The rest of the 50 (in alphabetical order): Raktapa ‘Natty’ Pantawongdecha, vice-president, Ping An Global Voyager Fund
Raktapa ‘Natty’ Pantawongdecha, vice-president at Ping An Global Voyager Fund, China-headquartered insurance group Ping An’s Hong Kong-based $1bn investment vehicle concentrating on developers of financial and health technologies.
The fund hired Pantawongdecha in May 2018 to target fintech and related sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), neuro-linguistic programming and telematics. Her role involves sourcing potential companies, evaluating opportunities and markets and facilitating due diligence.
Donald Lacey, managing director and chief operating officer for the vehicle, said: “Raktapa has distinguished herself as a leader of our fund’s deal execution capability. She has implemented a variety of initiatives that make our investment prep processes smoother and more efficient.”
Pantawongdecha’s recent deals on behalf of the fund included participation in open-source AI model development platform operator H2O.ai’s $72.5m series D round and mortgage financing provider Better.com’s $160m series C funding.
Jonathan Larsen, chief innovation officer of Ping An Group and chairman and chief executive of the fund, also attested to Pantawongdecha’s work, adding: “Raktapa is a talented dealmaker and manager, and we see a great future for her at the fund.”
The Global Voyager Fund’s mission is to find other innovative capabilities that are being developed around the world according to Pantawongdecha, who said: “CVC plays an important role in fuelling the growth of these innovative companies. Working at Global Voyager Fund, I connect with companies that are at the forefront of innovation, and work together to add value in a meaningful way.”
Before joining Ping An, Pantawongdecha had been a Hong Kong-based investment banker at financial services firm Citigroup for five years, advising on a range of M&A and fundraising transactions across the insurance, banking and technology sectors. That was where she witnessed the shifting industry trend to innovation, noting: “I find it exciting to learn more about all these enabling technologies that revolutionise our traditional ways of living.”
Raktapa is a summa cum laude graduate of Columbia University in New York, where she received a bachelor’s degree in financial engineering and a master’s in operations research.
