Erik leads the investment, business development, and innovation discovery in the US. To date, the US portfolio represents 14 companies across industries such as technology infrastructure, FinTech, e-commerce, AI, and IoT. Prior to GMO PG and GMO VP, Erik has been a founder and entrepreneur across some of the most innovative ventures in e-commerce. Erik’s initial experience included investment banking and private wealth management at leading firms. He earned a B.S. in International Business while helping found the Entrepreneurship program at the University of Tampa.

Ryu is a co-founder and Executive Vice President of GMO Payment Gateway Inc and a Founding Partner and Director of GMO VenturePartners. GMO Payment Gateway is the largest online payment service provider in Japan, public since 2005. Prior to founding his first payment startup, Ryu worked for JAFCO, the largest VC in Japan and JAFCO Ventures in Silicon Valley. As an investor and entrepreneur, it’s 100 portfolio companies include 11 IPOs and 5 billion dollar companies. (GMO Internet Inc., GMO Payment Gateway Inc., Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd., VECTOR INC., Mercari, Inc.) Ryu earned his B.A. degree from Waseda University.

Yuta joined GMO VenturePartners in 2018 with a focus on global investments in the US, Europe, SEA, and India, where he helps support current and future portfolio companies. Prior to the current position, he worked at Hardware Club, a French venture capital where he handled its Japan operation, participated in its first fundraising and evaluated international investment opportunities. He started his career in the Real Estate and Hotel Management department at Japan Post Holdings. Yuta holds MBA from HEC Paris and BA from The University of Tokyo.