Michel Lu

Michel Lu is a Singapore-based entrepreneur and brand builder with more than three decades of experience across fashion, entertainment, hospitality, consumer brands and technology. His career has focused on developing businesses and brands in Asia, often at the intersection of changing consumer trends, culture and lifestyle.

At the age of 23, Michel brought Elite Model Management to Asia, where he worked with some of the world’s leading models, including Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Claudia Schiffer. He subsequently expanded into the entertainment industry, creating one of the first Asian girl groups to be showcased and perform in both Europe and the United States, Jungk, in collaboration with British music and cultural figure Malcolm McLaren. He also co-wrote a feature-film screenplay, established a record label and produced several albums.

Michel later moved into the food and beverage industry, building and investing in a diverse portfolio of hospitality businesses. These ranged from cafés and quick-service concepts to fine dining restaurants helmed by Michelin-starred chefs, cocktail bars, large-scale nightlife venues, and food manufacturing and distribution businesses.

He also created and produced hospitality and lifestyle platforms including BARSTARS, which showcased the best bartenders in the world in various tours around the world, and the Official Formula 1 Lounge, the only officially sanctioned party affiliated with Formula 1 during the Singapore Grand Prix.

More recently, Michel founded The Orientalist Spirits, an all-Asian craft spirits house established to bring a distinctly Asian perspective to the international spirits industry. Its portfolio draws on ingredients, techniques and traditions from across Asia and is distributed in international markets.

Michel has had a long association with Singapore Management University, serving as a mentor since 2010. From 2018 to 2021, he was Programme Director and Lead Instructor for SMU’s Advanced Certificate in F&B Entrepreneurship, sharing his experience in developing, positioning and operating food and beverage businesses with aspiring entrepreneurs.

His contributions to entrepreneurship have been recognised through his inclusion in The Straits Times’ “Power List” and the Spirit of Enterprise Award. He has also served as a judge for the Yahoo! Singapore 9 Awards and on the judging panel for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.

Beyond his operating businesses, Michel was Asia Director of a New York-based technology advisory and venture fund. He maintains an active interest in emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and robotics, and their implications for consumer businesses and entrepreneurship.