Glenbrooks NFP is a non-for-profit community organization looking to
Uplift and enhance the community
Improve safety and health
Eliminate hate, harassment, and misconduct
Develop positive relationships that are nurturing and collaborative
Celebrate our differences and teach conflict resolution
About Our Founding Board Member, Julian Cheng
Julian was born and raised in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and is a devoted husband and father. He and his wife will celebrate their 20th anniversary this year. They moved to Northbrook in 2007 and later settled in Glenview, where their two daughters attend Glenbrook South High School, and their son attends Maple School. Professionally, Cheng is an engineer, entrepreneur, investor, and educator, also serving as a board member for several organizations.
Cheng runs Gen 1 Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies, equities, and real estate. He is a Professor at Northwestern University and serves on the Advisory Board for Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His background includes experience at multinational technology firms and founding two companies.
Since 2007, the Chengs have operated Kumon Learning Center of Glenview West, helping thousands of children build confidence in math and reading. They are committed to eliminating barriers to quality education for all students.
Julian is a Christian and believes God calls us to love and serve others. Cheng’s faith drives his commitment to equity, fairness, and success based on merit for all; listening to, honoring, and respecting others; operating with transparency; and celebrating the diversity of the community. Julian’s family attends and serves at The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in Glenview. Previously, Cheng served in the children’s ministry at two other local churches, WCC and HBC, but they left due to ongoing organizational issues and the abuse of power by their leaders. These experiences have deepened his belief in transformative justice, which involves acknowledging and apologizing for wrongs, resolving conflict, restoring relationships, fostering reconciliation, and extending grace.
Cheng is passionate about advocating for children, women, and marginalized populations. He co-chairs the U.S. Soccer Foundation Chicago Leadership Council, which works to provide underserved communities with access to fields and soccer programs that support youth development.
The Chengs have 3 wonderful children: a Senior at GBS, a Sophomore at GBS, and a 7th Grader at Maple School. They have lived in District 225 since 2007
The Chengs are celebrating 20 wonderful years of marriage
The Chengs have owned the Kumon Learning Center of Glenview West since 2007 and have helped thousands of kids in the Glenview and Northbrook Communities
Life Lessons from Julian’s Parents in Survival, Perseverance, and Education as a Pathway to Opportunity
Julian’s parents’ resilience, grit, and life lessons have profoundly shaped who he is and what he stands for. Julian’s father was born in China in 1923 and faced incredible adversity from a young age. He lost his mother to cancer as a child and developed severe scoliosis during adolescence, leaving him handicapped throughout his adult life. Though he stood only about 5 feet tall and weighed just 100 pounds, he was the strongest man Julian has ever known. During his teenage years, World War II ravaged China. Cheng’s grandfather served in the Allied Air Force against the Axis Powers, and the war brought devastation to their family. A bomb struck his father’s home, collapsing the structure on him and his brother. Julian’s father was pulled from the rubble, but his brother tragically perished, leaving behind three young sons whom his father took it upon himself to care for. China endured tremendous loss during the war, with the National World War II Museum estimating 20 million deaths. After the war, Cheng’s father and his family faced another challenge—fleeing communist rule. They escaped to Taiwan, helping other family members find refuge in Taiwan or Hong Kong.
In the 1950s, Cheng’s father immigrated to the United States to study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). Having experienced the horrors of war, the loss of loved ones, and leaving behind his family’s possessions at a young age, he arrived in the U.S. with little more than pennies in his pocket and an unwavering determination to build a better life for himself and his family. Although he was welcomed to the U.S., Julian’s father witnessed the harsh realities of segregation and discrimination against African Americans in North Carolina during the 1950s and 1960s. These injustices left a lasting impression on him and reinforced his commitment to treating all people with dignity and respect. At UNC, his father earned his Master’s and PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Microbiology. He dedicated his life to helping others, regardless of their socioeconomic status, physical disabilities, ethnic background, language, or religious beliefs. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship in Boston, he moved to the Chicago suburbs, where he contributed to pharmaceutical research in Barrington, IL. His work in developing medical devices and molecules improved the lives of millions.
X-ray of Cheng’s father’s scoliosis
Julian’s dad’s immigration and naturalization papers June 24, 1969. He was so proud and thankful to become an American citizen.
One of Cheng’s dad’s patents.
