Fundraising Fox

Luke Burns

Investor

Partner, Ascent Venture Partners at Ascent Venture Partners · Board director at Rapidminer

South End (Boston)

Find your path to Luke

301 people in our graph share verified history with Luke — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Adam ValkinunlockedLuke: together at Harvard University (1993–1996)
×3Luke: together at MIT Sloan School of Management
×6Luke: together at Harvard University
×2Luke: together at Rapidminer

About

Luke Burns is a partner at Ascent Venture Partners who has been with the firm since 2006, focusing on data analytics, SaaS, IT infrastructure, and cybersecurity investments. Previously, he was a management consultant at Bain & Co. advising on corporate strategy and M&A, and founded Emercis Corporation, an e-commerce software company. He holds an AB in Chemistry and Physics from Harvard University and an MBA from MIT's Sloan School of Management.

Invests in

Cloud ComputingCybersecurityData & InfrastructureSaaS

Board director at Rapidminer

Intro paths

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In turn, Luke can intro founders to Rapidminer's investors below.

Rapidminer's investors · 6

Ascent Venture PartnersBedfordBlossom Street VenturesDallas · $1M – $4M checksConvergeCambridge · $500K – $5M checks · since 2015Earlybird Venture CapitalBerlin · $540K – $12M checksNGP CapitalBerlin · $8M – $12M checksOpenOceanHelsinki · $2.2M – $5.5M checks

Co-founders at Rapidminer

IM
Ingo MierswaExecutive Officer, Director

Experience

  1. Anyon Systems Inc.Chairmancurrent2024 — present
  2. QuartileBoard Directorcurrent2021 — present
  3. PromoboxxBoard Directorcurrent2025 — present
  4. Ascent Venture PartnersGeneral Partnercurrent2006 — present
  5. Flathead ForgeVenture Partnercurrent2024 — present
  6. Tendo TechnologiesChief Executive Officer2023 — 2024
  7. RapidMiner, Inc.Board Director2015 — 2022
  8. empowBoard Director2018 — 2021
  9. SidecarBoard Director2015 — 2021
  10. CodeshipBoard Director2016 — 2018
  11. CloudLockBoard Director2012 — 2016
  12. Bain & CompanyCase Team Leader2003 — 2006Greater Boston
  13. Navigator Technology VenturesSummer Associate2002Greater Boston
  14. Emercis CorporationCo-founder & CEO1998 — 2000Greater Seattle Area
  15. Bain & CompanyAssociate Consultant1997 — 1998San Francisco Bay Area

Skills & more

SaaS6Enterprise Software5Software as a Service (SaaS)1Management3Venture Capital35Start-ups28Entrepreneurship25Business Strategy16E-commerce13Mergers & Acquisitions8Product Development8Business Development7
+12 moreCorporate DevelopmentInvestmentsManagement ConsultingPrivate EquityAnalyticsMarketing StrategyMergersProduct ManagementDigital StrategyEnterprise MobilityBoard of Director experienceInternet of Things

From Luke's professional profile.

Deals · 5

CloudLockLed round

via Ascent Venture Partners

empowLed round

via Ascent Venture Partners

gr8 PeopleLed round

via Ascent Venture Partners

RapidminerLed round

via Ascent Venture Partners

SidecarLed round

via Ascent Venture Partners

Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.

Other disclosed investments

Per the firm's website.

Colleagues at Ascent Venture Partners

Brian J. Girvan
General Partner at Ascent Venture Partners
Christopher Lynch
Special General Partner at Ascent Venture Partners
Christopher W. Dick
General Partner at Ascent Venture Partners
Geoff Oblak
General Partner at Ascent Venture Partners
Geoffrey S. Oblak
General Partner at Ascent Venture Partners
Matt Fates
General Partner at Ascent Venture Partners
R. Matt Fates
General Partner at Ascent Venture Partners
Tom Scanlon
Chief Financial Officer at Ascent Venture Partners

Frequently asked questions

Who is Luke Burns?
Luke Burns is a partner at Ascent Venture Partners who has been with the firm since 2006, focusing on data analytics, SaaS, IT infrastructure, and cybersecurity investments. Previously, he was a management consultant at Bain & Co. advising on corporate strategy and M&A, and founded Emercis Corporation, an e-commerce software company. He holds an AB in Chemistry and Physics from Harvard University and an MBA from MIT's Sloan School of Management.
Where does Luke Burns work?
Luke Burns is Partner, Ascent Venture Partners at Ascent Venture Partners and Board director at Rapidminer.
What does Luke Burns invest in?
Luke Burns invests in Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Data & Infrastructure, SaaS.
What companies has Luke Burns invested in?
Investments tracked here include CloudLock, Codeship, empow, gr8 People, Rapidminer, Sidecar.
Where did Luke Burns go to school?
Luke Burns studied at Harvard University (AB, Chemistry & Physics); MIT Sloan School of Management (MBA, Entrepreneurship).
Does Luke Burns lead rounds?
Yes — Luke Burns has led 6 tracked investments.

Same school

Also attended Harvard University2,000

Ron ConwayFounder of SV AngelAlfred LinPartner at Sequoia CapitalChris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen HorowitzSarah TavelVenture Partner at BenchmarkDanny RimerPartner at Index VenturesLaela SturdyManaging Partner at CapitalG

+ 1,994 more

Also attended MIT Sloan School of Management774

Doug LeonePartner at Sequoia Capital; former Global Managing PartnerHemant TanejaCEO & Managing Director of General CatalystBrad FeldCo-founder of Foundry and TechstarsChris MorrisProcess Specialist, Exit Readiness at Mayfair Equity PartnersBirgitteInvestor at InvestinorOlaInvestor at Investinor

+ 768 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Tendo Technologies3

Jim CohenCo-Founder and General Partner at Fitz Gate VenturesBernard LupienGeneral Partner at Rhapsody Venture PartnersJessica FreyerPartner at Rhapsody Venture Partners

Also worked at Sidecar3

Jennifer SchretterGeneral Partner - Secondaries at PROOFHoshi LaureanoDirector, Talent Acquisition at Aegis VenturesAdam PardesCo-founder at NeuroFlow

Also worked at CloudLock6

Or SalomAnalyst at YL VenturesYaron SamidFounder and Managing Partner at TechAviv Founder PartnersDan LinesExecutive Officer, Director at LinearBNimrod VaxSecretary, Director at BigIDJT ChoFounder at Ansa LedOri KerenExecutive Officer, Director at LinearB

Also worked at Bain & Company1,094

Steve JurvetsonCo-founder of Future VenturesLaela SturdyManaging Partner at CapitalGTheresia GouwFounding Partner at Acrew CapitalDeepinder GoyalCo-founder & CEO of ZomatoZach PerretCo-founder & CEO of Plaid; co-founder of MischiefWilliam HockeyCo-founder of Plaid; founder & CEO of Column

+ 1,088 more