Seasoned business transformation consulting executive joins LA and Singapore-based venture capital firm to support portfolio advisory and partner alliances
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wavemaker Partners, an international early stage venture capital firm, today announced that Trent Johnson has joined as an Executive in Residence (EIR).
Johnson will be supporting operational advisory for Wavemaker’s portfolio companies in the US and Southeast Asia. Additionally, Johnson will drive key alliances with Wavemaker innovation partners and experienced entrepreneurs to enable corporate venture and growth acceleration through build, acquire, license, or fund strategies. Trent brings a unique perspective of strategy, and business and digital transformation expertise gained from working with enterprise and early to mid-stage companies in the Americas, Asia, and Europe.
“Trent brings to Wavemaker a wealth of strategic business and portfolio advisory expertise across several key industries,” said Eric Manlunas, Founder and Managing Partner at Wavemaker Partners. “Wavemaker aims to iterate the future of early-stage venture investing and enhance the role VC firms play in growing early to mid-stage companies. We are confident that Trent’s formidable knowledge in strategic partnerships and business development will further assist our objectives.”
Prior to joining Wavemaker, Johnson was the LA Practice Director of Strategy & Operations at Slalom, a global consulting firm with solutions spanning business advisory, customer experience, technology, and analytics. Before that, Johnson held several partner, senior manager, and advisory roles at firms including Avasant, ISG, and KPMG Consulting.
During his tenure with these firms, Johnson steered strategy and advisory assignments for global brands, including Sony, ING, Platinum Equity, Credit Suisse, E*Trade, World Bank, and Cerberus Capital Management among others.
Johnson is also a current board member at the UCLA IS Associates, a 40-year old membership organization offering networking, professional education, and insights on disruptive technologies. In Trent’s role at ISA, he collaborates with world-renowned UCLA faculty, Silicon Beach entrepreneurs and tech leaders from member organizations to further the SoCal technology community.
“I look forward to working with Wavemaker in its goal of exploring the different, strategic roles venture capital firms can play for our portfolio companies,” said Trent Johnson, EIR at Wavemaker. “I am confident that instead of Innovation Theatre, the combined strength of the Wavemaker portfolio and our key strategic partners will bring true innovation and real commercial outcomes for Global 2000 companies.”
About Wavemaker Partners
Wavemaker is a cross border venture capital firm founded in 2003. The firm is dual headquartered in Los Angeles and Singapore and has raised over $300M across multiple funds. Wavemaker is one of the most active early stage investors in Southern California and Southeast Asia and has invested in over 300 companies the last 15 years. Wavemaker is the Southern California and Southeast Asia affiliate of the Draper Venture Network. For more information, visit http://wavemaker.vc/.
MEDIA CONTACT
Shaina Gill
Shaina@wavemaker.vc
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