The man who bets Tencent’s ‘moonshot’ money

CHINESE Internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd says it wants to improve the world through technology. David Wallerstein is on it.

Wallerstein, 43, is Tencent’s chief exploration officer. The unusual title reflects his mission: To find so-called moonshot investments that could lead to big payoffs down the road. Wallerstein, a native Californian, has guided Tencent’s investments in startups such as Lilium Aviation, which hopes to cut down on travel time with its electric flying cars, and Phytech Ltd., which helps farmers figure out when their plants need water.