John Chen Hillsborough

John Chen’s professional journey has developed through years of steady work across real estate, finance, technology, hospitality, and private investing. While his roles have evolved, his approach has remained consistent and measured. He has focused on building reliable operations, maintaining accountability, and making decisions with a long-term perspective. Raised in the Bay Area, he has remained closely connected to Northern California, where his background continues to shape both his professional direction and personal priorities.

John grew up in Hillsborough and attended Menlo School in Atherton, graduating in 1990. He later earned a degree in Economics from UC Berkeley in 1994. His academic training helped him develop a clear understanding of how markets function, how incentives influence behavior, and how risk should be evaluated. These principles became practical tools as he entered the business and investing worlds. Rather than following a traditional corporate path after college, he sought environments where leadership was visible and progress depended on consistent daily execution.

In 1999, as internet-based services began reshaping consumer finance, John entered the real estate brokerage field and founded Infoloan, also known as the Mortgage Superstore, along with Infohome. At that time, online mortgage platforms were still emerging, and many operating systems were untested. He focused on integrating technology with disciplined training and sales execution. Over the years, he hired and trained more than 300 licensed agents and facilitated over $7 billion in closed transactions from 1999 through the present. Infoloan operated in Silicon Valley and Taiwan, giving him early experience managing teams across different markets. During the dot-com era, the company ranked #4 on Gomez.com’s list of top online loan agents, reinforcing the value of structured growth built on consistency.

John’s interest in technology extended beyond mortgage finance. In 2003, he co-founded ImportNow.com, an international online marketplace that connects buyers and suppliers across national borders. As co-founder and CEO, he managed the company through periods of growth while remaining focused on operational reliability. ImportNow.com received media coverage from CNNfn and publications such as FORTUNE, USA Today, and Yahoo! Internet Life Magazine. This phase of his career highlighted the importance of trust, execution, and credibility in building digital platforms that operate across regions.

From 2005 through 2013, John shifted much of his professional focus to Asia. During this period, he opened, managed, and developed food and beverage businesses in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. He worked across quick-service retail, bar, and full-service restaurant concepts, remaining closely involved in daily operations. These years reinforced the importance of frontline teams and systems that support consistent execution. The experience added practical insight to his leadership style and strengthened his understanding of operations in diverse environments.

Today, John Chen of Hillsborough owns Value Growth Properties in Hillsborough, where he develops and provides consulting services for real estate projects and capital financing throughout the Bay Area. He views real estate as a long-term operating business rather than a transactional activity. His focus remains on fundamentals such as tenant quality, capital structure, and long-term usability. Clients and partners value his ability to communicate clearly with lenders, contractors, and investors, as well as his habit of identifying potential challenges early. Alongside this work, he continues to invest in start-ups in the US and Asia, advising founders on strategy, capital discipline, and organizational structure.