Mark Blackwell
InvestorGeneral Partner at Builders VC
Calgary
Writes $250K – $9M checks · typically $7M
About
Mark Blackwell is COO at Builders. He previously was a Product Manager at SolarWinds after it acquired GNS3 Technologies, where he was co-founder and COO, and earlier served as an investment manager at Cenovus Energy's corporate venture fund and in technology investment banking at CIBC World Markets.
Contact· self-published, not guessed
Experience
- Builders VCGeneral Partner & Chief Operating Officercurrent2020 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- University of CalgaryBoard of Governorscurrent2023 — present
- ProntoBoard Membercurrent2026 — present
- Performance Livestock AnalyticsBoard Membercurrent2023 — presentAmes, Iowa, United States
- Native Microbials, Inc.Board Membercurrent2025 — presentSan Diego Metropolitan Area
- Ashbrook TechnologiesBoard Membercurrent2024 — present
- Tractor ZoomBoard Membercurrent2022 — presentIowa, United States
- SafeAI, Inc.Board Membercurrent2021 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Foresight Commercial InsuranceBoard Membercurrent2020 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- TimberEyeBoard Observercurrent2024 — present
- Landjourney.aiBoard Observercurrent2025 — present
- Mercator AIBoard Observercurrent2023 — presentCalgary, Alberta, Canada
- VEERUMBoard Observercurrent2022 — present
- Despacho Inc.Co-Foundercurrent2019 — presentCalgary, Alberta, Canada
- CourseKeyBoard Member2023 — 2025
- SolarWindsSenior Product Manager2015 — 2019Austin, Texas Area
- Sabbatical-2018Sabbatical2018
- GNS3 Technologies Inc.Chief Operating Officer [ Acquired by SolarWinds ]2014 — 2015San Francisco Bay Area
- Cenovus EnergyVenture Investment Manager2012 — 2014Greater Calgary Metropolitan Area
- Hifi Engineering Inc.Board Observer2012 — 2014Greater Calgary Metropolitan Area
- CIBC World MarketsInvestment Banking Analyst2011 — 2012Greater Calgary Metropolitan Area
- EnbridgeBusiness Development Associate2009 — 2011Greater Calgary Metropolitan Area
Skills & more
Venture Capital99Leadership99Public Speaking66Valuation33Investment Banking31Entrepreneurship46Strategy52Corporate Development20Fundraising16Financial Modeling22Strategic Leadership12Corporate Finance16
+9 more
Venture FinancingEnergyTechnology EvaluationOil/GasBusiness StrategyMergers & AcquisitionsManagementProject ManagementStart-upsFrom Mark's professional profile.
Investments
Led
General FusionHiFi EngineeringSaltworksSkyonic Corporation
Per the firm's website.
Colleagues at Builders VC
Alex Kinnier
General Partner at Builders VC
Amit Mehta
General Partner at Builders VC
Andrew Schmitt
Principal at Builders VC
Angelica Maestas
Director, Strategic Partnerships at Builders VC
Avi Pradhan
Analyst at Nine Four Ventures
Ben Holland
Venture Partner, Agriculture at Builders VC
Cara Hu
Associate at Builders VC
Declan Sander
Analyst at Builders VC
Network2
Investors connected to Mark in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Mark Blackwell?
- Mark Blackwell is COO at Builders. He previously was a Product Manager at SolarWinds after it acquired GNS3 Technologies, where he was co-founder and COO, and earlier served as an investment manager at Cenovus Energy's corporate venture fund and in technology investment banking at CIBC World Markets.
- Where does Mark Blackwell work?
- Mark Blackwell is General Partner at Builders VC.
- What check size does Mark Blackwell write?
- Mark Blackwell typically writes checks of $250K – $9M.
- What companies has Mark Blackwell invested in?
- Investments tracked here include General Fusion, HiFi Engineering, Saltworks, Skyonic Corporation.
- Where did Mark Blackwell go to school?
- Mark Blackwell studied at University of Calgary (BComm, Business/Commerce); University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business (The Venture Capital Executive Program).
- Does Mark Blackwell lead rounds?
- Yes — Mark Blackwell has led 4 tracked investments.
Same school
Also attended University of Calgary74
Garrett CampCo-founder of Uber and StumbleUpon; founder of ExpaLaura BuhlerPartner, Head of Community at Felicis VenturesLeah GosbeeCFO at Version One VenturesRaghu BhaskarInvestment Manager – Sector Specialist Industrial IT and AI at Emerald Technology Ventures AgChris EricksonFounder at Pangaea Ventures Us Inc.Bryan ChowInvestor at Side Door Ventures
+ 68 more
Also attended University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business616
Mark FiorentinoInvestor at Index VenturesRishi ModiInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Yibo NianInvestment Director at Intel CapitalZhenyu TangInvestment Director at Intel CapitalHariFellow at Clear VenturesDennisDirector of Trading at Pantera Capital
+ 610 more
Shared employers
Also worked at University of Calgary21
Raghu BhaskarInvestment Manager – Sector Specialist Industrial IT and AI at Emerald Technology Ventures AgNadia LachmanInvestor at Amplitude Venture CapitalMegan LeeManaging Director Quantum City at QAI VenturesSaeed NeyshabouriHead of Acceleration Calgary at QAI VenturesAyla ShahidStartup Program Manager at QAI VenturesAdam CraggPartner at Osney Capital
+ 15 more
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