About James
James Hong is a tech entrepreneur best known for co-founding HOTorNOT, one of the earliest viral internet phenomena. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Hong graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in electrical engineering and computer science. After working at HP and briefly pursuing an MBA, Hong co-founded HOTorNOT with Jim Young in 2000. The site, where users could rate others' attractiveness, became an instant hit, reaching millions of daily page views within days of launch. Hong's entrepreneurial acumen led HOTorNOT to profitability without venture capital, eventually generating annual revenues of $5-7 million. Beyond HOTorNOT, Hong has been influential in the tech industry, helping to incubate and support other startups like YouTube and Twitter. Today, Hong continues to be active as an angel investor and advisor.