Gloria Zhang Is Using AI Firsthand to Spot the Next Wave of Global Trends

Gloria Zhang is part of a new generation of investors who don’t just fund AI—they actively use it to understand where it’s headed. At DCM Ventures, she has built a reputation as a power user of AI tools, leveraging them to go beyond hype and uncover real opportunities.

Whether it’s working with portfolio companies like OpusClip, an AI video editing platform, or experimenting with tools like ElevenLabs, Suno and Cursor, Zhang believes that hands-on experience is essential. By using these technologies herself, she gains a clearer view of their strengths, limitations and real-world applications.

In 2025, she played a key role in DCM’s investment in OpusClip and has since been involved in supporting the company’s growth, scaling and hiring. She has also contributed to investments in AI startups such as Lingopal, Emochi and BentoM, further strengthening her footprint in the space.

Zhang’s investment philosophy goes beyond technology—she looks for versatile founders with grit, people who can adapt quickly in a fast-changing environment.

A defining aspect of her approach is her focus on cross-cultural trends. She closely tracks how behaviours and content formats evolve globally, noting that many trends—such as anime, idol culture, short-form dramas and live streaming—often originate in Asia before gaining traction in North America.

With AI lowering the barriers to creating and distributing content across borders, she actively coaches founders to identify and leverage these global consumer insights.

Her perspective reflects a broader shift in venture capital, where success increasingly depends on understanding both technology and culture at a global scale.

Because in the AI era, the next big opportunity might not just come from new technology—but from how it spreads across the world.