About Us
88ships is a growth and innovation advisory platform and white-glove technology startup builder. Our mission is to improve the success rates in the startup ecosystem and accelerate the pace of disruptive innovation.
We partner with innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and large corporations to strategically co-build, grow, and scale companies.
Whether you are an early stage startup looking for a trusted partner to supercharge growth, initiate new partnerships or raise your next round, or are a later stage growth company looking to rapidly scale, institutionalize processes, explore inorganic growth or strategic exit opportunities, we are here to help.
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​We also help leading corporations stay on top of disruption by helping them cultivate internal innovation, engage external startups for partnerships, investments or acquisitions, and connect with the broader startup ecosystem.
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We take a very hands-on approach to create value for various stakeholders. We tailor our services to each company and work side-by-side with entrepreneurs and corporations directly—no batch classes, no mandatory schedules or activities, no general templates, no boilerplate solutions.
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​Our platform is anchored in a community of seasoned, passionate, and expert mentors and corporate partners who provide critical support across all stages of the growth cycle. Not only do we help design and develop strategies and implementation plans, but we also help execute them.
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​Contact us to learn more.
Leadership Team
RALPH L. LEUNG
FOUNDER & CEO
Former Senior Executive Director, Technology and FinTech Investment Banking and Executive Director, Corporate Investments/M&A at Morgan Stanley; former SVP, Head of Corporate Development and Finance at LeEco U.S.; MBA Cornell University and BCom University of British Columbia
Ralph is a proven senior executive with 21 years of leadership experience across finance, strategy and operations at companies ranging from early-stage startups to Fortune 100 companies. For the past 7+ years, he has advised extensively high growth technology companies, helping them navigate through early-stage strategic and operational growth milestones.
Ralph’s deep expertise was developed while working at the top technology investment banking group globally, as well as from other diverse roles in corporate investing, venture capital, in-house operational finance, and corporate strategy and development. Over the course of Ralph's career, he has successfully helped companies scale, transform and exit; completing 80+ strategic transactions for $90+ billion of M&A value and raised $60+ billion of equity/debt capital.
VIRVE VIRTANEN
COMMUNICATIONS LEAD
Former Head of Industry Analyst Relations at both Microsoft and Nokia.
SARAH BROWN
CREATIVE DESIGN LEAD
Owner of Blind Betty Creative; Former Creative Director at STRIVE!
PATRICK MOORE
ADVISORY BOARD
EVP, Strategy and Business Development, Carter’s​
Former EVP and Chief Strategy Officer at YP; former Senior Partner with McKinsey's consumer practice; Board Member and Audit Chair at Ryman; MBA Harvard and BA University of Michigan
DIEGO ROTSZTAIN
ADVISORY BOARD
EVP, Head of Corporate Development, General Counsel and Secretary, GAIN Capital​
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Former Partner at Mayer Brown; JD Columbia and BA Tufts University
BEN POTTER
ADVISORY BOARD
Partner and Co-Chair, Technology Industry Group, Latham & Watkins​
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Silicon Valley veteran with 20 years of venture experience; JD / MBA University of Michigan and BA Yale
BERNARD TSE
ADVISORY BOARD
Founder and Board Member, Lucid Motors​
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Former Founder and CEO of Wyse Technology; former VP and founding board member of Tesla Motors; tech entrepreneur veteran with 35+ years of experience with successful track record of IPOs and divestitures
ASH VASUDEVAN
ADVISORY BOARD
Founding Managing Partner, DIGIKEY IH
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Experienced entrepreneur and investor in technology, sports, and entertainment; Advisor to Imbellus; Co-Founder of Million Dollar Arm; Ph.D, Management Temple University
