David Lai
InvestorSenior Portfolio Development Manager at M12 (Microsoft's Venture Fund)
United States
About
David Lai is a senior portfolio development manager at M12 who focuses on systems and deep technology investments. He previously led international expansion efforts at InvestHK, facilitating the entry of North American SaaS companies into Asian markets, and spent time at Samsung's headquarters supporting corporate strategy in semiconductors and B2B partnerships for financial services and enterprise applications. Earlier roles included infrastructure and datacenter operations work in Europe for U.S. government agencies.
Invests in
Data & InfrastructureDeep TechEnterprise SoftwareSaaSSemiconductors
Experience
- M12, Microsoft's Venture FundPortfolio Developmentcurrent2025 — presentRedmond, Washington, United States
- InvestHK New YorkDeputy Head - Strategy and Investmentscurrent2023 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- Samsung Research America (SRA)Senior Manager - Open Innovation2022 — 2024Mountain View, California, United States
- Samsung ElectronicsSenior Manager - Product & Partnerships2020 — 2022Seoul, South Korea
- Samsung GSG (Global Strategy Group)Project Leader - Strategy & Ops2019 — 2020Seoul, South Korea
- Samsung GSG (Global Strategy Group)Consultant2017 — 2019Seoul, Korea
- CiscoBusiness Intelligence Analyst2016San Jose, California, United States
- Northrop GrummanSenior Software Engineer2015Harrogate, England, United Kingdom
- Lockheed MartinSenior Software Engineer2011 — 2015Harrogate, England, United Kingdom
- Lockheed MartinSoftware Engineer2009 — 2011King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, United States
Education
- Duke University - The Fuqua School of BusinessMaster of Business Administration - MBA
- Cornell UniversityMaster of Engineering - MEng, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- UC San DiegoBachelor's degree, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Skills & more
Creative IdeationAnalytical SkillsRelationship BuildingThink & Act StrategicallySummariesPublic SpeakingBuild Strong RelationshipsStrategic Planning1Strategy3Management1Leadership1Problem Solving
+12 more
Team LeadershipTeamworkBusiness-to-Business (B2B)Business InsightsPivotalBusiness OperationsTechnology DevelopmentWearable TechnologyResearch SkillsTechnology IntegrationNew Business DevelopmentDigital Transformation- Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals — Microsoft
- Academy Accreditation - Generative AI Fundamentals — Databricks
- CompTIA Security+ — CompTIA
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate — Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner — Amazon Web Services (AWS)
From David's professional profile.
Colleagues at M12 (Microsoft's Venture Fund)
Alan Du
Partner at M12 (Microsoft's Venture Fund)
Alessandro Levi
Partner at M12 (Microsoft's Venture Fund)
Andrew Smyth
Managing Partner at M12 (Microsoft's Venture Fund)
Ann Johnson
Investor at M12 (Microsoft's Venture Fund)
Anthony “Tony” Sims
Business Administrator at M12 (Microsoft's Venture Fund)
Brian Zhao
Investment Team at M12 (Microsoft's Venture Fund)
Carli Stein
Investment Team at M12 (Microsoft's Venture Fund)
Cat Knoerr
Portfolio Development at M12 (Microsoft's Venture Fund)
Frequently asked questions
- Who is David Lai?
- David Lai is a senior portfolio development manager at M12 who focuses on systems and deep technology investments. He previously led international expansion efforts at InvestHK, facilitating the entry of North American SaaS companies into Asian markets, and spent time at Samsung's headquarters supporting corporate strategy in semiconductors and B2B partnerships for financial services and enterprise applications. Earlier roles included infrastructure and datacenter operations work in Europe for U.S. government agencies.
- Where does David Lai work?
- David Lai is Senior Portfolio Development Manager at M12 (Microsoft's Venture Fund).
- What does David Lai invest in?
- David Lai invests in Data & Infrastructure, Deep Tech, Enterprise Software, SaaS, Semiconductors.
- Where did David Lai go to school?
- David Lai studied at Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business (Master of Business Administration - MBA); Cornell University (Master of Engineering - MEng, Electrical and Computer Engineering); UC San Diego (Bachelor's degree, Electrical and Computer Engineering).
Same school
Also attended Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business174
Dave BlivinMANAGING PARTNER at Cottonwood Technology FundVinnie McSweeneyInvestor at OpenView Venture PartnersBrooke BalcomBoard Member at CincyTechChad L. SummeBoard Member at CincyTechMatias BarberoVenture Partner at FJ LabsTracie RotterPartner, Platform at Lux Capital
+ 168 more
Also attended Cornell University709
Doug LeonePartner at Sequoia Capital; former Global Managing PartnerJenny LeeSenior Managing Partner at Granite AsiaNeeraj AgrawalGeneral Partner at Battery VenturesJohn ZimmerCo-founder of LyftMichelle FernandesInvestor at Index VenturesMicah RosenbloomGeneral Partner at Founder Collective
+ 703 more
Also attended UC San Diego292
Elad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalMark SusterManaging Partner at Upfront VenturesChester NgGeneral Partner at AtomicBirgitteInvestor at InvestinorHouman HaghighiPartner, Business & Corporate Development at Menlo VenturesFreya Svedberg-KeatingInvestor at Medicxi
+ 286 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Samsung Electronics87
Tom DriscollPrincipal at Differential VenturesSang Won LeeEntrepreneur in Residence at Storm VenturesDavid GoldschmidtManaging Director, Head of the Fund at Samsung Catalyst FundAdry ElmiladyInvestment Principal at Samsung Catalyst FundIan ClowInvestment Director at Samsung Catalyst FundMartin ScottSenior Technical Advisor at Samsung Catalyst Fund
+ 81 more
Also worked at Samsung GSG (Global Strategy Group)2
Also worked at Cisco330
Peter FentonGeneral Partner at BenchmarkCyan BanisterCo-founder & General Partner at Long Journey VenturesMike VolpiInvestor at Index VenturesAdamAdvisor at Clear VenturesHowardAdvisor at Clear VenturesWendy XiaoPartner at Northzone
+ 324 more
Also worked at Northrop Grumman53
Peter SpasovCo-President at Marlin Equity PartnersJeff PetersPartner at Ibex InvestorsDan KultranCo-Founder & CEO, Claros at Red Cell IncubationJJ AghaChief Information Security Officer & SVP, IT at Asymmetric Capital PartnersFelix ShpilmanVenture Partner at Moses CapitalHrach SimonianAdvisor at Driven
+ 47 more