Others include a Denture Cleaner and Catheter
Cheng’s mother shared a similar background as she was born in China. She also faced medical challenges early in life, fled communism to Taiwan, and later immigrated to Canada in the 1960s. She attended McGill University and the Montreal Neurological Institute before moving to the U.S. for graduate school, where she earned her Master’s in Surgical Nursing from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Over the course of more than 30 years, Cheng’s mother served thousands of patients in hospitals across the Chicago suburbs with dedication and compassion.
Cheng’s father never imagined he would marry, given his small stature and the challenges of building a new life in a foreign land. However, his grandfathers in Taiwan introduced his parents via letter. Cheng’s parents wrote letters cross-country, fell in love, dated long distance, got married, and moved to the Chicago suburbs, settling in Hanover Park, where they bought a home equidistant from their workplaces. It was there that Cheng and his brother were born and raised. Cheng’s parents married in their 40s and 50s, and while they endured the heartbreak of a miscarriage before having Cheng and his brother, their resilience and love shaped the foundation of their family.
Growing up, Cheng’s parents taught him invaluable lessons about perseverance, patience, meeting people halfway, effective communication, compromise, and conflict resolution.
Cheng’s mom’s nursing graduating class from University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA)
Cheng’s parents driving cross country on Route 66 after their wedding from UCLA to Chicago
Cheng’s parents married later in life. His dad was 53 and my mom was 42 when Julian was born in the Chicago Northwest Suburbs where he and his brother were raised.
Work Hard, Appreciate What You Have, and Serve The Community
Julian worked hard throughout his entire life from a young age. He had a paper route, mowed lawns, raked leaves, and shoveled snow for neighbors growing up. During high school, he worked in a restaurant, retail stores in music and clothing, and even in telemarketing for a medical clinic. He studied hard in school and obtained a full tuition scholarship to study electrical engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he also worked in the library, was involved in church, played sports, and helped tutor low-income students in the community. He began his career as an electrical engineer in Texas and California, where he started his master’s degree part-time at Stanford University in engineering management. While working as an engineer, he helped serve in church youth groups and invested his time in the community. These kids impacted him positively in the same way he hoped he impacted them. One student grew up on food stamps after his father abandoned his mom and two siblings. This boy worked hard, went to college, and eventually became a top executive at a technology company. He even asked Julian to officiate his wedding.
One day, in the early 2000s, he received some tough news that his father had developed cancer. He thought and prayed about it and moved back to the Chicago suburbs to take care of his father, who was close to age 80, and his mother, who was almost 70. Thankfully, his engineering company allowed him to work from home while he took care of his dad. Unfortunately, none of the doctors wanted to operate on him, as he was undersized and very old. They told him things like, “We are afraid you would die on the table” or “You’re old enough; you’ll probably die from something else first before the cancer gets you.” After about the 12th surgeon, they found one that agreed to perform the surgery, and Julian’s dad was cancer-free! During this time, he reconnected with his wife at a church in the area where she was serving in the children’s ministry and he in another youth ministry. The Chengs dated, fell in love, and will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary this year.
Julian’s wife’s family had a similar background. Her parents were both born in China and fled to Taiwan. Her dad came to the U.S. to work with the Taiwan embassy and eventually obtained his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His in-laws gave birth to two daughters and raised their family in Chicago and Skokie. Julian’s wife is a graduate of Niles North High School and studied accounting and finance at Northern Illinois University and the University of Illinois. Both of her siblings grew up to be teachers.
After the Chengs were married, they eventually moved to Northbrook in 2007 for the great schools and community prior to their daughter being born. Julian’s parents also moved to Covenant Village to help them with their daughter while they both worked. Unfortunately, Julian’s father passed away in his sleep at age 85 before his second daughter was born. Julian’s mother passed away as well during the pandemic at age 85.
Julian’s parents’ lives are a testament to the power of perseverance, love, and resilience. From their struggles with war, displacement, and hardship, they built a life rooted in education, hard work, and service to others. Their ability to rise above adversity and create a nurturing and supportive family environment inspires Julian every day. They taught him the importance of meeting people halfway, communicating effectively, and finding common ground—values that guide his approach to leadership and community service. Their legacy lives on in the lessons they instilled in him, shaping his commitment to fostering opportunity, equity, success based on merit, and belonging for all. It is their example that drives his dedication to serve the Glenbrook community and help future generations thrive.
