Venture Capital Leader & Entrepreneur; Managing Partner at Upfront Ventures; Founder of Launchpad LA; Author of "Both Sides of the Table"

Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Mark Suster Biography

Mark Suster is an American venture capitalist and entrepreneur who serves as managing partner at Upfront Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Los Angeles. Suster's career spans consulting, entrepreneurship, and investing, with experience in the startup and venture capital sectors. He holds an MBA from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago and a bachelor's degree from UC San Diego. Earlier in his career, Suster spent nearly a decade at Accenture, working across Europe, Japan, and the United States.

Before entering venture capital, Suster built and sold two enterprise software companies. He co-founded BuildOnline, a cloud-based construction collaboration technology business acquired by The Sword Group. He later founded Koral, a content collaboration software company acquired by Salesforce, where he served as vice president of product management. These entrepreneurial exits informed Suster's approach to venture investing. He joined Upfront Ventures, formerly known as GRP Partners, and became managing partner, guiding the firm's rebranding and growth into a leading Southern California venture capital institution with nearly $2 billion in combined funds under management.

At Upfront, Suster has led investments in companies including Ring, Bird, Invoca, Density, Nanit, and Maker Studios. Maker Studios was sold to The Walt Disney Company for $675 million, a transaction Suster has identified as a significant milestone. The firm has invested in more than 500 companies and has returned over $1 billion to its limited partners. Suster also founded the Launchpad LA accelerator and has served as a mentor at Techstars, supporting entrepreneurship and innovation in the technology sector. He is involved in organizing the annual Upfront Summit, a conference that brings together investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators at venues such as Paramount Studios, the Rose Bowl, and the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

In addition to his investment work, Suster is recognized for his contributions to venture capital media. His blog, "Both Sides of the Table," addresses topics relevant to startups and venture capital, including term sheets, board dynamics, fundraising strategies, and macroeconomic trends. Suster has appeared on podcasts and delivered lectures at institutions such as Stanford University, sharing insights on entrepreneurship and the venture capital industry. He has advocated for diversity in technology, supporting Upfront's inclusion clause, which encourages portfolio companies to interview candidates from underrepresented groups for executive positions. Suster's inclusion on the LA500 list of influential business leaders highlights his impact on the Los Angeles and national startup ecosystems.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/30/2026.

Mark Suster Videos

Inside the Mind of a Top VC on What Investors Value | Mark Suster

Inside the Mind of a Top VC on What Investors Value | Mark Suster

Mark is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist. He’s a 2 time entrepreneur and sold both his companies and one of them he sold to Salesforce. Mark...

The Opening of the 2023 Upfront Summit

The Opening of the 2023 Upfront Summit

A "behind the scenes" view of how the Upfront Summit really comes together!

Mark Suster 'Upfront' About Plans For His New $200M Fund - YouTube

Mark Suster 'Upfront' About Plans For His New $200M Fund - YouTube

Mark Suster's venture firm just wrapped up a new $200 million fund, and it also has a brand new name: Upfront Ventures. At the 500 Startups PreMoney...

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  • What topics does Mark Suster speak about?

    Mark Suster is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Business, Business Growth, Business Leadership, Disruptive Thinking, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing, Social Media, Technology, Thought Leadership, Venture Capital
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Mark Suster is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Mark Suster for your event is available upon request. Mark Suster generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ben Horowitz, Chris Dixon, Brad Feld, Marc Andreessen and Jason Calacanis. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Mark Suster for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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