About
Yao Marian Tong is a distinguished leader in venture capital, startup incubation, and cross-border investment advisory. Since April 2020, she has served as Managing Partner at Aves Lair, a pioneering Web3 hybrid accelerator and VC firm. Under her leadership, Aves Lair launched its inaugural accelerator program in July 2020, bridging traditional finance with decentralized technologies.
Previously, Yao was President of Lair East (2017–2020), directing a premier NYC co-working hub where she incubated over 30 startups and established five tech programs. Her prior experience includes Managing Partner at LT Global Advisors (2015–2019), providing strategic investment insights to high-net-worth individuals and family offices across Asia.
Marian’s career spans over a decade in global capital markets. She began at a New York broker-dealer, facilitating IPO underwriting for the Asia-Pacific region, followed by a role as a financial analyst at a private equity-owned fashion group. In 2014, she launched consultancy services at a New York investment bank, advising on private placements, cross-border investments, and M&A. She subsequently co-founded LT Global Advisors, delivering tailored asset management to institutional investors.
Yao holds a Master’s in Financial Engineering from NYU and a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Her unique blend of technical expertise and financial acumen positions her as a key architect in the intersection of Web3 innovation and global capital.