Julian’s parents at their wedding at Northwestern University
Cheng’s daughters and his mom at her garden when she lived at Covenant Living in Northbrook
Silly family picture
Cheng’s Work
Julian’s wife was working in corporate finance and wanted to eventually stay home to raise a family. They thought of starting a business to make supplemental income, so in 2007, they founded what is now the Kumon Learning Center of Glenview West at Pfingsten and Willow Roads, next to Starbucks. Over the past 18 years, they have had the privilege of serving thousands of students from all District 225 feeder schools, private schools, and surrounding communities. It’s been equally rewarding to employ exceptional GBN and GBS high school students who are passionate about making a difference by helping younger students.
At Kumon, they have worked with students from almost every ethnicity, faith, and socioeconomic background. They individualize learning to help each student reach their potential, excel in math and reading, and build the confidence to succeed in life. They care deeply about every student and their family, regardless of their background. By providing affordable supplemental education and reduced tuition for low-income families, they ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive. Respect, communication, equity, and accessibility are the cornerstones of their approach to education and community service.
While running the Kumon Center, he continued his career as an engineer and program manager. During this time, he also started two additional technology businesses—one focused on wearable devices and another on an online education marketplace. Concurrently, he earned his Master’s in Engineering Management from Northwestern University and his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. These experiences prepared him for a transition into venture capital, where he combined his expertise in engineering and entrepreneurship to invest in over 100 early-stage technology businesses, resulting in three IPOs and multiple $300M+ exits.
He was later invited to become an adjunct professor at Northwestern University and other institutions, where he teaches entrepreneurship, engineering, and investing. He is passionate about equipping the next generation of leaders with the skills to invest their time, talent, and resources to create positive change and achieve exceptional results. He believes that providing proactive leadership, transparency, honesty, and integrity is essential to improving the community and enhancing the lives of others.
In addition to his entrepreneurial and academic pursuits, Cheng has been a licensed real estate investor in the community since 2005. He knows firsthand that strong schools, transparent oversight, good governance, and healthy organizational cultures are the hallmarks of Northbrook and Glenview. These attributes are vital for sustaining and increasing real estate values and maintaining the community’s success.
In recent years, Cheng has grown concerned about the challenges facing the schools, communities, sports programs, and churches. When a current District 225 Board member first asked Cheng to run for the Board, he was hesitant. However, after receiving encouragement from different community members, he embraced the opportunity to serve the community that has given so much to his family. Together, he believes they can ensure a bright future for the students, schools, and neighborhoods.
Cheng worked as an electrical engineer, designing satellites, processors, and software before transitioning into entrepreneurship and venture capital investing. Along the way, he founded two companies and has had the privilege of supporting innovative ventures that make a meaningful impact.
Julian is am honored to serve as an investor and board member of Hello Robot, a company leveraging embodied AI and robotics to improve care for the disabled and elderly. Hello Robot has achieved significant milestones, including a National Institute of Health (NIH) grant in collaboration with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This grant supports their efforts to assist elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment, early Alzheimer’s dementia, and mobility challenges.
Hello Robot is also making strides in supporting those diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), an incurable neurodegenerative disease, in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh. Recently, the company secured an investment from the ALS Association to further these critical initiatives.
In addition to his professional endeavors, he is passionate about inspiring the next generation. Julian enjoys speaking to high school students about how AI and entrepreneurship can be harnessed to drive positive change in the world.
Cheng has a strong commitment to safety, security, and using technology to improve lives. He brings this commitment to help keep our community safe to improve infrastructure, communication, and health - physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially.
This commitment inspired his investment in Skyryse, which uses sensors, systems, and AI to simplify flight operations to enhance safety and efficiency. From partnering with Air Methods to retrofit over 400 aircraft for life-saving medical missions, and the U.S. Army to modernize aviation and support missions with Black Hawk helicopters, Skyryse’s innovations ensure safer, more effective operations in critical scenarios.
As a Los Angeles-based company, Skyryse is deeply impacted by the devastating wildfires and grateful to the first responders and pilots working tirelessly to protect communities. These challenges fuel their resolve to bring its technologies to life faster, enabling pilots to complete missions safely and return home to their families. Every day, Skyryse strives to save lives and support those on the frontlines.
This mission resonates personally with his family’s history of resilience and service. Julian’s Uncle is a second generation U.S. Navy Construction Battalion (Seabee), his cousin has proudly served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force and now a commercial airline pilot. The Chengs have several friends who are firefighters, police, and FBI who serve and protect our great country. These values of safety and perseverance inspire our commitment to Skyryse, whose transformative technologies protect servicemen, first responders, and communities in their most critical moments. He has this same resolve to utilize technology for safety and the protection of our students and staff in the community.
