John Chen Hillsborough

John Chen Hillsborough has built a professional career across real estate, finance, technology, hospitality, and private investing by focusing on consistency and long-term responsibility. Raised in the Bay Area, he is a Hillsborough native whose personal and professional life remains closely connected to Northern California.

John Chen owns Value Growth Properties in Hillsborough, where he develops and provides consulting services for real estate projects and capital financing throughout the Bay Area. His work reflects more than two decades of experience building operating platforms, managing teams, and navigating market cycles with care.

He grew up with strong ties to the local community and developed an early respect for accountability and steady execution. These influences shaped an approach centered on durable results, thoughtful planning, and responsibility at every stage of growth.

John attended Menlo School in Atherton and graduated in 1990, then earned a degree in Economics from UC Berkeley in 1994. His academic background strengthened his understanding of capital, incentives, and risk, which later informed many professional decisions.

He chose not to pursue a traditional corporate path after college. Instead, he gravitated toward environments where leadership was visible, responsibility was direct, and daily performance mattered.

John Chen entered the real estate brokerage in 1999 as the internet began reshaping consumer finance. He founded Infoloan, also known as the Mortgage Superstore, along with Infohome, a mortgage and real estate services firm that combines technology with disciplined sales execution.

John Chen of Hillsborough oversaw the growth of Infoloan during a formative period for online financial services. The company hired and trained more than 300 licensed agents and facilitated over $7 billion in closed transactions from 1999 through the present, with offices in Silicon Valley and Taiwan.

He learned that organizations can scale responsibly when supported by strong systems and clear standards. These lessons carried forward into later work in development, investing, and leadership roles.

John expanded beyond finance in 2003 by co founding ImportNow.com, an international online marketplace connecting buyers and suppliers across national borders. He served as co-founder and CEO during a period of rapid growth and increased visibility.

He guided the company through national media exposure, including features on CNNfn and coverage by FORTUNE, USA Today, and Yahoo Internet Life Magazine. The experience reinforced the importance of trust, credibility, and execution in digital businesses.

John Chen later shifted much of his focus from 2005 through 2013 to Asia, where he opened, managed, and developed food and beverage concepts in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. These roles required direct operational involvement across multiple formats.

He gained firsthand insight into frontline execution and the systems needed to support consistency across diverse teams and markets. The experience added depth to his understanding of leadership and operational responsibility.

John Chen of Hillsborough continues to lead Value Growth Properties while investing actively in startups in the US and Asia. He advises founders on go-to-market strategy, capital discipline, and organizational structure; remains involved with organizations including Mercury Soul, Menlo School, the Challenged Athletes Foundation, and CuriOdyssey; serves on the Menlo School Alumni Board; and placed third at the Masters Powerlifting Nationals in Reno in May of 2025.