Eric Manlunas — Wavemaker Partners

Founder and Managing Partner

THE LATEST: Manlunas’ venture capital firm, which has dual headquarters in Santa Monica and Singapore, closed its third Southeast Asia fund at $111 million in June 2020, exceeding its initial target of $100 million. Wavemaker Partners’ $66 million second Southeast Asia fund was already the largest early stage fund focused on enterprise and tech startups in the region. In addition to Wavemaker’s core investments, Manlunas also oversees Wavemaker Labs, an early stage technology incubator that has produced products such as the “Flippy” fry cook robot used at Dodger Stadium. Wavemaker also anchors partner fund Wavemaker Three-Sixty Health, a health care venture fund based in Pasadena.
BACKGROUND: Manlunas founded Wavemaker Partners in 2003, and the firm has raised more than $500 million across multiple funds. Wavemaker is one of the most active early stage investors in Southern California and Southeast Asia. It has invested in more than 375 companies. Manlunas ran a hedge fund from 2002 to 2006. In 1999, he founded Sitestar, an internet service provider for the rural markets of the mid-Atlantic region. Manlunas began his career as an associate with Arthur Andersen’s retail management consulting division from 1991 to 1995.
YEARS ON THE LA500: 1
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