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Lair East Labs
Lair East Labs is a startup accelerator based in New York that empowers founders to expand internationally. At the heart of Lair East Labs lies the 4-month...
Lair East Labs
Lair East Labs is a startup accelerator based in New York that empowers founders to expand internationally. At the heart of Lair East Labs lies the 4-month onsite accelerator. Each year 10 startups take on our program and receive investments of up to $150K. Our special 4-month program combines the best of two worlds - learn from alumni founders of top Silicon Valley-style accelerators and gain access to a mentor and investor network with extensive experience navigating the Asian markets. In the first five years of operation, our portfolio companies have raised $45 million of funding after completing the accelerator. At Lair East Labs, we help globally-minded founders scale their companies internationally. Leveraging acceleration, investment and an international community of like-minded people, we support founders in their quest to build successful and sustainable ventures that solve global problems. We are founders accelerating founders.
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
2017
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
New York, NY, United States
Principals
Jie Li
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Michelle Wang
Co-Founder & General Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Lair East Labs?
Co-founders Jie Li and Michelle Wang lead the firm and make investment decisions. Li serves as Managing Partner and Wang as General Partner, according to public record. The firm has not disclosed additional investment committee members or partners beyond the two co-founders.
How does Lair East Labs source deal flow?
The firm runs an annual accelerator program that serves as its primary sourcing engine. Each cohort accepts 8–12 startups through an open application process. Lair East Labs also appears to leverage a network of China-based corporate partners and family offices for deal referrals, particularly for startups seeking cross-border expansion. The firm's demo-day format provides a structured window for partner introductions.
Is Lair East Labs an accelerator or a venture capital fund?
Lair East Labs operates as both. The firm runs a structured, cohort-based accelerator program for seed-stage startups, then makes follow-on venture capital investments into selected portfolio companies through early growth. This hybrid model resembles SOSV's approach — accelerator plus direct investment — rather than a pure early-stage VC fund.
What is Lair East Labs' connection to the Chinese market?
A core element of the firm's strategy is bridging US-based startups with Chinese corporate partners, manufacturing resources, and family office capital. The accelerator curriculum and demo day are designed to facilitate market entry and strategic partnerships in China. This cross-border positioning is central to the firm's identity, as reflected in its programming and network.
What investment stages does Lair East Labs target?
Initial investments occur at the seed stage through the accelerator program. The firm subsequently makes follow-on investments into select companies through early growth stages. The firm has not publicly disclosed check sizes for either initial accelerator investments or follow-on rounds.
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