Hamilton Chan

Yo, so let me tell you about Hamilton Chan, this guy’s the real deal, a straight-up serial entrepreneur, teacher, and all-around hustle king. His story’s wild because he’s been everywhere, law, finance, entertainment, tech, you name it. No cap, he’s the type that jumps into shit, crushes it, then moves on to the next thing, always leveling up.

Started off with a solid academic grind, Harvard undergrad (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, yeah, he’s smart), then hit Harvard Law. But the real magic kicked in when he jumped into the startup scene. He’s part of Y Combinator’s S11 batch, which is like the Olympics of startups. That’s where he launched PayDragon, a company all about QR codes and mobile commerce, trying to make shopping and transactions way easier. And guess what? He raised over $1.75 million from big names like YC, SV Angel, and 500 Startups. That’s no joke, shows he’s got the connections and the vision.

But before all that, Hamilton’s roots are deep in business. He managed his family biz, Charlie Chan Printing, for 16 years, big clients like ESPN, J&J, Westin, Top. So he’s been in the trenches, delivering real stuff to real clients. That’s where he learned how to run operations, hustle, and keep clients happy, skills that obviously paid off big time.

He also spent time in finance at J.P. Morgan, and in entertainment at MGM, so he’s got that corporate chops. But he’s not just about the corporate world, he loves teaching too. Now, he’s the Director of Executive Education at Loyola Law School, where he’s out here mentoring execs, sharing his experience, and just spreading startup wisdom.

And if that wasn’t enough, he founded Coaching for Startups, which is basically his way of paying it forward, mentoring other founders, helping them avoid bullshit pitfalls he’s already crushed. Plus, he’s taught at General Assembly, spreading the startup gospel to anyone willing to listen.

All of this says a lot about him. Hamilton’s a guy who’s driven by a real love for building shit, helping others succeed, and constantly pushing the envelope. His process’s about jumping into new worlds, learning fast, and turning ideas into actual, expandable businesses. He’s proof that if you’re relentless and willing to learn from every experience, whether it’s law, finance, or printing, you can build some serious impact.

Long story short: Hamilton Chan is a startup OG who’s done it all, from managing a family biz to raising VC millions, to mentoring the next wave of entrepreneurs. He’s the kind of guy who’s always hungry, always learning, and never afraid to jump into the deep end. That’s why he’s so important, he’s living proof that hustle, smarts, and a bit of guts can take you anywhere.