B.A. Political Science, University of California, Berkeley.