Paul Ark (Polapat Arkkrapridi)

Innovation and sustainability in emerging venture capital and startup ecosystems
Summary
Paul Ark is a seasoned finance, strategy, technology, and business development professional with extensive experience in Asia, Silicon Valley, and on Wall Street. With over 25 years of on-the-ground management and deal experience, Paul is an active venture capitalist and angel investor with a strong focus on ESG, impact, and sustainability. He is also an advocate for girls' education and female empowerment. Paul is currently conducting doctoral research on the root causes of gender funding gaps in startup and venture capital ecosystems in Southeast Asia, with a focus on human cognitive biases and systemic biases from VC industry structures. 
Paul's impressive educational background includes studying for a Doctor of Business Administration degree at the Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration of Chulalongkorn University. He also holds an MBA in Finance, Technology Management, and Health Services Management from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management. 
Throughout his career, Paul has held several leadership roles in various organizations. He is currently the Partner & Head of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) at Gobi Partners, and he has served as a Board Observer at FINNOMENA and an Advisory Board member at ila Generation, among others. Paul has also been an Entrepreneur in Residence at WeWork, a Board Observer at Pagaya Investments and 1QBit, and a member of the Advisory Committee at Dymon Asia Ventures. 
Paul's experience in venture capital and investments extends beyond his current position. He has served as a Managing Director - Corporate Venture Capital at Digital Ventures Co., Ltd., and as a Director at PYI Ltd. His extensive knowledge also enabled him to hold directorial roles such as Director, Retail Real Estate (Greater China) at Microsoft and Director, Retail Real Estate & Development (Asia) at Apple. Paul has former experience working in investment banking at Deutsche Bank and Citigroup, as well as having been an Associate Principal at Tonson Capital/Blackwood Ventures. 
Overall, Mr. Ark's extensive expertise in finance, entrepreneurship, and angel investing continuously make him a valuable addition to any team. 
---