John Chen Hillsborough
Owner - Value Growth Properties and Real Estate Development in Hillsborough, CA
John Chen Hillsborough has built a 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 family life and professional work remain closely connected to Northern California and its communities.
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 approach reflects more than two decades of experience building operating platforms, managing teams, and working through multiple market cycles.
He grew up with strong ties to the region and developed an early respect for discipline and accountability. These influences shaped a preference for steady execution, careful planning, and decisions grounded in practical experience rather than short-term results.
John attended Menlo School in Atherton and graduated in 1990, then earned a degree in Economics from UC Berkeley in 1994. His education strengthened his understanding of capital, incentives, and risk, which later became central to his work as an investor and operator.
He chose not to follow a traditional corporate path after college. Instead, he pursued opportunities where leadership was visible, performance mattered daily, and responsibility could not be deferred.
John Chen of Hillsborough entered the real estate brokerage industry 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 integrates technology with disciplined sales execution.
John Chen later oversaw Infoloan's growth 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 scale and quality could coexist when supported by strong systems and clear standards. These lessons became foundational to later work in development, investing, and leadership.
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, operational credibility, and execution in digital businesses.
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 community 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.