Elijah Yi

Based in San Francisco, Eli focuses on health, bio, and vertical AI investments. Since joining Cathay Innovation in 2023, he has helped refine the firm’s view on how AI is reshaping healthcare and life sciences, with a particular interest in opportunities emerging at the intersection of computation, health, and biology. Notable investments include Updoc and Qualified Health, where Eli takes a hands-on approach working with founders and teams through their next stage of growth.

Before Cathay Innovation, Eli gained experience across both operating and investing roles. He was an early employee at Cipherome, a precision-medicine startup, where he helped develop early genomics algorithms supporting individualized medication selection. He later held roles at Lux Capital and Draper Associates and led Columbia Business School’s Ventures Program Fellowship.

Eli holds an MBA from Columbia University and a BS from Wheaton College. As a Bay Area native, he’s a dedicated local sports fan (Warriors before the bandwagon). He enjoys playing a variety of sports with others, including volleyball, padel, golf, and outdoor activities with his mini golden doodle, Millie.