People

Prof. Marvin LAI is a Managing Partner of iTM Ventures Inc. in association with Burgeon Group Consulting Ltd., and an Executive Director (2011–2017) of the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (HKVCA).

Prof. LAI has over 35 years of experience in financial services (VC&PE), technologies, and the consumer sector. He oversees iTM-Burgeon’s principal investment and management consulting businesses, advises several advisory and multi-family funds, teaches VCPE and mergers and acquisitions (M&A)-related courses, and is recognized for his excellent teaching. Prior to iTM-Burgeon, he was Chief Investment Officer of the Cyberport Macro Fund, where he headed the development and investments of the fund and the cultivation of its investor network. Prior thereto, he served as Senior Partner of ES Capital and Senior Advisor of LionRock Capital (HK), where he spearheaded ES Capital’s Asian Principal Investments and private placement opportunities as well as LionRock’s origination and strategic investments. He began his career at IBM and AT&T Bell Laboratories.

Prof. LAI is a Fellow of Hong Kong Securities and Investments Institute (FHKSI) and Hong Kong Institute of Directors (FHKIoD), a Professional Manager (PMgr) designated by HKMA, Chairman of the Venture Committee (2008–2016) of HKVCA, Member of the HKTDC Innovation and Technology Advisory Committee (2010–2014), Director of the Board and Founding Member of Hong Kong Business Angel Network (HKBAN), Advisor of HKUST E-Fund and Center for Investing, Founding Member of the Cyberport Investors Network, Member of the Examination Committee of HKSI, President of Columbia University Hong Kong Alumni Association (2006–2008) and INSEAD Hong Kong Alumni Association (2012–2014), Assistant Governor (2013–2014) of Rotary International District 3450, and a Full Member of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Prof. LAI is the author of various VC/PE investment papers, including “Venture Capitalist Screening Criteria and Associated Tools: Progressive Screening Matrix and Mean IRR”: 5^th ed. (2018), “The Determinants of Successful Fundraising in Distressed Times for Venture Capital and Private Equity Funds in China”: 3^rd ed. (2016), and co-author of a chapter titled ‘The Angel Investment Scene Across The Asia Pacific Region—Taiwan’ in a book, “Angel Financing in Asia Pacific: A Guidebook for Investors and Entrepreneurs” (2016). He is also a regular contributor to the China Venture Capitalist Confidence Index (Bloomberg ticker symbol: CVCCI).