Build, Rebuild, Scale: Founders Forged in Fire and AI

On this week's episode of Silicon Valley Impact we speak with Jing Kuang, Founding Partner of Y Plus Ventures; David Sarabia Founder / CEO at inRecovery - Addiction Recovery Platform, serial entrepreneur with an incredible story on how to build and “recover;” and David Menard, Co-Founder & CTO at The Care Connxion, General Partner at Invaluable labs, and investor. Listening as they bring a fresh perspectives on building, “rebuilding," investing, and scaling in the age of AI.

Jing, Founding Partner of Y Plus Ventures, is a modern VC fund investing in consumer AI startups at the earliest stages. With 20 years of experience spanning consumer brand-building, entrepreneurship, and global capital markets, Jing brings a rare blend of operating and investment expertise. Her “Radical Duality—Human-Centered, AI-Partnered” philosophy guides Y+ Ventures’ proprietary sourcing and diligence tools, delivering strategic value to both founders and LPs. Previously, she was President & CEO of Yongjia Capital, where she led over $50B in cross-border M&A and capital markets transactions for Fortune 500 and high-growth tech clients. Jing holds an MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business, chairs the Stanford GSB VC Alumni Club, and serves on the Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurship investment committee.

David S. is a serial entrepreneur with three successful exits, including UPrinting (acquired by Insight Partners, now valued at $1.4B) and eMobileCart (sold to Magento). He also held leadership roles at US Auto Parts (NASDAQ: PRTS) and advised early on at Tradesy, which went on to raise $75M. After overcoming his own battle with addiction, David founded inRecovery in 2017 — a health-tech platform using blockchain, machine learning, and data-driven care to modernize addiction treatment. Backed by StartupHealth and multiple funding rounds, inRecovery serves as an operating system for treatment centers and individuals, offering personalized therapy, engagement tools, and long-term support for recovery.

David M. is a patented inventor, software engineer, and business developer focused on digital assets, agentic workflows, and decentralized systems. A builder at the intersection of AI, Web3, and fintech, he drives innovation where automation meets ownership. After a successful startup exit, David is now scaling new ventures that are redefining how we interact with technology, assets, and legal frameworks.

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