Biography of John Chen Hillsborough
Owner, Value Growth Properties - Real Estate Development
John Chen Hillsborough has built a career across real estate, finance, technology, hospitality, and private investing through steady effort and consistent execution. His professional life reflects an approach centered on long-term progress, practical judgment, and responsibility rather than shortcuts. Raised in the Bay Area, he remains closely connected to Hillsborough, where his family life and professional focus continue to be rooted in 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, leading large teams, and navigating multiple market cycles. He approaches each engagement with care, preparation, and a clear understanding of risk and opportunity
Early Foundations in Hillsborough and Berkeley
He attended Menlo School in Atherton, graduating in 1990, and earned a degree in Economics from UC Berkeley in 1994. His academic training strengthened his understanding of capital,
incentives, and risk, which later became essential to his work as a real estate investor and entrepreneur.
John chose not to pursue a traditional corporate role immediately after college. Instead, he sought environments where accountability was direct and results were visible each day. This early preference for responsibility and proximity to leadership shaped his career and the opportunities he pursued.
Building One of the Early Online Mortgage Platforms
In 1999, he entered real estate brokerage and founded Infoloan, also known as the Mortgage Superstore, along with Infohome, a mortgage and real estate services firm At a time when online financial services were still developing, the goal was to build systems that combined technology with disciplined sales execution.
John Chen went on to hire and train well over 300 licensed agents and facilitated more than $7 billion in closed transactions from 1999 through the present through Infoloan The company operated offices in both Silicon Valley and Taiwan, requiring consistent standards, structured processes, and close operational oversight.
He later saw Infoloan rank 4th on Gomez com’s list of top online loan agents during the early dot-com period. The experience reinforced the importance of scaling responsibly while maintaining quality and consistency across teams
Technology, Media Exposure, and Global Trade
John expanded into technology in 2003, co-founding ImportNowcom, an international online marketplace connecting buyers and suppliers across national borders. As co-founder and chief executive officer, he guided the company through periods of growth while emphasizing trust and operational credibility
John Chen of Hillsborough later saw ImportNowcom featured on CNNfn and covered by FORTUNE, USA Today, and Yahoo! Internet Life Magazine The exposure highlighted how media visibility intersects with execution and reinforced the need for substance behind growth.
Expanding into Hospitality Across Asia
He shifted much of his professional focus to Asia from 2005 through 2013, opening, managing, and developing food and beverage concepts across Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. His responsibilities included overseeing quick-service retail, bar operations, and full-service restaurant concepts.
John gained firsthand insight into the importance of frontline teams and the systems that support consistent execution—these years reinforced humility and respect for operational detail, adding depth to his broader business perspective
Real Estate Development and Value Growth Properties
He leads Value Growth Properties with the belief that real estate should be treated as a long-term operating business rather than a series of transactions His work centers on responsible development and consulting that balance opportunity with discipline.
John Chen focuses on fundamentals such as tenant quality, capital structure, and end-user experience Clients and partners value his ability to communicate clearly with lenders, contractors, and investors, and to identify potential issues early
Community Involvement and Giving Back
He has consistently given back to his community throughout the many stages of his career He volunteers his time and supports organizations that serve underprivileged communities and the arts, including Mercury Soul, Menlo School, the Challenged Athletes Foundation, and CuriOdyssey.
John serves on the Alumni Board at Menlo School, maintaining a strong connection to the institution and supporting future generations of students.