Co-Founder and Managing Partner at DST Global
Check size: No John-specific check range is public. DST Global is known for large growth-stage internet investments, but historical firm deal sizes or assets should not be converted into a personal allocation promise. Founders should confirm current stage, geography and round fit directly.
John's documented investment record centers on globally scaling internet and consumer-technology platforms. Public profiles associate him with DST investments in Spotify, JD.com and Didi and exits or public listings including Xiaomi, Meituan and Kuaishou. The repeatable lens is growth-stage platform scale, large addressable markets, strong network or marketplace effects and the ability to compound across geographies—not Maki.vc's early-stage Web3 mandate.
Do not present the opportunity as a Maki.vc pitch. For DST relevance, lead with growth metrics, cohort retention, unit economics, market size, network effects, geographic expansion, competitive position, governance, financing history, round structure, secondary needs and the path to a lasting public-scale company. Make the requested capital and strategic value explicit.
The public record suggests interest in category leaders with exceptional growth, large and expanding markets, strong user or merchant networks, proven execution, global or multi-market potential, capital efficiency relative to scale and a credible path from late-stage private growth to durable public-company leadership.
No personal pass criteria are public. Likely weak fit includes pitches aimed at Maki on the false premise that John runs it, very early concepts without growth evidence, locally bounded opportunities without a large platform outcome, weak retention or network effects and businesses whose financing needs or governance are not ready for institutional growth capital. These filters are inferred from role and record.
Evaluate whether adoption, retention, unit economics and network effects can support category leadership across multiple large markets.
Connect the current round to governance, reporting, capital structure, operating predictability and milestones required for a durable public-market transition.
A person shown in a firm's adviser or network section remains affiliated with the employer stated beside their name unless the firm explicitly says otherwise.
Present audited or reconciled KPIs, cohorts, economics, market share, competitive moat, geographic playbook and governance alongside the financing request.