Yifan Lai
Principal at Runway Growth Capital
New York, New York
Overview
Work Experience
Principal
2024 - Current
private investing / growth lending
Wellington Management focuses on investment management by applying its resources to meet the needs of the institutional clients it serves.
Principal
2023 - 2024
Underwrite debt investments in technology, life sciences / healthcare, and consumer sectors; quarterbacked / led investment and diligence process for 20 closed transactions representing $1bn+ of committed capital deployment Diligence new investment opportunities through KPI analysis, detailed financial / operational modeling, industry / market research, expert calls and other company specific work; participate in deal structuring / negotiation; present deals during investment committee meetings Help create, implement, and refine key investment processes and materials (investment memos, models, diligence materials, etc.) and scale investment team from 3 to 9 over 4 years Manage associate recruiting and training process, responsible for the ongoing review and management of associates and senior associates
Vice President
2021 - 2022
Lead investment / deal diligence processes. Runway is a venture debt focused private credit fund providing growth capital to early / growth stage companies in technology, life sciences, and consumer industries
Associate
2020 - 2021
QB investment / comprehensive deal diligence processes. Runway is a venture debt focused private credit fund providing growth capital to early / growth stage companies in technology, life sciences, and consumer industries
Senior Associate
2017 - 2020
Founding team member building the private investment firm for the Marks family. Focused on long-term oriented direct private equity / control investing in industrial / business services, P&C insurance, and consumer industries Howard Marks is co-founder and co-chairman of Oaktree Capital. Oaktree is a global investment firm with ~$100+ billion of assets under management and ~1,000 employees across 18 offices.
Finance Lead
2016 - 2017
Driver is a first-in-kind consumer platform that connects cancer patients to the world's largest and most advanced inventory of treatments, empowering the patient to be the Driver of their care. Our team of dedicated entrepreneurs, product managers, engineers, scientists, and physicians, all share a common mission to create a world in which every cancer patient has access to the best treatments and is empowered with the information and confidence to make the best decision.
Driver is a technology platform that connects people to treatments and knowledge, all over the world, to get more life.
Investment Banking Analyst
2014 - 2016
Global Industrial Group
Goldman Sachs is a multinational financial services firm providing securities, investment banking, and management services.
Investment Banking Summer Analyst
2013 - 2013
Global Industrial Group
Goldman Sachs is a multinational financial services firm providing securities, investment banking, and management services.
Resident Assistant
2010 - 2013
Summer Analyst
2012 - 2012
Interest Rate Derivatives Sales & Trading
J.P. Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation provides commodity risk management solutions in both the physical .
Analyst - Energy Sector
2012 - 2012
- Created research report discussing economic, industry, and company-specific analysis for the $200,000+ University-held portfolio - Constructed Excel valuation models to forecast target equity prices using DCF, relative P/E, fundamental P/E, and DDM valuation techniques; primary coverage: Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE: SWN)
Intern - Mutual Funds & Fixed Income Product Management
2011 - 2011
Northern Trust Asset Management is an investment management firm.
Education
B.B.A.
2009 - 2013
Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)
2009 - 2013