Adrian Fortino
InvestorFounderGeneral Partner at Mercury Fund · Board director at Buildforce Services · Board director at ABXR Labs · Board director at Sight Machine
Detroit, Michigan
Writes $250K – $4M checks · typically $2.5M
About
Leads Mercury's industrial transformation practice, backing industrial and physical AI startups. Previously Managing Director of Invest Detroit Ventures and co-founder of three software companies, he teaches VC fundamentals at the University of Michigan.
Board director at Buildforce Services
Intro paths
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In turn, Adrian can intro founders to Buildforce Services's investors below.
Buildforce Services's investors · 2
Co-founders at Buildforce Services
DM
Denman Moody HeardExecutive Officer, Director
JP
Jarrod PollockDirector
AB
Alexander BrownExecutive Officer, Director
Board director at ABXR Labs
Intro paths
→
In turn, Adrian can intro founders to ABXR Labs's investors below.
ABXR Labs's investors · 2
Co-founders at ABXR Labs
BS
Brad ScogginExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
JW
Jordan WilliamsDirector
Board director at Sight Machine
Intro paths
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In turn, Adrian can intro founders to Sight Machine's investors below.
Sight Machine's investors · 10
Dnx VenturesTokyo · $1M – $5M checkseLab VenturesAnn Arbor · $25K – $100K checksFundersClubSan Francisco · $250K – $5M checksFuture Energy VenturesBerlin · $1.1M – $11M checksHuron River VenturesAnn ArborMercury FundHouston · $250K – $4M checks · since 2015Momenta VenturesLucerneNextEquity PartnersMenlo ParkSony Ventures CorporationTokyoTekfen VenturesNew York · $1M – $3M checks
Co-founders at Sight Machine
JS
Jon SobelChief Executive Officer and President
NO
Nathan OostendorpSecretary and Treasurer
Experience
- Mercury FundGeneral Partnercurrent2014 — presentDetroit, Michigan, United States
- University of Michigan College of EngineeringLecturercurrent2015 — presentAnn Arbor, MI
- Michigan Founders FundBoard Membercurrent2022 — presentMichigan, United States
- Great Lakes Venture Capital SummitCo-Foundercurrent2024 — presentDetroit, Michigan, United States
- Michigan Venture Capital AssociationDirectorcurrent2019 — presentAnn Arbor, MI
- ArborXRBoard Directorcurrent2024 — presentOKC
- KODE HealthBoard Directorcurrent2023 — presentHolland, Michigan, United States
- WizeHireBoard Directorcurrent2021 — presentHouston, Texas, United States
- Chain.ioBoard Directorcurrent2021 — presentPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- BuildforceBoard Directorcurrent2020 — presentHouston, Texas, United States
- AclaimantBoard Directorcurrent2020 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
- AmbyintBoard Directorcurrent2017 — presentGreater Houston
- Sight MachineBoard Director2015 — 2023Ann Arbor, MI
- PactSafeBoard Director2018 — 2021Greater Indianapolis
- FlockTAGCo-Founder2012 — 2020Ann Arbor, MI
- CatapultCo-Chair2014 — 2019Detroit Metropolitan Area
- The University of Michigan Law SchoolIndustry Lead2014 — 2018Ann Arbor, MI
- DeepfieldBoard Director2016 — 2017Ann Arbor, MI
- Detroit InnovateManaging Director2013 — 2014Detroit Metropolitan Area
- First Step FundManaging Director2012 — 2014Detroit Metropolitan Area
Education
- University of MichiganBSME, Mechanical Engineering1995 — 2000
- University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of BusinessMBA, Entrepreneurship and VC/PE2005 — 2010
Skills & more
Strategic Planning26Entrepreneurship99Start-ups99Product Development35Venture Capital62Program Management16Business Strategy54Automotive11Engineering9Management Consulting26Business Development33Business Planning20
+9 more
Cross-functional Team LeadershipProduct ManagementProject ManagementNew Business DevelopmentCompetitive AnalysisEnergyProduct DesignManufacturingEngineering ManagementFrom Adrian's professional profile.
Deals · 4
ABXR LabsBoard seat
via Mercury Fund · filed Jul 2025 · $2.2M raise
Buildforce ServicesBoard seat
via Mercury Fund · filed Feb 2021 · $1.5M raise
AclaimantBoard seat
via Mercury Fund · filed Mar 2020 · $8.3M raise
PactSafeBoard seat
via Mercury Fund · filed Jul 2018 · $5.5M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Colleagues at Mercury Fund
Adrian Barwinski
General Partner at Mercury Fund
Adrienne Miller
Investor at Mercury Fund
Aileen Allen
Partner at Mercury Fund
Alex Gras
Principal at Mercury Fund
Andreas Galliker
Chief Financial Officer at Mercury Fund
Andrew White
Venture Partner at Mercury Fund
Aziz Gilani
Associate at Mercury Fund
Blair Garrou
Co-founder & General Partner at Mercury Fund
Network6
Adrienne Miller
Investor at Mercury Fund
Alex Gras
Principal at Mercury Fund
Andrew White
Venture Partner at Mercury Fund
Blair Garrou
Co-founder & General Partner at Mercury Fund
Craig Herron
Managing Principal at iSelect Fund
Peter Commons
Partner at Mercury Fund
Investors connected to Adrian in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Adrian Fortino work?
- Adrian Fortino is General Partner at Mercury Fund and Founder at Buildforce Services and Founder at ABXR Labs and Founder at Sight Machine.
- What check size does Adrian Fortino write?
- Adrian Fortino typically writes checks of $250K – $4M.
- What companies did Adrian Fortino found?
- Adrian Fortino founded ABXR Labs, Buildforce Services, Sight Machine.
Same school
Also attended University of Michigan487
Erik TorenbergGeneral Partner at Andreessen HorowitzKarim FarisInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Glen AndersonPartner at Monta Vista CapitalAlexandra FarmerPrincipal at Intel Capital, North AmericaHannah KrootMarketing Lead at Intel CapitalScott ShawChief of Staff at Intel Capital
+ 481 more
Also attended University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business268
Alexandra FarmerPrincipal at Intel Capital, North AmericaTige SavageCo-founder at RevolutionWendy XiaoPartner at NorthzoneRob LawrenceSenior Finance Associate at GreycroftHyun KooPartner at March Capital PartnersRichard GuVice President at March Capital Partners
+ 262 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Michigan Venture Capital Association8
Jim AdoxExecutive Managing Director at Clarevia VenturesJoshua BeebePartner at MK CapitalKim PasquinoManaging Director at Wakestream VenturesCamila NoordeloosGeneral Partner at Grand VenturesPatti GlazaManaging Director at ID VenturesJohn MannesPartner at Basis Set Ventures
+ 2 more
