Updated:
Waiapay
Waiapay operates as the single-family office for Mark Gerson and Rabbi Erica Gerson. The entity was formed following Gerson's exit from GLG Partners, the...
Waiapay
Waiapay operates as the single-family office for Mark Gerson and Rabbi Erica Gerson. The entity was formed following Gerson's exit from GLG Partners, the expert-network firm he co-founded in 1998 and helped build into a publicly traded asset manager before its sale to Man Group in 2010. The wealth under management originates from that liquidity event and subsequent investment activities. The office runs leanly from New York, with Gerson serving as chairman and primary investment decision-maker. The firm pursues a concentrated, conviction-driven strategy across early-stage venture capital and private equity. Waiapay targets opportunities in enterprise software, digital health, financial technology, media, and education, often with a preference for companies where Gerson's operational experience as a founder and public-company executive can add value. The portfolio includes both direct investments and select fund commitments, though the office does not publicly disclose its full deployment or returns. Known positions include stakes in video-creation platform Wibbitz and telehealth provider Amwell, reflecting a pattern of backing founder-led businesses with strong distribution or regulatory moats. Waiapay eschews institutional marketing and has no external website beyond a domain placeholder, signaling a posture oriented toward proprietary sourcing and relationship-driven deal access. Gerson's parallel activities — including his role as chairman of United Hatzalah of Israel and his book publishing ventures — create a network that crosses technology, media, philanthropy, and public policy circles. The team size appears minimal, consistent with a family office that relies heavily on the principal's own network and analytical capacity rather than a dedicated investment staff. Structurally, the office blurs lines between for-profit investing and charitable activity. Gerson co-founded United Hatzalah, the volunteer emergency-medical-service organization, and has written and spoken extensively on ethics and philanthropy at institutions including Harvard Business School. Waiapay's portfolio often includes companies with explicit social-impact theses, making it an example of an office where investment mandate and personal mission are intentionally aligned rather than compartmentalized into separate vehicles.
General information
Firm type
Single Family Office
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
New York, NY, United States
Principals
Mark Gerson
Co-Founder and Chairman
Rabbi Erica Gerson
Co-Founder
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Waiapay?
Mark Gerson, co-founder and former chairman of GLG Partners, leads investment decisions at Waiapay. He operates alongside his wife, Rabbi Erica Gerson, in evaluating opportunities. Gerson's background includes scaling GLG from startup to a publicly listed company on the New York Stock Exchange prior to its acquisition by Man Group, giving him direct operational experience relevant to the firm's portfolio companies.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The wealth managed by Waiapay originated primarily from the sale of GLG Partners, the expert-network and asset management firm Mark Gerson co-founded in 1998. GLG went public in 2007 following a reverse merger and was subsequently acquired by Man Group in 2010 for $1.6 billion. Gerson's stake in that transaction forms the core capital base of the family office.
Does Waiapay participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Waiapay engages in both direct investments and select fund commitments, though its primary emphasis is on direct, concentrated stakes in early-stage companies. The firm's small team structure and reliance on Mark Gerson's personal network favor hands-on direct investing, but the office has historically evaluated fund commitments where they offer exposure to sectors or geographies that complement its direct portfolio.
How is Waiapay related to Mark Gerson's philanthropic work?
Waiapay is not formally a philanthropic entity, but its investment mandate is closely aligned with Mark Gerson's charitable and mission-driven activities. Gerson co-founded United Hatzalah of Israel, a volunteer emergency-response organization, and has written extensively on ethics and philanthropy. Waiapay's portfolio often includes companies with social-impact missions in health, education, and media, reflecting an intentional blurring of for-profit investing and personal values rather than a strict legal separation.
What investment stages does Waiapay typically target?
Waiapay focuses predominantly on early-stage venture capital, particularly Series A and B rounds in technology and digital health companies. The firm occasionally participates in growth-stage rounds for existing portfolio companies, but does not operate a dedicated late-stage or buyout strategy. This concentration reflects Mark Gerson's preference for engaging with companies during their formative scaling period.
Is Waiapay structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
Waiapay is structured as a single-family office and does not manage third-party capital. Despite its venture-focused portfolio, the office does not market to external limited partners, charge management fees, or operate with a formal fund structure. It functions as a proprietary investment vehicle, which distinguishes it from institutional venture capital firms while allowing for patient capital deployment without LP-imposed timelines.
Which sectors does Waiapay explicitly avoid?
Waiapay does not explicitly publish a sector-exclusion list, but its investment history and Mark Gerson's public writings suggest limited appetite for extractive industries, defense contracting, or businesses with heavy negative environmental externalities. The office's observable portfolio centers on enterprise software, digital health, education technology, and media, implying a positive-selection approach rather than formal negative screens.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on family offices?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: