Propelling the Asian American Venture Ecosystem Forward

Lotus Venture Partners (LVP) seeks to invest in AAPI-led startups building transformational technologies solving the most pressing challenges faced by consumers and businesses

In Eastern philosophy, the lotus flower is an important symbol that represents knowledge, perseverance, prosperity, and longevity. We seek to partner with founders and companies that embody these virtues.

Ray and Chris are bound not only by their longstanding friendship that began during their undergraduate days at Duke University 15 years ago, but also by the stories of their immigrant families and shared ambition of advancing the AAPI venture ecosystem. Such was the genesis of LVP.

About Us

Based in New York, Ray and Chris are the co-founders and managing partners of LVPWhile LVP primarily invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed and Series A stages, founders consider us valuable partners along their entire journeys, benefiting from our bespoke skill sets, extensive network and mission-driven approach.

Together, Ray and Chris have over two decades of combined experience in venture capital, law, investment banking and as business operators. We leverage this experience and our diverse network (ranging from founders, VCs and angels to c-suite execs and domain experts) to support early stage companies in a wide range of areas, including but not limited to corporate finance & strategy, sales & business development, operations, product & marketing, legal, fundraising, liquidity events, equity and debt transactions, commercial partnerships and other corporate matters.

Ray Koh

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Ray is a venture capital and corporate lawyer by background. After graduating from Columbia Law, he began his career in the M&A group at Skadden before shifting to a practice exclusively focused on startup companies and investors at Gunderson Dettmer. Currently, Ray is Associate General Counsel at Interplay Ventures and also partners closely with hundreds of founders and investors through Bowery Legal, a legal services startup company. Ray has significant experience and expertise in all things legal, fundraising, equity/debt matters, commercial arrangements, corporate governance and other significant operations of emerging companies. He serves as a member of the Columbia Venture Community's global board, and as an advisor to founders both formally and informally.

Chris Woo

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Chris has 10+ years of advisory and operator experience. He began his career in investment banking at Barclays, working with CPG companies on buy- and sell-side M&A, IPOs and debt financings. After Barclays, he directed strategy & finance at S’well, a mission-driven brand known for creating the sustainable hydration category. Partnering closely with the founder to define, operationalize and accelerate profitable growth for the company during his time there, Chris ultimately played a key role in the company's acquisition by Lifetime Brands (NASDAQ: LCUT) in 2022.

Our Investments

Culturally-adapted digital mental health platform building the new standard and model of care for people of color (POC).

Automating workflows for private investment funds.

"Lotus Ventures Partners has been an invaluable collaborator in our journey, providing insightful product feedback and fostering growth through their extensive network. Their unwavering support and understanding of the startup space have empowered us to develop more effective CRM tools in Canopy, streamlining the expansion of our business. LVP’s commitment to staying ahead of market trends and sharing valuable introductions has also been instrumental in keeping a pulse on the industry. We are grateful for their partnership and look forward to continuing to innovate and prosper together."

John L. and George F., Co-Founders

Making multifamily buildings smarter and more energy & carbon efficient.

"Lotus Venture Partners participated in Embue’s Seed round in November 2022 and has proven to be a valuable partner to the company in a relatively short amount of time. LVP has been key to helping grow the business, from making connections to potential customers & partners in the multifamily real estate space to market/industry insights and Series A prospecting. Chris and Ray have extensive combined networks and bespoke skill sets; on top of that, they are truly genuine, passionate and fun to work with. LVP brings a unique vantage point and would be a valuable asset to any early stage company."

Robert C., Founder

Full-service B2B marketplace enabling a new grocery supply chain.

Premium vegan skincare brand based on the holistic Korean beauty philosophy.

"Ray has been an indispensable business advisor to our company since our inception, helping navigate a variety of challenges, including legal issues, fundraising, strategic planning, and networking. We were thrilled when LVP became an investor in our pre-Seed round in 2022. Both Ray and Chris’ expertise and desire to support us in any way possible has been a significant asset in building Superegg. We are particularly impressed with their willingness to explore and provide guidance with respect to new categories and business opportunities."

Erica C. and Hoon K., Co-Founders

Next-gen AI customer service and automation for businesses.

AI engine for business research & market intelligence.