# Lucas Manuel > Lucas Manuel is a software engineer and smart contract developer. He is a co-founder of Spark and Phoenix Labs, known for his contributions to blockchain protoc... - Canonical URL: https://iq.wiki/wiki/lucas-manuel - Categories: People in crypto - Tags: Developer, Founder - Created: 2025-07-21T19:36:38.250Z - Last updated: 2025-07-24T11:33:47.969Z - Source: IQ.wiki — the world's largest blockchain and crypto encyclopedia (https://iq.wiki) --- **Lucas Manuel** is a software engineer specializing in [smart contract](https://iq.wiki/wiki/smart-contract) development and [decentralized finance (DeFi)](https://iq.wiki/wiki/defi) systems. He is a co-founder of [Spark](https://iq.wiki/wiki/spark) and has played a role in the architecture and security of various [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) protocols. [\[3\]](#cite-id-11z6fEBGEU) ## Education Manuel graduated from Queen’s University in 2018, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a focus on Civil Engineering. [\[1\]](#cite-id-d14t8A24Lb) ## Career Manuel began his career as a swim instructor and lifeguard in Toronto from 2012 to 2014. In 2015, he worked as a summer assistant on a high-rise residential construction site, where he managed technical documentation, material logistics, and inspections. The following year, he interned at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, where he developed a web app for strategy performance visualization and backtested an automated trading algorithm using machine learning. In 2017, he joined RBC’s Amplify program, where he worked as a developer on a QR-enabled e-transfer prototype within the bank’s mobile app. He also co-founded the Queen's Blockchain Innovation Community, where he organized events and lectures on [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) technology. During the same year, he managed the design and construction of a large wooden structure for a university event, coordinating budgeting, logistics, and on-site assembly. In 2018, he contributed as a data science advisor to Imusify, proposing a [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain)-based music recommendation system. At EY, he spent two years developing [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) applications, [smart contracts](https://iq.wiki/wiki/smart-contract), APIs, and microservices for clients, deploying private [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) [blockchains](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain), and building full-stack implementations. By 2020, he joined [MakerDAO](https://iq.wiki/wiki/makerdao) as a [smart contracts](https://iq.wiki/wiki/smart-contract) engineer, contributing to the development and governance mechanisms of the Multi-Collateral [DAI](https://iq.wiki/wiki/dai) system, including [collateral](https://iq.wiki/wiki/collateral) onboarding, [liquidation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquidation) mechanisms, and autonomous payment contracts. Later that year, he became the technical lead for [smart contracts](https://iq.wiki/wiki/smart-contract) at [Maple](https://iq.wiki/wiki/maple-finance), overseeing multiple [mainnet](https://iq.wiki/wiki/mainnet) deployments of [DeFi](https://iq.wiki/wiki/defi) lending infrastructure. His work included protocol upgrades, token implementations, and contract migrations that facilitated billions in originations without reported [smart contract](https://iq.wiki/wiki/smart-contract) vulnerabilities. Since May 2023, he has been a co-founder at Phoenix Labs, based in Toronto. He also contributes to the design and security of [Spark's](https://iq.wiki/wiki/spark) architecture. [\[2\]](#cite-id-njhRefkoPK) ## Interviews ### Spark On the Stable Pod podcast, hosts Juan Isl and Gustav Arinoft interviewed Manuel about his journey and the evolution of [Spark](https://iq.wiki/wiki/spark), which initially started as a lending platform, into a comprehensive liquidity layer in [decentralized finance (DeFi)](https://iq.wiki/wiki/defi). He recounted his background, including his time at [MakerDAO](https://iq.wiki/wiki/makerdao) and [Maple Finance](https://iq.wiki/wiki/maple-finance), before co-founding Phoenix Labs. He discussed [Spark's](https://iq.wiki/wiki/spark) development, its governance model, liquidity strategies, and the competitive landscape of [DeFi](https://iq.wiki/wiki/defi), emphasizing the shift towards sub-[DAO](https://iq.wiki/wiki/dao) structures to enhance capital allocation and governance efficiency. The conversation highlighted the importance of aligning incentives among various sub-[DAOs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/dao), ongoing risk management strategies, and innovative approaches that [Spark](https://iq.wiki/wiki/spark) was implementing to optimize capital deployment across different protocols. The hosts expressed their enthusiasm for the potential growth and future developments of [Spark](https://iq.wiki/wiki/spark) within the [DeFi](https://iq.wiki/wiki/defi) ecosystem. [\[11\]](#cite-id-90bUGD2iNH) ## Presentations ### MakerDAO Endgame In a presentation at the Toronto [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) Developers Meetup, Manuel discussed [MakerDAO's](https://iq.wiki/wiki/makerdao) "Endgame," which aimed to overhaul the existing system to enhance efficiency, resilience, and participation in governance. He outlined the challenges faced by [MakerDAO](https://iq.wiki/wiki/makerdao), including complexities in governance, voter apathy, and slow growth, particularly related to onboarding [real-world assets](https://iq.wiki/wiki/real-world-assets-rwas). To address these issues, he introduced the concept of "sub-DAOs," which would operate under [MakerDAO](https://iq.wiki/wiki/makerdao) with their own governance structures and community, allowing for greater specialization and competition. Manuel also highlighted the integration of artificial intelligence to improve governance accessibility and discussed a new allocation system to manage the distribution of the [stablecoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stablecoin) [DAI](https://iq.wiki/wiki/dai), intended to streamline operations. He emphasized the importance of reducing governance complexity and increasing system resilience through new mechanisms to protect against insolvency. Overall, the presentation showcased a forward-looking vision aimed at enhancing [MakerDAO's](https://iq.wiki/wiki/makerdao) structure and functionality in the [decentralized finance](https://iq.wiki/wiki/defi) space. [\[10\]](#cite-id-z3NP5J0Doi)