Fundraising Fox

Mark Aardsma

Investor

Managing Partner at First Leaf Capital · Senior Advisor at The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation · Owner at ATS Acoustics

Central Illinois

Find your path to Mark

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

Matt GersonunlockedMark: together at United States Senate
×9Mark: together at United States Senate
Mark: together at First Leaf Capital
Mark: together at U.S. Department of Education

About

Founding investor and Managing Partner of First Leaf Capital who previously founded and led three startups as CEO. He also advises company leaders and authored the 2016 book Investing With Purpose.

Owner at ATS Acoustics

Intro paths

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In turn, Mark can intro founders to ATS Acoustics's investors below.

ATS Acoustics's investors · 1

First Leaf CapitalChampaign-Urbana

Experience

  1. University of Notre DameMichael L. Smith Managing Director of the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunitiescurrent2026 — present
  2. Draper Richards Kaplan FoundationSenior Advisorcurrent2026 — present
  3. Draper Richards Kaplan FoundationManaging Director2022 — 2026Dallas, TX
  4. George W. Bush Presidential CenterExecutive Director, George W. Bush Institute2016 — 2022Dallas, TX
  5. George W. Bush Presidential CenterSenior Vice President2013 — 2016Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
  6. Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy SchoolResident Fellow2021Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
  7. Margaret Spellings & CompanyVice President and COO2009 — 2013Washington, District of Columbia, United States
  8. U.S. Department of EducationAssistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs2008 — 2009
  9. U.S. Department of EducationDeputy Chief of Staff2006 — 2009
  10. U.S. Department of EducationDeputy Assistant Secretary for Policy2005 — 2006
  11. The White HouseAssociate Director for Domestic Policy2002 — 2005
  12. United States SenateProfessional Staff Member1998 — 2002
  13. Office of U.S. Senator Dan CoatsLegislative Aide1997 — 1998

Skills & more

Legislative Relations33Public Policy47Policy Analysis34Public Affairs15Government19Non-profits4Public Speaking7Policy11Fundraising6

From Mark's professional profile.

Deals · 26

Mesh++Solo GP

via First Leaf Capital · filed Oct 2021

Eclipse OrthopaedicsSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital · filed Feb 2021

7 WattsSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

ATS AcousticsSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

ATS RentalsSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

BoxCastSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

Care AdvisorsSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

Center Street ProductionsSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

Central Illinois AviationSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

EpivaraSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

FenixPyreSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

GeoHSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

HopscotchcakesSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

InprentusSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

NeuravaSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

PetrichorglobalSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

PhotonicareSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

SNOOZSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

Surgical Innovation AssociatesSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

Virtual AuditorSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

EclipseSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

Farmers-Merchants National BankSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

FerritivaSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

FmnbankSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

PhotonicareincSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

SiaSolo GP

via First Leaf Capital

Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters. Some rows are inferred. Not right? Tell us.

Colleagues at First Leaf Capital

Lori DeLuca
Chief Financial Officer at Chingona Ventures
Lori DeLuca
Accounting and Audit Support at First Leaf Capital
Venus Walker
Bookkeeping and Administrative at First Leaf Capital

Frequently asked questions

Who is Mark Aardsma?
Founding investor and Managing Partner of First Leaf Capital who previously founded and led three startups as CEO. He also advises company leaders and authored the 2016 book Investing With Purpose.
Where does Mark Aardsma work?
Mark Aardsma is Managing Partner at First Leaf Capital and Owner at ATS Acoustics.
Where did Mark Aardsma go to school?
Mark Aardsma studied at Northwestern University (B.A., Political Science, Urban Studies).

Same school

Also attended Northwestern University627

Mikowai AshwillInvestor at Spark CapitalNaomi Pilosof IonitaBoard Partner at Menlo VenturesEric OngInvestor at LightbankBill PescatelloInvestor at LightbankScott JacobsonManaging Director at Madrona Venture GroupAnna WangAssociate at March Capital Partners

+ 621 more

Shared employers

Also worked at University of Notre Dame55

Jim HuntGeneral Partner at Lavrock VenturesMichael BrannanSr. Associate at Volition CapitalPeter MitchellChief Legal Officer at NovatorZachary YamadaFinance Lead at Comcast VenturesTeri WilleyP2C Managing Director & Officer at Pathway to CuresCeleste FordPartner Champion to Harvest Thermal at Silicon Valley

+ 49 more

Also worked at Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation31

Mobola Da-SilvaPartner at Capria VenturesRobin Richards DonohoeCo-Chair at The Draper Richards Kaplan FoundationRob KaplanCo-Chair at The Draper Richards Kaplan FoundationJim BildnerCEO at The Draper Richards Kaplan FoundationNicolle RichardsManager, Investments at Community Investment ManagementAlex PrietoExecutive Assistant and Office Manager at The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation

+ 25 more

Also worked at George W. Bush Presidential Center6

Derren BurrellFounder and President at Veteran Ventures CapitalHolly KuzmichSenior Advisor at The Draper Richards Kaplan FoundationTodd ConnorAIN Venture Partner at ACADEMY INVESTORSean BreckerExecutive Officer at HeadspaceTrevor GicheruFounder at Nurovant AIPaul (Lew) Davies IIIFounder at Cambria Ventures

Also worked at Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School5

Rohini KosogluVenture Partner at FusionWilliam "Mo" CowanBoard Chair at MassChallenge MexicoHolly KuzmichSenior Advisor at The Draper Richards Kaplan FoundationMaya RupertPolitical Strategist & Author at Higher Ground LabsLynne SipprelleAssociate at Altas Partners